Stephen A. recaps the Boston Celtics NBA Finals win with former Celtic-turned-ESPN NBA Analyst, Kendrick Perkins. They discuss what the Mavs must do to make a run next year. Stephen A. also talks about Jeff Van Gundy joining the Clippers coaching staff, and TNT NBA Analyst Charles Barkley retiring from broadcasting after the next NBA season.
On The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith gives you his renowned point of view, breaking barriers beyond the world of sports, and tackling pertinent issues across entertainment, pop culture, society, business, and politics. Three times a week, you'll hear his LIVE unfiltered opinions on the day's biggest headlines as well as straight-shooting interviews with top celebrities, game-changers, and thought leaders across the societal arena. The Stephen A. Smith Show is sure to entertain, inform, and motivate anyone who tunes in.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:11):
What's up, everybody. Welcome to the Ladies edition of The
stephen A. Smith Show, coming at you as I love
to do it the very least three times a week
over the digital airwaves of YouTube, and of course I
Heeartradio as always, I want to take a moment to
show my appreciation to my followers and subscribers. We've now
eclipsed and exceeded over seven hundred and five thousand subscribers.
I appreciate the love. Keep it coming, and I'm gonna
(00:32):
keep on coming. I'm in a very good mood. I'm
in a very good mood because the NBA Finals are over. Okay.
I am a very very very happy man because I
sit here in front of your face right now and
in an airshot of all of you out there on iHeartRadio.
Tired as hell, Tired as hell because I'm exhausted because
it's been a long season. But nevertheless, it ended the
(00:54):
way it was supposed to end, a right, and that's
where we're going to start today, because where else to
start other than Boston. The Celtics beat the Mavericks one
oh six eighty eight and Game five to capture their
record eighteenth NBA championship. Surpassing the rival Los Angeles Lakers
for the most all time. The Celtics were led by
Jason Tatum, who had thirty one points, eight rebounds, and
(01:16):
eleven assists, and of course, co starred Jalen Brown, who
finished with twenty one, eight and six and also captured
NBA Finals MVP honors. Last night, by the Way, also
marked the sixteenth anniversary of Boston's last title in since
twenty sixteen, and a one hundred and seventh playoff game,
Brown and Tatum played together, the most ever by a
(01:38):
duo before winning their first NBA championship. Was also a
first title for head coach Joe Mizzoula, president of basketball
operations Brad Stevens, and veteran Al Horford, who played one
hundred and eighty six playoff games before his first title ever,
the most ever. By the way, the Celtics led wire
to wire and well by twenty one points at halftime.
His were actually the sixteen year anniversary since the Boston
(02:00):
Celtics had one had won because they had once since
two thousand and eight. Major major props to Jason Tatum,
because the man showed up then you know, wasn't flowing
offensively in games one to two, but definitely showed up
in games three and five and handled his business, especially
in the close out game. You see it right there,
eleven to twenty four, shooting thirty one points, eight rebounds,
(02:20):
eleven assists, getting to the basket when the jumper wasn't
necessarily falling, making sure he was assertive and aggressive enough
to show that he was a star that belonged being
mentioned amongst the stars. Jalen Brown had been a model
of consistency throughout these playoffs and especially in the NBA Finals.
He showed up on both ends of the court. Showed
up was defending Luca from opening tap of game one. Okay,
(02:43):
you saw he finished with twenty one eight and six
only shot seven to twenty three one field, But who cares.
He took on the defensive assignment, took on the challenge.
Who was a model of consistency and deserves all the
praise in the world. But before I give out any
more praise or any more criticism or anything in between,
why should it come from just me? You know what,
I'm gonna welcome my analyst to the show because he
(03:06):
is a guy that was on that championship team. In
two thousand and eight. Was also a member of the
team in the NBA Finals when they lost to the
Los Angeles Lakers. My colleague at ESPN, the big boy himself,
the one and only, Kendrick Perkins. What's up, big Time?
How are you man? How's everything?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
What's up? Ad say? What's happening? I'm tired as hell.
I feel like you.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Damn. We both tied, and we both glad it's over.
How surprised are you that it ended in five?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I'm very surprised. I picked. Look, I picked the Celtics
to win in seven.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
I thought Dallas was going to give them a more.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Competition than that.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
But you got to give a lot of credit to
the Boston Celtics, starting with the front office, starting with
the medical staff, the training staff.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
This team was built for the long haul.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
You could tell since training camp their number one goal
was to win the NBA Championship because it showed right
when the Dallas Mavericks were breaking down, when Luka Doncis
was hobbling up and down the floor, the athleticism stoock
out like a sowred thumb. And when you saw Jaylen
Brown and Jason Tatum drew Holliday. They just the game
(04:13):
just looked faster, right Like they played at a different
pace than the Dallas Mavericks. And you talk about this
starting five man, even with Al Horford in that lineup,
I mean, it's been the best starting five in basketball.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
And Steven Ay, I'm gonna say this.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
I was one of the ones who criticized Joe Missoula
a lot. I didn't think his style of play could work.
He coached his ass, so I didn't know that Jalen
Brown and Jason Tatum could get it done. They played
their ass so and I also believed a while back
that we would never see a back to back champion.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I'm starting to rethink those things right now.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I gotta tell you I'm with you in the back
to back because here's what I'm thinking. Jason Tatum and
Jaylen Brown, neither of who are twenty eight years of
age yet. Drew Holliday's locked him for the next four years.
Derek White's about to get his bag. He's eligible for
a four year, one hundred and twenty to one hundred
thirty million dollar extension. Al Horford, you probably won't order
to retire, even though if he does, he would have
(05:12):
earned the right to do so. After playing as long
as he's played and finally capturing that elusive championship, Porzingis
is gonna be back with a vengeance. We don't know
whether he's gonna stay healthy. That's always a question mark
with him. But we saw from Game one that the
brother ain't nervous. He showed up on a big stage
and if healthy enough, he can make things happen. This
might have been a sweet had he not been hurt,
(05:33):
to be quite honest with you, so we got to
be honest about that. Having said all of that, right now,
how are we to look at Jason Tatum in your mind?
I'll get to Jaylen Brown in the second, but Jason
Tatum First Team All NBA. Now we're having discussions about
him being in the conversation for being the top five
player in the NBA. As Jason Tatum would say, what
(05:54):
we're gonna say? Now? What are we gonna say? Now?
What do we say about Jason Tatum? Now, Kendrick Perkin
that he's.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
An NBA champion, that he's a he's a top ten
player in the NBA. I'm not gonna jump the gun
and say top five, but he's a top ten player
in the league right now. It's a few guys that
I still have ahead of him. To be honest with you,
I mean, you know Jokic, Johannis, Anthony Elwoods. I mean,
(06:22):
we could name some other Steph Curry, like I don't
have them in my top five. I mean, and that's okay.
He's a champion. He's a champion. He deserves to talk
his noise. And we saw growth with Jason Tatum. We
saw the great KG always used to tell us, I
always like to watch these young and upcoming superstars around
(06:43):
the league because I want to see if they're going
to be able to grow in the area of making
guys around them better. He did that this postseason, showed
that he could be a point forward. He took a
leap in that aspect, and in the results that the
NBA champion.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
He's a champion.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Let me transition to Jalen Brown because I gotta say this.
I had him on my All NBA Team thirteen. I
don't think there's fifteen players in the NBA better than
Jaylen Brown. When you take into account his defense and
his willingness to accept those assignments. He deserves a lot
of credit for that way, as a lot of guys
don't necessarily elect to do that. We know that he's
been through a lot, We know that there's some shine
(07:19):
that he feels he deserves, that he's been underappreciated. What
the DISC Finals and this ultimately capturing NBA Finals MVP,
What has that done for Jalen Brown in your estimation? Oh?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Oh everything? And you said top fifteen, I'm going with
top ten. The Celtics have two top ten players in
the NBA. Jalen Brown made me respect the defensive side
of things and respect two way players even more. The
definition of a two way player. He got it done
on both ends of the floor. Essay, he got it
(07:54):
done on both ends of the floor. He was efficient
all throughout the postseason on offensive end, He shot the
ball extremely well. Defensively, one could argue that he was
the best defensive player in the postseason. What he did
to Luca in the NBA Finals say, look, Luca is
going to put up numbers. I get that he has
the ball in his hands. He's too special of a
(08:16):
talent to actually stop him or shut him down.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
But when Jalen Brown was guarding him, he showed him.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
It was levels to this. Jalen Brown had a clean suite.
Do you realize he have the Bill Russell Trophy, the
Larry O'Brien Trophy, and the Larry Bird Trophy. It all
resigns in Jaylen brown house. Name me a other young
superstar that has those three trophies and I'll wait until
somebody catches up with him. Listen, right now, we have
(08:45):
to annoy him. And it's not Jalen underappreciated Brown. No
more is Jyalen appreciated Brown.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Damn it. He's the top ten player in the league.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
I have to look and transition to the Dallas Mavericks
and ask the question why did they lose this series?
The answer that I come up with, there's a multitude
of reasons why. Jalen Brown's defense, no question about it,
Boston's collective defense. We can't ignore that. I'm gonna go
to Kyrie Irvin and I'm not trying to point all
the blame to him. Kyrie has had a sensational year.
(09:15):
Kyrie deserves all the praise that he's received. We all
know that he's been praising him for the longest time
this year because he really really made up for a
lot of stuff that he had gone through in the
past and really really righted a lot of wrongs and
was moving forward. But this ain't about us being critical
of Kyrie. This is about us pointing out how clearly
Kyrie hasn't gotten over being critical about himself. I believe
(09:37):
Kyrie Irvin was rattled in every game he played in Boston,
not Dallas. He was an All world player, but in
the city of Boston, at TV guarded, where he once played,
where he once wore that Boston Celti's uniform, they clearly
did not like him. They were chanting Kyrie sucks every
chance they got. They were boring him profusely. He was
(09:59):
clearly a affected by it, whether it was tight one minute,
over anxious the next. The bottom line is he ended
up averaging fourteen point three points on thirty four percent,
shooting at eighteen percent from three point range in the
three games that he played in Boston. Now that Kyrie
has lost his fourth final in five appearances, what are
(10:20):
we to say about Kyrie Irving and how are we
to look at him in light up this performance, specifically
in Boston.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Well, I'm gonna say this, it's a prime example when
you're a leader needs a leader, right and it's another
prime example why veterans matter. We gotta remember this, as say,
during this run to the NBA Finals for the Dallas Mavericks,
Kyrie Irvin has been the leader on that team. Now,
all of a sudden, you go into Boston and no
(10:49):
matter how much you try to downplay it, or Kyrie
try to downplay it, or he tried to address the
problem and try to get his mentality together, he.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Needed a shoulder to lean on.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
And that showed it wasn't Jason Kidd or Jared Dudley
or any other assistant coaches. He needed another veteran on
that team that he could go to, another veteran on
that team that could put a key in his back.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
I thought he you know, he was phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
In Game three, in Game four, make no mistake about it,
but Kyrie in my eyes, is still one of the
most skilled players to ever touch the dawn basketball.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
That haven't changed.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
That hasn't changed, but what he's done, I think what
the Celtics did to him. Okay, just think he's going
against all world defenders Drew Holliday and Derek White, Tutla
and Jaylen Brown, three of the most elite defenders perimeter
defenders in the game. Kyrie Irvine, what he has done
(11:47):
for the Dallas Mavericks this year and to play the role.
I know they fell short, but I think at this
moment that say, I got to give him miss Flowers.
I got to give miss Flowers. He has completely close
the old chapter of his book and the new chapter
is looking really really strong right now, and really break
for him.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Oh that's just me, I just I just feel.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
I have to disagree with you only on this sense, perk.
He is the one that is clearly holding onto it now.
The rest of us have moved past it, you know,
because we see him, we see how he's blossomed. Were
gonna give him his luck, We're gonna give him love.
He hasn't let it go because he was a completely
(12:31):
different player in Boston than he ever was in Dallas.
He goes to Dallas, he looks all world, averaging twenty
eight the game, fifty the field, forty two from three
point range. The brother goes to Boston and all of
a sudden can't handle the heat. They're treating him like
a Benedict Arnald, and it's almost like he's like, yeah,
it's a lot to get over. That's how he came across.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Yeah, and he and he forgot to play and he
forgot that it is just basketball. But again, you gotta look,
you have to give a lot of credit again to
the Boston fan base and to the Boston Celtics because they.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Backed up their fan base. Right.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
If you don't think for one second that Jaylen Brown
and Jason Tatum didn't have it in the back of
their mind that Kyrie Irvin left them and that they
wanted to shut him down and beat them, beat him
in the NBA finals. People, you're crazy and I'm crazy.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Look, they had it on their mind. Let me say
this to you, say, tell me how you feel about this, Luca.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
In the six years, that's where I was going.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I want to ask you though, I want to ask you.
I want to be a co host, and Steve, I
want to ask you.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Here. Here's I feel real quick, and I want to
get your thoughts on it. Luca out there. Six years.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Five of those years, first team All NBA been to
a conference finals right two seasons ago, I believe it
was with Jaylen Bronson. This year go to the NBA
finals uh, does he get start does he start to
get the Jason Tatum treatment that we get that we
gave Jason Tatum in twenty twenty two. Nothing else matters
(14:06):
no more until he delivers a championship and complete the mission.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
I'm just asking you.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
You can make that argument, but it's actually something worse
than that, perpose worse. We don't even get to ask
him that first. You know what, the first question we're gonna.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Ask Luca, what's that?
Speaker 1 (14:25):
How committed are you gonna be? You're gonna get shaped
think about that? When have we ever? We ain't never
questioned Jason Tatum's conditioning. We ain't questioning Lebron's conditioning. Hell,
we ain't questioned Kd's conditioning. We ain't questioned Steph Curry's conditioning.
We ain't questioned Kobe's conditioning. We ain't questioned conditioning of
any of the great ones. Okay, No, I mean, listen,
(14:48):
the last time we talked about anybody's conditioning it was
with Shaq, and that was only because Kobe was going
off about the shit. At the end of the day,
Shaq comes out there and he's like, I ain't worried
about the sacri the queens and then went out there
and showed them there's a difference between kings and queens
and they ain't ready and that's how he treated them.
So we can't even get on shack about that. The
(15:09):
point that I'm making is with Luca knowing you going
up against Tatum, knowing you going up against Jaylen Brown,
those horses in the Western Conference that you did get through,
one could easily argue that Luca's conditioning served as an
impediment because he wanted to play at one pace. And
this is what I said the other day. I said
this today on my day job, first Tap every weekday
(15:31):
morning today am the twelve noon on ESPN, I said
that this morning, Big Perk, I said, who's the ideal
teammate for Kyrie Irvin? I'm sorry, I said, think about
it in terms of somebody that's Kyrie Irvan with what
Kyrie I was going through in Boston. Let me tell
you the names I gave the audience, KG number one.
(15:54):
I said that mouth on KG. KG would have been
on the court on the parquet floor if he was
at a hold it a boss and would have been
telling them bump them. However, don't kiss your ass the
hell you doing. He would have been in his face like,
suck it up, let's go. He would have got on Kyrie.
Kyrie were responded to that right. Another person that would
(16:14):
have been an ideal teammate was Kobe, because Kobe would
have done the same thing. And another person who would
have been an ideal teammate be for an entirely different reason.
Is his old running made He won the title with
Lebron because unlike Luca, Lebron can pay play whatever pace
you want. You want to slow it down, Lebron got
that you want to speed it up, play up tempo.
(16:35):
Lebron got that you understand. Lebron could do it, whereas
Luca only wanted to play at one pace because he
doesn't have the conditioning to keep up with with with
the pace that Kyrie could flourish at, et cetera. What
are your thoughts about what I just said?
Speaker 3 (16:52):
No, I'm with you one thousand percent. Everything you said
is one hundred percent accurate. And I think that's that's
gonna be the growth for not only Luca, but then
Tyler entire Dallas Maverick team. They're gonna have to hit
the player development. Luca is gonna have to take that
next step in his cardio.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
We saw Yokis do it right.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
We saw Yokis come back in phenomenal shape, start the
training camp the year that they wanted. And you know
what Yokis did, He sustained that throughout the season, right.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
He made sure he kept the main thing, the main thing.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
We joked around and they had it circulating the video
when Mike Finley took the beer out of Luca hen
But that's another sacrifice, you know, Luca, Okay, if that
was on camera, what are you doing behind closed doors?
If you're trying to be the best, if you're trying
to win the NBA Championship, it's gonna have to start
with your conditioning.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
At the end of the day.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Look, Luca's first team all whack body. Okay, I have
a wag body. Yokis have a whack body. Paul Pierce
had a wag body. You know what a whack body is.
That's say it's you could be in shape. You're not
gonna get a six pack. You probably get the folk,
but the bottom is still gonna have a little pudge,
and that's okay. Get in great shape, right, Ye're in
great shape. But here's the thing I was thinking about.
(18:08):
I was thinking about. Okay, if the Dallas Mavericks want
to make another run at it next year, we know
teams are gonna get better in the off season. You
know who I'm looking at. I'm gonna get your I
want to get your endergy because I've been missing you
the last couple of days on first take, but I want.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
To get your energy on it.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Okay, all right, Tim Hardaway Jr. They can find a
way to move his money, yes, right, Okay, he making
about eighteen nineteen million. Right, you package up him and
somebody else. Can they go out and get Klay Thompson?
Can you go get Klay Thompson?
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Okay, Okay, here's the problem. Here's a problem with that.
If I'm Klay Thompson, That's not where I want to
go because Luca's two ball dominant. See Klay Thompson's used
to catching the shooting is exceptional of a passer as
Luca is. Remember, Klay Thompson still plays at a higher pace,
and so that's problematic because Luca's gonna look for his shot,
(19:04):
Kyrie's gonna look for his shot. Klay Thompson is your
number two option. Okay, he's not used to being less
than that, and if he's gonna be less than that,
he can stomach it. If the pace of play gives
you more bites at the apple because you're jacking up
more opportunities because you're playing at a faster pace, at
the pace that Luca's gonna play with, because you know
the ball's gonna be in his hands the majority of
(19:24):
the time. I don't think this rule for Clay. I
think the ideal place for Klay Thompson is the New
York Knicks or the Philadelphia seventy six ers. I would
say the Los Angeles Lakers, but they don't have a
snowballs chance of getting them.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
No, No, I'm with you on that.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
But here's the thing I understand, And that's a great
point you brought up about pace. But how much do
you trust ja kid? I trust him a lot. You
don't think that he could make Luca get up off
the peel. Look, PJ. Washington had a lot of shot
attempt right, you know what I mean? In the NBA Finals.
I'm thinking to myself, if that's Klay Thompson, Klay Thompson,
(20:02):
that his mentality is right because we know this past
season Clay dealt with a lot of ups and downs
with the organization and all this.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Like we know this that.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
For the second half of the season.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
But we know if your mind is not right, you
can't be the basketball player you want to be. I'm
saying those shots PJ Washington was missing in the NBA Finals,
that PJ Washington balled out. I'm not saying they need
to get rid of him, But you add Klay Thompson
to the mix, I'm okay with that. With the Dallas
Mavers if they make some moves, but I'm look what
(20:36):
they got in the kid, Dereck Lively, Right, I'm telling
you right now, hey disguise the limit for their yall.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Man as well, Well.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Let me ask you this, Perk. Is that your way
of saying you don't believe that Dallas missed an opportunity
because the West has packed. Who's to say Dallas is
gonna get back anytime soon.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I wouldn't pick them.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
I'm not picking them to come out of the West
next year because it's gonna be too hard, man, Like
I could see it the following season. I don't see
it this season. I believe Minnesota Anthony Ewhis is gonna
be back. We can't forget about what Emyudoka is doing
down there with the Houston Rockets. You talked about this
as well, and then John Moran with the Memphis Grizzlies.
(21:17):
He's gonna come back with it on his mind as well.
So teams are gonna get better. The Denver Nuggets are
gonna clean up areas right, They're gonna make sure that
they clean up their bench and get better and their
roster moves, because obviously they was missing Bruce Brown and
Jeff Green.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
I believe if they had Bruce Brown they would have beat.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
The Minnesota And they had Jeff Green and Bruce Brown,
they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
So I'm just saying I don't have Dallas going back
to the finals next year.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
I mean I wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
I mean, you know, you can't never count Luke and
Kyrie out, but I think they.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Missed out on the opportunity.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
That's why when you get to the NBA Finals, they's
say it's hard enough. It's hard as hell to get there,
but when you get you gotta make sure you capitalize.
The Celtics knew that from twenty twenty two, and all
I kept hearing Jason Tatum say, is I remember what
happened in twenty twenty two. It's not about to happen
this year. And him and Jaylen Brown.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Stood on that who's the stiffest competition in the East
of the Boston Celtics right now?
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Come on, now we know who that is. It's the
New York Knicks.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Healthy you get Ognoanoby back, even with Julius Rounda. Okay,
if they don't decide to move Julius Round, the name
me a team that's better than the New York Knicks
right now.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
I'm not taking the Bucks over them. I don't know.
I don't know what the Philadelphia seventy six is are
gonna do. I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
They may go out, they may swing big for the
switches offences and try to get Paul George. That's neither
hear of there, but currently constructed, the Boston Celtics are
number one, bless you, and and damn it, it's the
New York Knicks that are number two.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
I hear they have it. Huh.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
I was getting ready to ask you if you're the
new York Knicks. You're a New York Knick fan, you
know a few of them. Who's the best fit. Is
it Klay Thompson or is it Paul George?
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Man, it's you know what, It's hard because you don't
want to take away with the Nova boys are bringing
to the table, right See.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
I feel like if you added Klay Thompson.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
If you add if you added Klay Thompson, or you
add a Paul George, You're gonna take away from from Dante.
I strongly believe that. So I think I think man
to be honest with you, I see you know what
I say, I run it. I run it back with
Julius Randall. I really do. I think KG told you
(23:49):
this shit. I run it back with you. I run
it back with Julius Randall. Because here's here's the thing.
When you're on the sideline and you're injured, you watch
your team have success without you. Because the Knicks had
a successful season.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
I don't give a damn with nobody.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
You being on the sideline and being injured and watching
your team perform. That's the that's the greatest teacher of
them all, right, Because it's like, oh damgn okay, I
see that style. Okay, so now I'm learning the game
Julius is learning like, Okay, maybe if I sacrifice a
little bit more, we could go we could go small
bar I could be at the five and mix it
(24:27):
up a little bit.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Like. Those are the things.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
I just want to see Julius come back, and I
want to see how they look together with og Jaylen Bronson,
Josh hart Dante and Julius and along with you know, uh.
I don't know what's gonna happen with Isaiah Hartenstein because
somebody might offer him a bag. But that's okay, because
the Knicks and eye candy. But at the end of
the day, the Celtics are the number one team. The
(24:52):
Bucks got some things they got to figure out. I
don't know what they want to do with Chris Middleton.
I don't know if you bring him back because he
looks old.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
He looks old. And guess what more weight being put
on Damian Lilland's shoulder to help Gianni's is not the
greatest thing in the world. And in my opinion, if
things don't work out for Milwaukee this year, I think
Janni's is gonna want out of Milwaukee. That's just my
personal opinion, no inside information or anything like that. That's
just how I'm feeling. But I'll get to that another day.
(25:21):
I'll tell you this about Paul George compared to Klay Thompson.
If I want a shooter, I want Klay Thompson. If
I want a defender who can give me some offenses,
obviously Paul George, which would give the Knicks the edge
with Paul George. Remember, the Knicks got eleven first round
picks over the next seven years, so you got assets
(25:42):
to move to Golden State in the DF and D.
You really really want to make that happen or the Clippers.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
For me, though, is this, Paul George usually has to
dribble to get his groove, and I already got Brunton
doing that, so it takes away to some degree from Bruntson.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
I don't think Clay takes anything away from Brunton. And
not only that, you could play him with Devincenzo, because
Clay can be a three for you when need be.
It would sacrifice some of josh Hart's minutes, but that
would save Josh Hart. Give Josh Hart more less time
but more energy when he's playing to come in there
(26:20):
and be that defensive wizard and that energize a bunny
that you need, because even though Josh Hart hits threes,
he's not a sniper like Clay Twitch and Dante DiVincenzo.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I'm with you on that, and you know everything you said.
I agree.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
You know who's going to be the most important player
for the Knicks and for them to have success next year.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
It's gonna be Mitchell Robinson.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Your health now we his health, and he got to
get his big ass in some shape.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
I believe that he got. I believe that he needs
to drop about thirty thirty pounds if he gets done.
If he drops thirty pounds, look man, I'm telling you,
look out, he could he could possibly go for Defensive
Player of the Year he dropped thirty pounds.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Before I let you get on out of here, Let's
go back out west to the Los Angeles Lakers. Our
colleague at ESPN, JJ Reddick is emerging as the top
candidate for that job. You know, I've been in the
news because obviously I spoke out against the Mind Your
Game podcast. It wasn't against JJ Reddick. It wasn't even
against Lebron James and the podcast. It was the timing
(27:23):
of the damn thing, Perk. You had the podcast when
it first came out, I was happy about it, was
happy for them. Thought we would all learn a lot
about the game of basketball listening to JJ and Lebron,
and I still stand by that. But then you got
coaches that have called, You've got other people that have
lamented the fact. Damn it, you knew Darvin hand was
(27:44):
on the hot seat. Why would you pick that time
to have this damn podcast? And now, low and behold here,
JJ Reddick is the guy you doing a podcast with
as the primary candidate for the Lakers job. Hell, what
are we supposed to think, Stephen Ay, that's what they're saying.
What do you say, Kendrick Perkins.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Well, well, one, we already knew that JJ Reddick was
getting that damn job.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
They was just waiting.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
It doesn't happen yet, it's not official yet.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
We'll see. Yeah, but he's the front run there saying.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Now the news is starting to circulate again right after
the NBA Finals, Okay, which I already heard what was
gonna happen anyway before even the Dan Hurley news dropped.
Here's the thing that I gotta say, right I think
JJ Reddick knows his ship.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
I really really do.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
He is a brilliant basketball mind is but the one thing,
the one thing that I have a concern with, And
I told JJ this to his face. We had a conversation.
I said, he's gonna have to adjust that arrogant ass
duke attitude.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
He's gonna have to adjust You.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Said that arrogant asked duke attitude to him.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
It looked he laughed, and he laughed and we laughed
at all. But I was serious because think about this,
the two coaches that was coaching in the NBA Finals
were who a young Joe Mazoo looked thirty five years
old and a Jason kidd X's and Oo's is one thing,
But going in that locker room and speaking that language
and getting their ears and the attention of those players
(29:22):
is a whole nother thing. And that's what I think
the adjustment of JJ Reddick is gonna have to be.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Am.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
I a bit disappointed that the Lakers didn't give a
fast shots or more interviews to other coaches like a.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Field Handy, like Cassell that just wanted to U right,
I am, I am.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
But at the end of the day, we know what
was going on, and that's probably why I got unfollowed
because on social media's.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Talk about when Lebron unfollowed you because you got on
him for always trying to assert himself into the narrative
and he gonna follow you, and then you tweeted out
you said some people then follow Jesus, you know what
I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Okay, has.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Lebron spoken to you since?
Speaker 2 (30:13):
No, no, no, you have and has his team spoke?
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Has his team spoken to you?
Speaker 2 (30:19):
You know, Rich Paul and reached out.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
You know that, you know that, you know that, and
look to be honest and say it's it's no beef whatsoever.
But here's the thing I'm gonna tell you this, and
as we wrapping up the season, man, look, I appreciate
everything that you have done for me, real talk and
this real ship coming from my heart, everything that you
have done for me as a mentor, as a big
(30:45):
brother in this media space. And you know how much
I bust my ass to be here. And you also
know that when you're a Hall of Fame player, a
franchise guy that retires, you know, networks, not just here,
but other networks, they roll the red carpet out for
guys to come in into this space. I had to
(31:07):
work my ass off to get to the point where
I'm at today, and I still got more work to do.
And what people don't realize is this job is just
not a hobby for me. I take this shit serious.
I approach this as my next chapter in my life.
I close the basketball chapter in my life when people
when I go up on first take, I don't even
want the side ball. The graphic of showing Kendrick Perkins
(31:31):
two thousand and eight NBA Champion, fourteen year vet.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
No no, no, no no.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
I just want to be known as Kendrick Perkins NBA analysts.
This is the next chapter. I'm trying to be great
at that. And if in order for me to do that,
you know, I gotta do my job. And sometimes if
it roughers some feathers or it may cause some you know,
people to get their feeling, so be it, because if
it does, then and we're talking about the game of basketball,
(31:58):
then you really not in my corner.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Anyway.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Look, I'm gonna do my damn job. I appreciate you
and say, and I'm gonna keep going.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
I always tell you that we don't have things giving
to We ain't having thanks Giving with them. We ain't
exchange of no damn Christmas gifts as long as you
were fair and you ain't getting personal. Fuck it. If
they're gonna have an attitude, they're gonna have attitude, You
get over it. Life goes on. Having said all of that,
I think that when we look forward to what the
culture has been like switching back to back to back
(32:27):
to the court. Here's what I love about Boston. Even
though I picked the mask because I thought Pazingers wouldn't
play at all and I couldn't believe he played and
stuff like that. But props to the boss and something
that I'm really happy for Jason Tatum and Jayson Brown
because they got a love of both of them. I
gotta tell you this, what they've done by winning the
championship last night, I believe is the death of the
(32:48):
Big Three. We ain't gonna hear about that no more,
because now they showed you all you need is a
big two and the right parts around them in order
to win championships. Bump all that Big three nonsense anymore.
KD that I think KD. Bill and Booker getting swept
the same year that the Big two in Boston won
(33:10):
the championship.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
It's put the.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Death to the Big three. To that, you say, what.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
Now, I'm with you, But look, it started from the
last NBA championship with Jokichen Murray. It was just a
follow up and the nail and the coffin and the
barrier with the flowers over with them singing the gospel
music with Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum did too.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
That's all. It was. The big threes are over with.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Get you two one a's or whatever you however you
want to call it and go out there and do
your homework and put the pieces around them. Much credits
to Brad Stevens with Grosspec. They did that. Do you
I know, look, I know we gotta go say, but
let me say this. Do you realize what it took
for Brad Stevens and with Grosspec to make the move
(33:59):
of trading more smart?
Speaker 2 (34:00):
Yeah? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (34:02):
And I feel bad for Marcus Smart too, because I
almost want to get I almost want him to have
a ring because of what he meant to the Boston Celtics.
But you do understand that Porzingis did make them better.
And of course, in course Drew Holliday absolutely. And by
the way, Missoula, listen, I'm an email you Doka fan,
and I believe that if Emil Udoka was the coach
of the Boston Celtics, data did what they did last night,
(34:25):
they might have did it last year. I feel that way.
But I can't take nothing away from Missoula. He is
proving to be a hell of a coach. He's got
to get his flowers, his props because he showed up.
He really did.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
I agree a thousand percent. You know, Sam Cassel told
me the other day that he's that Joe Missoula.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
He said, you know, he talked, he knows his ship.
He's one of the most brilliant basketball minds I ever
been around. I'll tell you that that's something else.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
That's not a bad invitation, that's not a bad one.
That's how it is. But he's telling the truth. Sam
Cansell ain't lie. He know, dar Line, I'm proud of you,
my brother. You did a great, great job this year
covering the NBA. You deserve your rest. I'm gonna invite you,
you know, Dan, you know I ain't gonna tell everybody.
I ain't gonna tell everybody where I'm at, but I'm
gonna invite you down to the crib for the buffet.
I got my sister Calmas, she already got the buffet
(35:16):
set for you. Appreciate you, big boy. Thanks, Same here,
my man, Same here, One and only Kendrick Perkers hanging
out with you boy, Steven and a right here and
Steven Eate smith Show coming up. One of the coaching
candidates I've been touting for the Lakers is now heading
to the Clippers as a lead assistant coach. What does
(35:36):
it mean for the Battle of Los Angeles? Plus my man,
the one and Only Charles Barkley. Chuckster himself announced his
plan to retire from TV after next season, but will
a stick I'll touch on that in more next Right
here on the Steven Eate Smiths Show. You back for
more than me. Everybody knows demand excellence and I'm in
(36:01):
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It really, really, really is that easy. It's a surreal feeling.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
We did it. We did it.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
I know everybody ever wondering what would happened if we
didn't wear.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
I guess where?
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Welcome back to stephen A. Smiths Field right here over
the digital airways of YouTube and of course iHeartRadio. Now
that the Boston Celtics are the best franchise in the NBA,
social media has had a lot to say about Jason Tatum,
who you were just listening to, and his celebrations that
have recreated iconic moments. To say the least, Tatum has
openly expressed his admiration for late NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
(37:55):
He paid tribute to him during his this year's NBA Finals,
wearing a Celtic shirt identical to one Bryant ward during
his pre draft workout with Boston in nineteen ninety six,
as you could see right there. Fans have also accused
Tatum of recreating the Celtics two thousand and eight victory
when Kevin Garnet shouted during the postgame interview anything's possible.
(38:20):
Remember that that was Kevin Garnett. And if you saw
what Jason Tatum did. People are getting on him because
of his quote unquote poor imitation, not to mention when
he said, I guess we'll never know that was him
mimicking Kanye West. My response to all of this is
very simple, who gives a shit? He's a champion, y'all
(38:43):
can stop that nonsense right now. Hate another day, Hate
another day. Jason Tatum is a champion. The brother was
first team All NBA. The brother averaged twenty seven a game.
The brother in the NBA Finals game dropped thirty and ten,
thirty and eleven. To be specific, no Celtics in history
(39:04):
have ever done that. This is a Boston Celtics. We're
talking about winners of eighteen championships in NBA history, surpassing
the Lakers at seventeen. Okay, and Jason Tatum did something
nobody for the Boston Celtics have ever done, has ever
done in an NBA Finals. So this ain't the time.
(39:25):
In seven years in the league, the brother has been
the five conference finals and two NBA Finals, and now
he's a champion. Everybody, stand down and shut the hell up.
He got his endorsement deals, Okay, got He's getting his bag.
He's in line to sign a five year, three hundred
and fifteen million dollar extension. Nobody's gonna blink at those dollars.
(39:45):
It'll be the highest in NBA history. Nobody's gonna blink
at that, especially after Jalen Brown just signed last year
for three hundred and four million, okay, because he's Jason Tatum.
And when you've got that pressure on you, Jalen Brown
got three hundred and four million, you waiting for your
deal down the line. On top of it all, you
had already been to the conference finals numerous times and
an NBA Finals appearance, and you failed the kicking the door,
(40:07):
including a couple of years ago when you lost to
Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. All of this
pressure was on Jason Tatum's back and he answered the
call best record in the league twenty seven points per game,
NBA Championship after being named First Team All NBA when
(40:31):
his teammate Jalen Brown couldn't even make third team All
NBA although I voted for him to be on that
team and he should have been on that team. You
feel what I'm saying to you, It's time to shut
the hell up. This ain't the time to be talking
about Jason Tatum and the Brothers a champion. He's a
champion and nobody could take that away from him. I
couldn't wait to get to this next story that I'm
(40:52):
ready to talk about right now because I saw it
in the news last week, and obviously it's apropos that
I comment about it. That can't be good news for
NBA fans. No way in hell. My man, my brother,
the one and only, Charles Barkley announced that he will
retire at the end of next NBA season. After the
(41:13):
next NBA season, Barkley joined NBA TV after the Mavericks
Game four win on Friday, and he had this to say.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
I have made the decision myself.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
No matter what happens, next year is going to be
my last year on television, and I just want to
say thank you to my NBA family.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
You guys been great to me. My heart is full
with joy and gratitude.
Speaker 1 (41:37):
Now, Barkley has been one of the faces of inside
the NBA for twenty five years, but it appears that
TNT is going to lose NBA rights following next season
with some combination or to some combination of Amazon, NBC
obviously ESPN, and Disney of course ABC to be exact.
Here's why I think, ladies and gentlemen, I'm not in
(41:57):
any way calling Charles Barker a liar. I think that
Charles Barkley is very sincere. I just don't think it's
gonna happen. I don't think Charles Barkley's leaving. Let me
tell you what I think is going on, and it's
just a thought. I have not spoken to him. I
have not asked him about it. Charles Barkley loves those
(42:23):
people over at TNT. I'm not talking about just Ernie Johnson, Shack,
Kenny Smith. I'm talking about all the people behind the scenes.
And what Charles has publicly lamented was how Warner Brothers
Discovery has handled the whole NBA situation and how he
(42:43):
feels like TNT employees are being thrown out to pasture
and it sickens him, so he doesn't just want to
go away and go somewhere else while one hundred and
fifty to two hundred plus people find themselves looking for
a new job because they're out of a job courtesy
of this move. And that is the Charles Barkley you're
(43:07):
hearing right now. Charles Barkley that loves the people he
works with, that loves a lot of the bosses he
worked for, that loves some of the colleagues he worked
with on the end, behind the scenes. Of course, it's
a family over there to him, and he can't imagine
wanting to be somewhere else, working with or for somebody
(43:29):
else while those people are looking for a job. Say
the same Barkley that said I've had my time and
I'm about to give it up. Let those same people
be out of a job and somebody tells, Charles Barkley,
you know what, your production company could produce your own
NBA show and everybody will flock to you, and he
(43:50):
could keep those people employed. I'm willing to bet my
check Charles Barkley would do it just for them, because
no matter the fact that he's the round mount of rebound,
he's the mouth that roars, He'll tell it like it
is and or how he thinks it should be, et cetera,
et cetera. The brother's got a hearter goal, he's got
a heart go. He's one of the best human beings
(44:10):
you'll ever see in your life. And those people are
people he cares a great deal about. And it's because
he cares so much about them. I'm not saying he's lying.
I'm saying, don't believe he's going for good. Don't believe it.
I don't believe it for one second. His voice is
(44:33):
too powerful it's too influential, it's too enjoyable, and he
loves the game of basketball too much. He ain't eighty,
He's still got a lot of life left in him.
So I don't think for one second this is gonna
be the end. I just think he's pissed off at
the way colleagues at TNT are being thrown out to
(44:55):
pasture in his eyes, and he'd rather walk away that
worked for somebody else while they find themselves looking for
a job because he feels that sick about it. That's
Charles Barkley. If you know him, that's what you know
about Charles Barkley. That's who he is. That's who he is.
(45:15):
So what I would say to you is stay tuned.
Anything's possible. The other thing is one thing I will
get on Charles Barkley about. You know, he talked about
Jamal Crawford, Vince Carter and others passing to baton to them.
Let me say this to you, you ain't gonna find
(45:38):
too many people on the planet that love that loved
Jamal Crawford more than me. I love the Brother. My
nickname for him was an one he could boogey on anybody.
The Brother was spectacular, especially one on one basketball. The
brother was spectacular, loved Jamal Crawford, j C Special, and
Vince Carter is a Hall of Famer and the best
endgame dunker I think I've ever seen. They're damn good
(46:04):
at being basketball analysts, and I hope their future is bright.
But when Charles Barkeley says he's gonna pass the baton
Charles Balkeley in making that call, I can assure you
that Charles Barkley is not going to decide who his
successor is in that particular seat that he sits in.
(46:25):
It's not gonna happen. It's not gonna happen. They're good, Hell,
they're very good. But I'm telling you it don't go
down like that. Take it from your boy, stephen A.
I'm telling you what I know. Let me move on
to mister Jeff Van Gundy, former head coach of the
(46:46):
New York Knicks, former head coach for the Houston Rockets,
former NBA color commentator extraordinaire for ESPN's a team on
the NBA Games on ESPN and ABC. That Jeff Van Gundy,
just as I thought maybe he would, he would get
an interview for the head coaching job with the Los
Angeles Lakers. ESPN's Adrian woljon Earowski reporter this morning that
(47:07):
Jeff Van Gundy has agreed to join the Los Angeles
Clippers as the top assistant under Tyron Lou. The sixty
two year old Van Gundy spent sixteen years as a
TV analyst for ESPN before accepting a role as a
senior consultant with the Boston Celtics this past season, just
won the title last night. Van Gundy has a strong
relationship with Lou after having coached them for a season
(47:29):
with the Rockets and teaming up with him as members
of the USA Basketball staff. I miss Jeff Van Gundy.
I miss Mark Jackson. This is not me throwing any
shade at Darris Burg, JJ Reddick, certainly the Hall of famer,
(47:51):
Mike Breen, Doris Burk's a Hall of Famer two. This
is not about anything like that. This is about the
fact that Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were truly
in eighteen They were exceptional at their jobs. They were
riveting in a lot of ways. They were an illustrious
tag team that the basketball world enjoyed for more than
(48:17):
a decade. Love them both, respect the hell out of them,
and Jeff Van Gundy having a job back in the NBA.
I couldn't be happier for him. He's a good man.
Stan van Gundy, his brother is a good man. And
by the way, the other day I heard Stan van
Gundy on Dan Levatard Show speaking about how his now
late wife, Jeff Van Gundy's sister in law, had passed
(48:41):
away after committing suicide. I had no idea. My heartfelt
condolences to the Van Gundy family. Back to basketball, Jeff
Van Gundy deserves to be what he wants in a
game of basketball. If it's a coach, fine, If it's
an assistant coach, fine, if it's a color commentator, fine.
(49:03):
I respect the hell out of Jeff and I'm very
fond of them. But it's one thing that we all
have to understand, and nobody speaks about this because everybody
talks about stuff is unfair. And you know, he got
let go. In the world of business, when cuts take place,
cuts take place, there's hundreds of people who lost their jobs.
(49:31):
And it wasn't just at ESPN or at Disney. Have
you seen what happened at Meta? Have you seen what
has happened at places like Apple and Amazon and other places.
The climate that we're living in, these kind of things happen.
(49:51):
I'm not saying it's right. I'm not saying it's fair.
Damn it is downright cruel. When have we know in
the world of business to be otherwise? And I got
news for you. I was sad to see Jeff Van
Gundy go, even saden to see my brother Mark Jackson,
cause obviously I'm a lot tighter with him than I
(50:13):
am with Jeff Van Gundy. But I'm never concerned about
them landing on their feet because of who they are,
how impeccable their reputations are, and the kind of opportunities
that will inevitably come their way. I can assure you
I know of plenty of people when they lose their jobs.
(50:37):
If they were to lose their jobs, it wouldn't be
quite that easy. Matter of fact, it would be significantly
more daunting. So again, in terms of Jeff Van Gundy,
I miss you, buddy. I wish him and Mark Jackson
was still at our network, just like I'm happy that
Darris Burke and Mike Breen and JJ Reddick are still there.
(51:00):
I'm happy Richard Jefferson and Ryan Ruco. Are they're doing
their thing? Tim Legler, let me not forget him. Well,
I think it is an outstanding basketball analyst. It should
be doing more color commentary, Make no mistake about it.
I work with special people with my day job at
the ESPN, but nothing's guaranteed. Nobody is safe, that includes me,
(51:26):
and I'm speaking from experience. Remember I got fired in
two thousand and nine. Take nothing for granted. In the
world of business, ladies and gentlemen, no one's ever safe.
In this day and age. Numbers make calls, not just people.
Numbers dictate a lot. Never forget that, Never forget that.
(51:54):
Coming up, I get a lot of jokes about my
hairline in case you didn't know, which I know you do.
But someone else in the sports world showed off something
that has me feeling a lot better about myself than Jays.
I ain't gonna lie to you. Find out who plus Tavonte,
Tank Davis knocked out Frank Martin? Are we looking at
the best fighter on the planet. I'll give you my
(52:16):
answer up next right here on the Stephen A. Smith
Show over the digital airwas of YouTube and iHeartRadio. Don't
touch that dollar go anywhere, I'd be back and moment
welcome back to Steven A. Smiths Show right here over
the digital airwaves of YouTube. Before I get on out
of here for this particular show, I needed to revisit
(52:37):
what transpired this past Saturday night. Javonte Tank Davis knocked
out challenger Frank Martin in the eighth round all right
at MGM Grand's Guarden Arena to retain his WBA lightweight title.
Martin was simply outmatched, y'all. He was out matched against
Davis's power and speed and skill and box and IQ.
(52:59):
I've said it before, I'll say it again. If you
get into the ring with boxing's number one attraction, because
that's who the hell Javonte Tank Davis is, okay, you're
getting in with a shark in blood infested waters. So
I M call in the Baltimore native of Mini Mike
Tyson with a record of thirty and oh twenty eight
(53:20):
by knockout, he's pound for pounds, one of the top
five fighters on a planet easily and guess what he
might be top's overall. Now, there's some names through out
there in fairness, Terrence Crawford, we can't forget about him.
Can't forget about him. Better BF or the better DF
light heavyweight division, can't forget about him. Okay, you gotta
throw him some love. Can't get around that. Canelo Alvarez
(53:43):
can't forget about him. My guy, David Benavita is twenty eighth,
twenty nine to oh, twenty four knockouts, the Mexican Monster,
as so labeled. Mike Tyson can't forget about him either.
I brought up Terrence Crawford after his destruction of Ero
Sponge Junior. We know that Terrence Crawford deserves to be
in a conversation. But here's the deal. This cat is
twenty seven and oh with twenty four knockouts. Now he's
(54:08):
special super band to wait, we don't see much of him.
I remember I saw him knockout Nenito Donaire, Nanito Donaire.
But the Brother Special, no doubt. We can debate the
top fighter in the world pound for pound. We can
do that. What we cannot do is debate who's the
(54:30):
most exciting fire Who is the biggest box office attraction
in boxing? That would happen to be Javonte Davis. We
just got We just gotta accept it. He goes into
the ring, Frank Martin and him talking a lot of stuff,
and I knew I said something special. Listen, Frank Martin's
going up against him, and you hear a lot of
guys talking trash, and Travonte Davis is a master at
(54:52):
messing with your mind. He's a master and messing with
your head and getting inside of your head. That's true.
But what really really stood out of my mind was
when he was in the press conference leading up to
the fight and he said to Frank Martin, you really
really took this fight a little bit too early. He said,
you really really should have waited. That's really the mistake
(55:14):
you made. You really should have waited. Martin eighteen and
oh undefeated. But with twelve knockouts and what happened, Tank
Davis comes out, especially after Frank Martin was telling folks
went on Ryan Clark in the Pivot podcast, you know,
(55:34):
with Channing Crowded and Fred Taylor and those boys talking
about how he buckled. You know, Tank Tank Davis's legs
and all the time, Tank Davis is a press coming.
What are you talking about? That's a lie? You what
the hell are you talking about? You don't make no sense,
blah blah blah blah. You're just lying. And you know
when I knew he was lying, when Frank Martin was lying.
When Tank Davis got in that ring Saturday night and
(55:58):
from opening tap, walked right to him and stalked him.
Opening tap, made him uncomfortable, was in his face, throwing
haymakers coming for him from opening tap, and then the
knockout was beautiful, swung a right hook, came with the
left upper cut from the south port stands obviously, and
(56:20):
then he was completely caught off guard. Frank Martin was
wobbled and left the whole right side of his face
open and TANKSI yeah, and took him out. There's levels
to this. Frank Martin is good, he's a talented boxer,
but was very deliberate in his protection and what have you,
(56:40):
because boxing doesn't come that naturally to him. So what
happened is is that you protecting yourself, protecting yourself, protecting yourself,
and Travonte just set you up and ultimately wore you
down and court you. And now we got to look
at Frank Martin and just go like this because you're
not gonna get a rematch with Tank Davis why would
(57:02):
he waste his time with that? So the biggest fight
in your career, of your life, you blew because of
the man in which you got taken out. That's what happens.
Back to the drawing board. I think that Frank Martin's
a talented fighter. He'll make some things happen down the
line in the future, but we'll never look at him
the same after that destruction. We'll never look at him
(57:24):
the same. Not to say that we won't respect him,
but we'll never look at him the same because he
got destroyed by Javonte Davis. And that's no shame, that's
no slouch, but damn still, in all you get destroyed,
you get destroyed. And so now I'm looking at it,
Javonte Davis is the number one box office attraction. Who
I want to see him against next is Shakur Stevenson.
(57:47):
I don't want to see him against Devin Hainey because
Devin Haney has proven to me that he's not a
good punch taker. So my thing is, if you're Javonte Davis,
you catch Devin Hainey, oh my lord, oh my god.
You know you survived three knockdowns from Ryan Garcia that
ain't gonna happen against Javonte Davis, so I don't want
(58:09):
to see that fight. And then I'm looking at Tank
Davis and I'm like, damn, at one thirty five, you
know you're a bit too big, you know you look
too strong. Maybe you should move up to one forty
to your female Lopez stuff like that. That would be
an interesting fight. But of course Stevenson, with all the
noise that has been made about him, deserves a shot.
And of course Lomanchenko, because we know that Lomanchenko is
(58:30):
a brilliant, brilliant boxer, but he's so small, He's so small.
I'm not comfortable seeing Lomanchenko against Javonte Davis because my
attitude is nobody has a shot against Javonte Davis if
you can't punch with power. That's not to say that
Lomonchenko can't punch with power. He saw what he did
(58:50):
to camp Bosis, beat the shit out of him. But
I'm saying to you, against Javonte Davis, I don't know,
I don't know. I mean, it would be a very interesting,
very compelling, but I wouldn't be worried about Javonte Davis
getting knocked out, I'd be worried about Lemonchenko. I want
(59:10):
to see Javontae Davis in the ring where somebody perceived
as having enough power to put him on the canvas too.
That's what I want to see. That's what I want
to see. I don't think lo Minchenko gives us that.
I think your course, Stevenson might. That's just where I'm
at with this, y'all. That's just where I'm at with it.
(59:32):
Before I get on out here for today, Former professional
soccer player turned Fox Sports analyst Landon Donovan was on
the network's broadcast when fans noticed a chunk of hair
missing behind his ear. The broadcast didn't show a full
view at the back of Donovan's head, so it's unclear
whether there is here missing in other spots as well,
(59:54):
but the bizarre look had social media in an uproar,
to say the least. Donovan later explaed that he was
told it wouldn't appear on camera, and in a text
exchange with former teammate Mike McGee that went viral, he
explained that he had a hair transplant two weeks ago.
Oh my god, I didn't see that. Who's this friend
(01:00:20):
of yours? Who is the friend that told you that
ain't gonna be seen on television. It's not like you
had on the hat or something. Who the hell told
you that? Who the hell told you that would not
be seen on television. I don't even want to hear
shit about my headline again, not a word. I'm not
(01:00:44):
doing bad. I'm not doing bad at all. Put me
up against that picture on that landa donovhan. I got
love for you, my brother, respect for you.
Speaker 3 (01:00:50):
I'm not.
Speaker 1 (01:00:50):
I'm just having fun with you. No harm, no foul.
But you ain't never got to worry about my headline
looking like that. Oh no, oh no. Let me tell
y'all something right now too, and don't put it past me. Look,
y'all ain't got no shame of my game. I will
go to hairclub for men. I'll tell you about it.
I'll let you come join me while I'm doing it.
I don't give a shit. I couldn't use my headline
(01:01:13):
being about this much closer. I wouldn't mind that. I
ain't ashamed to tell you. Look, you got a lot
of fake stuff going on out here. Remember that Chris Rock.
Chris Rock wants talked about you, ladies. Now the fellas.
You know, some of us need to be fake, damnit.
Some of us need to pay us, some of us
need to shave it all over. Some of us need
(01:01:34):
to get in the damn gym rolling around with our
row ton. So it's a lot of shit we need
to do as men, But we ain't gonna let the
ladies off the hook. Did off the hook here? Remember
what Chris Rock said and stand up comedy before he said,
he said, we'll give a damn about y'all talking about women.
He said, you a liar, You a liar, You you
a liar. Remember that when he did that stand up
(01:01:57):
that comedy show. He said, you got hiss on. You
ain't that tall, you understand? He said, you got you
got green eyes. Your eyes ain't no damn green. You know,
you got you got fake booms, you know? And he
said remember that, he said, you wearing weaves your heir
ain't that color? He said, you lie every damn day.
(01:02:19):
But you want me to tell the truth. Few that's
what Chris Rock said, not me, but it was funny.
It's kind of true. It's amazing how many people, particularly
of the opposite sex, get to do things to accentuate
your beauty, okay, But the second a man tries to
do something like that, we got to go through hell. Now,
(01:02:41):
landon Donovan, I mean, I don't know what the hell
you were thinking showing up with that. I don't know
what you were thinking. That's on you, bro, But I'm
gonna give you a pass in ways that a lot
of women might not give you a pass. But the
fellas we gonna give you a pass because we feel
your pain. We feel your pain, and we hear for
(01:03:02):
you brought to a point. Ain't no way in hell
I'd ever be seen with my eye in public with
my head like that. I don't know what you were thinking.
And if you're gonna show out in public, put a
hat on. What you don't do is be a part
of a broadcast with your hair like that. And then
(01:03:22):
you're gonna sit up there and say your friend told
you they wouldn't see it. Damn cut him off. Friends
like that? Who needs enemies? Get rid of his ass
quick faster than a hurry. Ladies, I'm only playing with you,
you know ste what I'm saying. Ain't nobody got no
problem that y'all accentuating your beauty in whatever way you choose.
It's a free world. Live it up, girl, Live it
(01:03:42):
up to each his and her own. One person's ecstasy
is another person's misery. Do you be all about you?
That's the final note, nugget of info from your Stephen.
Speaker 2 (01:04:00):
There.
Speaker 1 (01:04:00):
I'm about to sign off until next time. I'll be
back with Marvel until then, Peace of Love Everybody is
the latest edition. Stephen A. Smith Show, Signing off until
next time.
What's up, everybody. Welcome to the Ladies edition of The
stephen A. Smith Show, coming at you as I love
to do it the very least three times a week
over the digital airwaves of YouTube, and of course I
Heeartradio as always, I want to take a moment to
show my appreciation to my followers and subscribers. We've now
eclipsed and exceeded over seven hundred and five thousand subscribers.
I appreciate the love. Keep it coming, and I'm gonna
(00:32):
keep on coming. I'm in a very good mood. I'm
in a very good mood because the NBA Finals are over. Okay.
I am a very very very happy man because I
sit here in front of your face right now and
in an airshot of all of you out there on iHeartRadio.
Tired as hell, Tired as hell because I'm exhausted because
it's been a long season. But nevertheless, it ended the
(00:54):
way it was supposed to end, a right, and that's
where we're going to start today, because where else to
start other than Boston. The Celtics beat the Mavericks one
oh six eighty eight and Game five to capture their
record eighteenth NBA championship. Surpassing the rival Los Angeles Lakers
for the most all time. The Celtics were led by
Jason Tatum, who had thirty one points, eight rebounds, and
(01:16):
eleven assists, and of course, co starred Jalen Brown, who
finished with twenty one, eight and six and also captured
NBA Finals MVP honors. Last night, by the Way, also
marked the sixteenth anniversary of Boston's last title in since
twenty sixteen, and a one hundred and seventh playoff game,
Brown and Tatum played together, the most ever by a
(01:38):
duo before winning their first NBA championship. Was also a
first title for head coach Joe Mizzoula, president of basketball
operations Brad Stevens, and veteran Al Horford, who played one
hundred and eighty six playoff games before his first title ever,
the most ever. By the way, the Celtics led wire
to wire and well by twenty one points at halftime.
His were actually the sixteen year anniversary since the Boston
(02:00):
Celtics had one had won because they had once since
two thousand and eight. Major major props to Jason Tatum,
because the man showed up then you know, wasn't flowing
offensively in games one to two, but definitely showed up
in games three and five and handled his business, especially
in the close out game. You see it right there,
eleven to twenty four, shooting thirty one points, eight rebounds,
(02:20):
eleven assists, getting to the basket when the jumper wasn't
necessarily falling, making sure he was assertive and aggressive enough
to show that he was a star that belonged being
mentioned amongst the stars. Jalen Brown had been a model
of consistency throughout these playoffs and especially in the NBA Finals.
He showed up on both ends of the court. Showed
up was defending Luca from opening tap of game one. Okay,
(02:43):
you saw he finished with twenty one eight and six
only shot seven to twenty three one field, But who cares.
He took on the defensive assignment, took on the challenge.
Who was a model of consistency and deserves all the
praise in the world. But before I give out any
more praise or any more criticism or anything in between,
why should it come from just me? You know what,
I'm gonna welcome my analyst to the show because he
(03:06):
is a guy that was on that championship team. In
two thousand and eight. Was also a member of the
team in the NBA Finals when they lost to the
Los Angeles Lakers. My colleague at ESPN, the big boy himself,
the one and only, Kendrick Perkins. What's up, big Time?
How are you man? How's everything?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
What's up? Ad say? What's happening? I'm tired as hell.
I feel like you.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Damn. We both tied, and we both glad it's over.
How surprised are you that it ended in five?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I'm very surprised. I picked. Look, I picked the Celtics
to win in seven.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
I thought Dallas was going to give them a more.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Competition than that.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
But you got to give a lot of credit to
the Boston Celtics, starting with the front office, starting with
the medical staff, the training staff.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
This team was built for the long haul.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
You could tell since training camp their number one goal
was to win the NBA Championship because it showed right
when the Dallas Mavericks were breaking down, when Luka Doncis
was hobbling up and down the floor, the athleticism stoock
out like a sowred thumb. And when you saw Jaylen
Brown and Jason Tatum drew Holliday. They just the game
(04:13):
just looked faster, right Like they played at a different
pace than the Dallas Mavericks. And you talk about this
starting five man, even with Al Horford in that lineup,
I mean, it's been the best starting five in basketball.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
And Steven Ay, I'm gonna say this.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
I was one of the ones who criticized Joe Missoula
a lot. I didn't think his style of play could work.
He coached his ass, so I didn't know that Jalen
Brown and Jason Tatum could get it done. They played
their ass so and I also believed a while back
that we would never see a back to back champion.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I'm starting to rethink those things right now.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I gotta tell you I'm with you in the back
to back because here's what I'm thinking. Jason Tatum and
Jaylen Brown, neither of who are twenty eight years of
age yet. Drew Holliday's locked him for the next four years.
Derek White's about to get his bag. He's eligible for
a four year, one hundred and twenty to one hundred
thirty million dollar extension. Al Horford, you probably won't order
to retire, even though if he does, he would have
(05:12):
earned the right to do so. After playing as long
as he's played and finally capturing that elusive championship, Porzingis
is gonna be back with a vengeance. We don't know
whether he's gonna stay healthy. That's always a question mark
with him. But we saw from Game one that the
brother ain't nervous. He showed up on a big stage
and if healthy enough, he can make things happen. This
might have been a sweet had he not been hurt,
(05:33):
to be quite honest with you, so we got to
be honest about that. Having said all of that, right now,
how are we to look at Jason Tatum in your mind?
I'll get to Jaylen Brown in the second, but Jason
Tatum First Team All NBA. Now we're having discussions about
him being in the conversation for being the top five
player in the NBA. As Jason Tatum would say, what
(05:54):
we're gonna say? Now? What are we gonna say? Now?
What do we say about Jason Tatum? Now, Kendrick Perkin
that he's.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
An NBA champion, that he's a he's a top ten
player in the NBA. I'm not gonna jump the gun
and say top five, but he's a top ten player
in the league right now. It's a few guys that
I still have ahead of him. To be honest with you,
I mean, you know Jokic, Johannis, Anthony Elwoods. I mean,
(06:22):
we could name some other Steph Curry, like I don't
have them in my top five. I mean, and that's okay.
He's a champion. He's a champion. He deserves to talk
his noise. And we saw growth with Jason Tatum. We
saw the great KG always used to tell us, I
always like to watch these young and upcoming superstars around
(06:43):
the league because I want to see if they're going
to be able to grow in the area of making
guys around them better. He did that this postseason, showed
that he could be a point forward. He took a
leap in that aspect, and in the results that the
NBA champion.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
He's a champion.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Let me transition to Jalen Brown because I gotta say this.
I had him on my All NBA Team thirteen. I
don't think there's fifteen players in the NBA better than
Jaylen Brown. When you take into account his defense and
his willingness to accept those assignments. He deserves a lot
of credit for that way, as a lot of guys
don't necessarily elect to do that. We know that he's
been through a lot, We know that there's some shine
(07:19):
that he feels he deserves, that he's been underappreciated. What
the DISC Finals and this ultimately capturing NBA Finals MVP,
What has that done for Jalen Brown in your estimation? Oh?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Oh everything? And you said top fifteen, I'm going with
top ten. The Celtics have two top ten players in
the NBA. Jalen Brown made me respect the defensive side
of things and respect two way players even more. The
definition of a two way player. He got it done
on both ends of the floor. Essay, he got it
(07:54):
done on both ends of the floor. He was efficient
all throughout the postseason on offensive end, He shot the
ball extremely well. Defensively, one could argue that he was
the best defensive player in the postseason. What he did
to Luca in the NBA Finals say, look, Luca is
going to put up numbers. I get that he has
the ball in his hands. He's too special of a
(08:16):
talent to actually stop him or shut him down.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
But when Jalen Brown was guarding him, he showed him.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
It was levels to this. Jalen Brown had a clean suite.
Do you realize he have the Bill Russell Trophy, the
Larry O'Brien Trophy, and the Larry Bird Trophy. It all
resigns in Jaylen brown house. Name me a other young
superstar that has those three trophies and I'll wait until
somebody catches up with him. Listen, right now, we have
(08:45):
to annoy him. And it's not Jalen underappreciated Brown. No
more is Jyalen appreciated Brown.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Damn it. He's the top ten player in the league.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
I have to look and transition to the Dallas Mavericks
and ask the question why did they lose this series?
The answer that I come up with, there's a multitude
of reasons why. Jalen Brown's defense, no question about it,
Boston's collective defense. We can't ignore that. I'm gonna go
to Kyrie Irvin and I'm not trying to point all
the blame to him. Kyrie has had a sensational year.
(09:15):
Kyrie deserves all the praise that he's received. We all
know that he's been praising him for the longest time
this year because he really really made up for a
lot of stuff that he had gone through in the
past and really really righted a lot of wrongs and
was moving forward. But this ain't about us being critical
of Kyrie. This is about us pointing out how clearly
Kyrie hasn't gotten over being critical about himself. I believe
(09:37):
Kyrie Irvin was rattled in every game he played in Boston,
not Dallas. He was an All world player, but in
the city of Boston, at TV guarded, where he once played,
where he once wore that Boston Celti's uniform, they clearly
did not like him. They were chanting Kyrie sucks every
chance they got. They were boring him profusely. He was
(09:59):
clearly a affected by it, whether it was tight one minute,
over anxious the next. The bottom line is he ended
up averaging fourteen point three points on thirty four percent,
shooting at eighteen percent from three point range in the
three games that he played in Boston. Now that Kyrie
has lost his fourth final in five appearances, what are
(10:20):
we to say about Kyrie Irving and how are we
to look at him in light up this performance, specifically
in Boston.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Well, I'm gonna say this, it's a prime example when
you're a leader needs a leader, right and it's another
prime example why veterans matter. We gotta remember this, as say,
during this run to the NBA Finals for the Dallas Mavericks,
Kyrie Irvin has been the leader on that team. Now,
all of a sudden, you go into Boston and no
(10:49):
matter how much you try to downplay it, or Kyrie
try to downplay it, or he tried to address the
problem and try to get his mentality together, he.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Needed a shoulder to lean on.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
And that showed it wasn't Jason Kidd or Jared Dudley
or any other assistant coaches. He needed another veteran on
that team that he could go to, another veteran on
that team that could put a key in his back.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
I thought he you know, he was phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
In Game three, in Game four, make no mistake about it,
but Kyrie in my eyes, is still one of the
most skilled players to ever touch the dawn basketball.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
That haven't changed.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
That hasn't changed, but what he's done, I think what
the Celtics did to him. Okay, just think he's going
against all world defenders Drew Holliday and Derek White, Tutla
and Jaylen Brown, three of the most elite defenders perimeter
defenders in the game. Kyrie Irvine, what he has done
(11:47):
for the Dallas Mavericks this year and to play the role.
I know they fell short, but I think at this
moment that say, I got to give him miss Flowers.
I got to give miss Flowers. He has completely close
the old chapter of his book and the new chapter
is looking really really strong right now, and really break
for him.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Oh that's just me, I just I just feel.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
I have to disagree with you only on this sense, perk.
He is the one that is clearly holding onto it now.
The rest of us have moved past it, you know,
because we see him, we see how he's blossomed. Were
gonna give him his luck, We're gonna give him love.
He hasn't let it go because he was a completely
(12:31):
different player in Boston than he ever was in Dallas.
He goes to Dallas, he looks all world, averaging twenty
eight the game, fifty the field, forty two from three
point range. The brother goes to Boston and all of
a sudden can't handle the heat. They're treating him like
a Benedict Arnald, and it's almost like he's like, yeah,
it's a lot to get over. That's how he came across.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Yeah, and he and he forgot to play and he
forgot that it is just basketball. But again, you gotta look,
you have to give a lot of credit again to
the Boston fan base and to the Boston Celtics because they.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Backed up their fan base. Right.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
If you don't think for one second that Jaylen Brown
and Jason Tatum didn't have it in the back of
their mind that Kyrie Irvin left them and that they
wanted to shut him down and beat them, beat him
in the NBA finals. People, you're crazy and I'm crazy.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Look, they had it on their mind. Let me say
this to you, say, tell me how you feel about this, Luca.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
In the six years, that's where I was going.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I want to ask you though, I want to ask you.
I want to be a co host, and Steve, I
want to ask you.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Here. Here's I feel real quick, and I want to
get your thoughts on it. Luca out there. Six years.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Five of those years, first team All NBA been to
a conference finals right two seasons ago, I believe it
was with Jaylen Bronson. This year go to the NBA
finals uh, does he get start does he start to
get the Jason Tatum treatment that we get that we
gave Jason Tatum in twenty twenty two. Nothing else matters
(14:06):
no more until he delivers a championship and complete the mission.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
I'm just asking you.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
You can make that argument, but it's actually something worse
than that, perpose worse. We don't even get to ask
him that first. You know what, the first question we're gonna.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Ask Luca, what's that?
Speaker 1 (14:25):
How committed are you gonna be? You're gonna get shaped
think about that? When have we ever? We ain't never
questioned Jason Tatum's conditioning. We ain't questioning Lebron's conditioning. Hell,
we ain't questioned Kd's conditioning. We ain't questioned Steph Curry's conditioning.
We ain't questioned Kobe's conditioning. We ain't questioned conditioning of
any of the great ones. Okay, No, I mean, listen,
(14:48):
the last time we talked about anybody's conditioning it was
with Shaq, and that was only because Kobe was going
off about the shit. At the end of the day,
Shaq comes out there and he's like, I ain't worried
about the sacri the queens and then went out there
and showed them there's a difference between kings and queens
and they ain't ready and that's how he treated them.
So we can't even get on shack about that. The
(15:09):
point that I'm making is with Luca knowing you going
up against Tatum, knowing you going up against Jaylen Brown,
those horses in the Western Conference that you did get through,
one could easily argue that Luca's conditioning served as an
impediment because he wanted to play at one pace. And
this is what I said the other day. I said
this today on my day job, first Tap every weekday
(15:31):
morning today am the twelve noon on ESPN, I said
that this morning, Big Perk, I said, who's the ideal
teammate for Kyrie Irvin? I'm sorry, I said, think about
it in terms of somebody that's Kyrie Irvan with what
Kyrie I was going through in Boston. Let me tell
you the names I gave the audience, KG number one.
(15:54):
I said that mouth on KG. KG would have been
on the court on the parquet floor if he was
at a hold it a boss and would have been
telling them bump them. However, don't kiss your ass the
hell you doing. He would have been in his face like,
suck it up, let's go. He would have got on Kyrie.
Kyrie were responded to that right. Another person that would
(16:14):
have been an ideal teammate was Kobe, because Kobe would
have done the same thing. And another person who would
have been an ideal teammate be for an entirely different reason.
Is his old running made He won the title with
Lebron because unlike Luca, Lebron can pay play whatever pace
you want. You want to slow it down, Lebron got
that you want to speed it up, play up tempo.
(16:35):
Lebron got that you understand. Lebron could do it, whereas
Luca only wanted to play at one pace because he
doesn't have the conditioning to keep up with with with
the pace that Kyrie could flourish at, et cetera. What
are your thoughts about what I just said?
Speaker 3 (16:52):
No, I'm with you one thousand percent. Everything you said
is one hundred percent accurate. And I think that's that's
gonna be the growth for not only Luca, but then
Tyler entire Dallas Maverick team. They're gonna have to hit
the player development. Luca is gonna have to take that
next step in his cardio.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
We saw Yokis do it right.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
We saw Yokis come back in phenomenal shape, start the
training camp the year that they wanted. And you know
what Yokis did, He sustained that throughout the season, right.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
He made sure he kept the main thing, the main thing.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
We joked around and they had it circulating the video
when Mike Finley took the beer out of Luca hen
But that's another sacrifice, you know, Luca, Okay, if that
was on camera, what are you doing behind closed doors?
If you're trying to be the best, if you're trying
to win the NBA Championship, it's gonna have to start
with your conditioning.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
At the end of the day.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Look, Luca's first team all whack body. Okay, I have
a wag body. Yokis have a whack body. Paul Pierce
had a wag body. You know what a whack body is.
That's say it's you could be in shape. You're not
gonna get a six pack. You probably get the folk,
but the bottom is still gonna have a little pudge,
and that's okay. Get in great shape, right, Ye're in
great shape. But here's the thing I was thinking about.
(18:08):
I was thinking about. Okay, if the Dallas Mavericks want
to make another run at it next year, we know
teams are gonna get better in the off season. You
know who I'm looking at. I'm gonna get your I
want to get your endergy because I've been missing you
the last couple of days on first take, but I want.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
To get your energy on it.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Okay, all right, Tim Hardaway Jr. They can find a
way to move his money, yes, right, Okay, he making
about eighteen nineteen million. Right, you package up him and
somebody else. Can they go out and get Klay Thompson?
Can you go get Klay Thompson?
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Okay, Okay, here's the problem. Here's a problem with that.
If I'm Klay Thompson, That's not where I want to
go because Luca's two ball dominant. See Klay Thompson's used
to catching the shooting is exceptional of a passer as
Luca is. Remember, Klay Thompson still plays at a higher pace,
and so that's problematic because Luca's gonna look for his shot,
(19:04):
Kyrie's gonna look for his shot. Klay Thompson is your
number two option. Okay, he's not used to being less
than that, and if he's gonna be less than that,
he can stomach it. If the pace of play gives
you more bites at the apple because you're jacking up
more opportunities because you're playing at a faster pace, at
the pace that Luca's gonna play with, because you know
the ball's gonna be in his hands the majority of
(19:24):
the time. I don't think this rule for Clay. I
think the ideal place for Klay Thompson is the New
York Knicks or the Philadelphia seventy six ers. I would
say the Los Angeles Lakers, but they don't have a
snowballs chance of getting them.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
No, No, I'm with you on that.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
But here's the thing I understand, And that's a great
point you brought up about pace. But how much do
you trust ja kid? I trust him a lot. You
don't think that he could make Luca get up off
the peel. Look, PJ. Washington had a lot of shot
attempt right, you know what I mean? In the NBA Finals.
I'm thinking to myself, if that's Klay Thompson, Klay Thompson,
(20:02):
that his mentality is right because we know this past
season Clay dealt with a lot of ups and downs
with the organization and all this.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Like we know this that.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
For the second half of the season.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
But we know if your mind is not right, you
can't be the basketball player you want to be. I'm
saying those shots PJ Washington was missing in the NBA Finals,
that PJ Washington balled out. I'm not saying they need
to get rid of him, But you add Klay Thompson
to the mix, I'm okay with that. With the Dallas
Mavers if they make some moves, but I'm look what
(20:36):
they got in the kid, Dereck Lively, Right, I'm telling
you right now, hey disguise the limit for their yall.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Man as well, Well.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Let me ask you this, Perk. Is that your way
of saying you don't believe that Dallas missed an opportunity
because the West has packed. Who's to say Dallas is
gonna get back anytime soon.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I wouldn't pick them.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
I'm not picking them to come out of the West
next year because it's gonna be too hard, man, Like
I could see it the following season. I don't see
it this season. I believe Minnesota Anthony Ewhis is gonna
be back. We can't forget about what Emyudoka is doing
down there with the Houston Rockets. You talked about this
as well, and then John Moran with the Memphis Grizzlies.
(21:17):
He's gonna come back with it on his mind as well.
So teams are gonna get better. The Denver Nuggets are
gonna clean up areas right, They're gonna make sure that
they clean up their bench and get better and their
roster moves, because obviously they was missing Bruce Brown and
Jeff Green.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
I believe if they had Bruce Brown they would have beat.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
The Minnesota And they had Jeff Green and Bruce Brown,
they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
So I'm just saying I don't have Dallas going back
to the finals next year.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
I mean I wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
I mean, you know, you can't never count Luke and
Kyrie out, but I think they.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Missed out on the opportunity.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
That's why when you get to the NBA Finals, they's
say it's hard enough. It's hard as hell to get there,
but when you get you gotta make sure you capitalize.
The Celtics knew that from twenty twenty two, and all
I kept hearing Jason Tatum say, is I remember what
happened in twenty twenty two. It's not about to happen
this year. And him and Jaylen Brown.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Stood on that who's the stiffest competition in the East
of the Boston Celtics right now?
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Come on, now we know who that is. It's the
New York Knicks.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Healthy you get Ognoanoby back, even with Julius Rounda. Okay,
if they don't decide to move Julius Round, the name
me a team that's better than the New York Knicks
right now.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
I'm not taking the Bucks over them. I don't know.
I don't know what the Philadelphia seventy six is are
gonna do. I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
They may go out, they may swing big for the
switches offences and try to get Paul George. That's neither
hear of there, but currently constructed, the Boston Celtics are
number one, bless you, and and damn it, it's the
New York Knicks that are number two.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
I hear they have it. Huh.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
I was getting ready to ask you if you're the
new York Knicks. You're a New York Knick fan, you
know a few of them. Who's the best fit. Is
it Klay Thompson or is it Paul George?
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Man, it's you know what, It's hard because you don't
want to take away with the Nova boys are bringing
to the table, right See.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
I feel like if you added Klay Thompson.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
If you add if you added Klay Thompson, or you
add a Paul George, You're gonna take away from from Dante.
I strongly believe that. So I think I think man
to be honest with you, I see you know what
I say, I run it. I run it back with
Julius Randall. I really do. I think KG told you
(23:49):
this shit. I run it back with you. I run
it back with Julius Randall. Because here's here's the thing.
When you're on the sideline and you're injured, you watch
your team have success without you. Because the Knicks had
a successful season.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
I don't give a damn with nobody.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
You being on the sideline and being injured and watching
your team perform. That's the that's the greatest teacher of
them all, right, Because it's like, oh damgn okay, I
see that style. Okay, so now I'm learning the game
Julius is learning like, Okay, maybe if I sacrifice a
little bit more, we could go we could go small
bar I could be at the five and mix it
(24:27):
up a little bit.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Like. Those are the things.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
I just want to see Julius come back, and I
want to see how they look together with og Jaylen Bronson,
Josh hart Dante and Julius and along with you know, uh.
I don't know what's gonna happen with Isaiah Hartenstein because
somebody might offer him a bag. But that's okay, because
the Knicks and eye candy. But at the end of
the day, the Celtics are the number one team. The
(24:52):
Bucks got some things they got to figure out. I
don't know what they want to do with Chris Middleton.
I don't know if you bring him back because he
looks old.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
He looks old. And guess what more weight being put
on Damian Lilland's shoulder to help Gianni's is not the
greatest thing in the world. And in my opinion, if
things don't work out for Milwaukee this year, I think
Janni's is gonna want out of Milwaukee. That's just my
personal opinion, no inside information or anything like that. That's
just how I'm feeling. But I'll get to that another day.
(25:21):
I'll tell you this about Paul George compared to Klay Thompson.
If I want a shooter, I want Klay Thompson. If
I want a defender who can give me some offenses,
obviously Paul George, which would give the Knicks the edge
with Paul George. Remember, the Knicks got eleven first round
picks over the next seven years, so you got assets
(25:42):
to move to Golden State in the DF and D.
You really really want to make that happen or the Clippers.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
For me, though, is this, Paul George usually has to
dribble to get his groove, and I already got Brunton
doing that, so it takes away to some degree from Bruntson.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
I don't think Clay takes anything away from Brunton. And
not only that, you could play him with Devincenzo, because
Clay can be a three for you when need be.
It would sacrifice some of josh Hart's minutes, but that
would save Josh Hart. Give Josh Hart more less time
but more energy when he's playing to come in there
(26:20):
and be that defensive wizard and that energize a bunny
that you need, because even though Josh Hart hits threes,
he's not a sniper like Clay Twitch and Dante DiVincenzo.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I'm with you on that, and you know everything you said.
I agree.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
You know who's going to be the most important player
for the Knicks and for them to have success next year.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
It's gonna be Mitchell Robinson.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Your health now we his health, and he got to
get his big ass in some shape.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
I believe that he got. I believe that he needs
to drop about thirty thirty pounds if he gets done.
If he drops thirty pounds, look man, I'm telling you,
look out, he could he could possibly go for Defensive
Player of the Year he dropped thirty pounds.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Before I let you get on out of here, Let's
go back out west to the Los Angeles Lakers. Our
colleague at ESPN, JJ Reddick is emerging as the top
candidate for that job. You know, I've been in the
news because obviously I spoke out against the Mind Your
Game podcast. It wasn't against JJ Reddick. It wasn't even
against Lebron James and the podcast. It was the timing
(27:23):
of the damn thing, Perk. You had the podcast when
it first came out, I was happy about it, was
happy for them. Thought we would all learn a lot
about the game of basketball listening to JJ and Lebron,
and I still stand by that. But then you got
coaches that have called, You've got other people that have
lamented the fact. Damn it, you knew Darvin hand was
(27:44):
on the hot seat. Why would you pick that time
to have this damn podcast? And now, low and behold here,
JJ Reddick is the guy you doing a podcast with
as the primary candidate for the Lakers job. Hell, what
are we supposed to think, Stephen Ay, that's what they're saying.
What do you say, Kendrick Perkins.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Well, well, one, we already knew that JJ Reddick was
getting that damn job.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
They was just waiting.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
It doesn't happen yet, it's not official yet.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
We'll see. Yeah, but he's the front run there saying.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Now the news is starting to circulate again right after
the NBA Finals, Okay, which I already heard what was
gonna happen anyway before even the Dan Hurley news dropped.
Here's the thing that I gotta say, right I think
JJ Reddick knows his ship.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
I really really do.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
He is a brilliant basketball mind is but the one thing,
the one thing that I have a concern with, And
I told JJ this to his face. We had a conversation.
I said, he's gonna have to adjust that arrogant ass
duke attitude.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
He's gonna have to adjust You.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Said that arrogant asked duke attitude to him.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
It looked he laughed, and he laughed and we laughed
at all. But I was serious because think about this,
the two coaches that was coaching in the NBA Finals
were who a young Joe Mazoo looked thirty five years
old and a Jason kidd X's and Oo's is one thing,
But going in that locker room and speaking that language
and getting their ears and the attention of those players
(29:22):
is a whole nother thing. And that's what I think
the adjustment of JJ Reddick is gonna have to be.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Am.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
I a bit disappointed that the Lakers didn't give a
fast shots or more interviews to other coaches like a.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Field Handy, like Cassell that just wanted to U right,
I am, I am.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
But at the end of the day, we know what
was going on, and that's probably why I got unfollowed
because on social media's.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Talk about when Lebron unfollowed you because you got on
him for always trying to assert himself into the narrative
and he gonna follow you, and then you tweeted out
you said some people then follow Jesus, you know what
I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Okay, has.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Lebron spoken to you since?
Speaker 2 (30:13):
No, no, no, you have and has his team spoke?
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Has his team spoken to you?
Speaker 2 (30:19):
You know, Rich Paul and reached out.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
You know that, you know that, you know that, and
look to be honest and say it's it's no beef whatsoever.
But here's the thing I'm gonna tell you this, and
as we wrapping up the season, man, look, I appreciate
everything that you have done for me, real talk and
this real ship coming from my heart, everything that you
have done for me as a mentor, as a big
(30:45):
brother in this media space. And you know how much
I bust my ass to be here. And you also
know that when you're a Hall of Fame player, a
franchise guy that retires, you know, networks, not just here,
but other networks, they roll the red carpet out for
guys to come in into this space. I had to
(31:07):
work my ass off to get to the point where
I'm at today, and I still got more work to do.
And what people don't realize is this job is just
not a hobby for me. I take this shit serious.
I approach this as my next chapter in my life.
I close the basketball chapter in my life when people
when I go up on first take, I don't even
want the side ball. The graphic of showing Kendrick Perkins
(31:31):
two thousand and eight NBA Champion, fourteen year vet.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
No no, no, no no.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
I just want to be known as Kendrick Perkins NBA analysts.
This is the next chapter. I'm trying to be great
at that. And if in order for me to do that,
you know, I gotta do my job. And sometimes if
it roughers some feathers or it may cause some you know,
people to get their feeling, so be it, because if
it does, then and we're talking about the game of basketball,
(31:58):
then you really not in my corner.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Anyway.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Look, I'm gonna do my damn job. I appreciate you
and say, and I'm gonna keep going.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
I always tell you that we don't have things giving
to We ain't having thanks Giving with them. We ain't
exchange of no damn Christmas gifts as long as you
were fair and you ain't getting personal. Fuck it. If
they're gonna have an attitude, they're gonna have attitude, You
get over it. Life goes on. Having said all of that,
I think that when we look forward to what the
culture has been like switching back to back to back
(32:27):
to the court. Here's what I love about Boston. Even
though I picked the mask because I thought Pazingers wouldn't
play at all and I couldn't believe he played and
stuff like that. But props to the boss and something
that I'm really happy for Jason Tatum and Jayson Brown
because they got a love of both of them. I
gotta tell you this, what they've done by winning the
championship last night, I believe is the death of the
(32:48):
Big Three. We ain't gonna hear about that no more,
because now they showed you all you need is a
big two and the right parts around them in order
to win championships. Bump all that Big three nonsense anymore.
KD that I think KD. Bill and Booker getting swept
the same year that the Big two in Boston won
(33:10):
the championship.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
It's put the.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Death to the Big three. To that, you say, what.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
Now, I'm with you, But look, it started from the
last NBA championship with Jokichen Murray. It was just a
follow up and the nail and the coffin and the
barrier with the flowers over with them singing the gospel
music with Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum did too.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
That's all. It was. The big threes are over with.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Get you two one a's or whatever you however you
want to call it and go out there and do
your homework and put the pieces around them. Much credits
to Brad Stevens with Grosspec. They did that. Do you
I know, look, I know we gotta go say, but
let me say this. Do you realize what it took
for Brad Stevens and with Grosspec to make the move
(33:59):
of trading more smart?
Speaker 2 (34:00):
Yeah? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (34:02):
And I feel bad for Marcus Smart too, because I
almost want to get I almost want him to have
a ring because of what he meant to the Boston Celtics.
But you do understand that Porzingis did make them better.
And of course, in course Drew Holliday absolutely. And by
the way, Missoula, listen, I'm an email you Doka fan,
and I believe that if Emil Udoka was the coach
of the Boston Celtics, data did what they did last night,
(34:25):
they might have did it last year. I feel that way.
But I can't take nothing away from Missoula. He is
proving to be a hell of a coach. He's got
to get his flowers, his props because he showed up.
He really did.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
I agree a thousand percent. You know, Sam Cassel told
me the other day that he's that Joe Missoula.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
He said, you know, he talked, he knows his ship.
He's one of the most brilliant basketball minds I ever
been around. I'll tell you that that's something else.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
That's not a bad invitation, that's not a bad one.
That's how it is. But he's telling the truth. Sam
Cansell ain't lie. He know, dar Line, I'm proud of you,
my brother. You did a great, great job this year
covering the NBA. You deserve your rest. I'm gonna invite you,
you know, Dan, you know I ain't gonna tell everybody.
I ain't gonna tell everybody where I'm at, but I'm
gonna invite you down to the crib for the buffet.
I got my sister Calmas, she already got the buffet
(35:16):
set for you. Appreciate you, big boy. Thanks, Same here,
my man, Same here, One and only Kendrick Perkers hanging
out with you boy, Steven and a right here and
Steven Eate smith Show coming up. One of the coaching
candidates I've been touting for the Lakers is now heading
to the Clippers as a lead assistant coach. What does
(35:36):
it mean for the Battle of Los Angeles? Plus my man,
the one and Only Charles Barkley. Chuckster himself announced his
plan to retire from TV after next season, but will
a stick I'll touch on that in more next Right
here on the Steven Eate Smiths Show. You back for
more than me. Everybody knows demand excellence and I'm in
(36:01):
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Speaker 2 (37:13):
We did it. We did it.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
I know everybody ever wondering what would happened if we
didn't wear.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
I guess where?
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Welcome back to stephen A. Smiths Field right here over
the digital airways of YouTube and of course iHeartRadio. Now
that the Boston Celtics are the best franchise in the NBA,
social media has had a lot to say about Jason Tatum,
who you were just listening to, and his celebrations that
have recreated iconic moments. To say the least, Tatum has
openly expressed his admiration for late NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
(37:55):
He paid tribute to him during his this year's NBA Finals,
wearing a Celtic shirt identical to one Bryant ward during
his pre draft workout with Boston in nineteen ninety six,
as you could see right there. Fans have also accused
Tatum of recreating the Celtics two thousand and eight victory
when Kevin Garnet shouted during the postgame interview anything's possible.
(38:20):
Remember that that was Kevin Garnett. And if you saw
what Jason Tatum did. People are getting on him because
of his quote unquote poor imitation, not to mention when
he said, I guess we'll never know that was him
mimicking Kanye West. My response to all of this is
very simple, who gives a shit? He's a champion, y'all
(38:43):
can stop that nonsense right now. Hate another day, Hate
another day. Jason Tatum is a champion. The brother was
first team All NBA. The brother averaged twenty seven a game.
The brother in the NBA Finals game dropped thirty and ten,
thirty and eleven. To be specific, no Celtics in history
(39:04):
have ever done that. This is a Boston Celtics. We're
talking about winners of eighteen championships in NBA history, surpassing
the Lakers at seventeen. Okay, and Jason Tatum did something
nobody for the Boston Celtics have ever done, has ever
done in an NBA Finals. So this ain't the time.
(39:25):
In seven years in the league, the brother has been
the five conference finals and two NBA Finals, and now
he's a champion. Everybody, stand down and shut the hell up.
He got his endorsement deals, Okay, got He's getting his bag.
He's in line to sign a five year, three hundred
and fifteen million dollar extension. Nobody's gonna blink at those dollars.
(39:45):
It'll be the highest in NBA history. Nobody's gonna blink
at that, especially after Jalen Brown just signed last year
for three hundred and four million, okay, because he's Jason Tatum.
And when you've got that pressure on you, Jalen Brown
got three hundred and four million, you waiting for your
deal down the line. On top of it all, you
had already been to the conference finals numerous times and
an NBA Finals appearance, and you failed the kicking the door,
(40:07):
including a couple of years ago when you lost to
Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. All of this
pressure was on Jason Tatum's back and he answered the
call best record in the league twenty seven points per game,
NBA Championship after being named First Team All NBA when
(40:31):
his teammate Jalen Brown couldn't even make third team All
NBA although I voted for him to be on that
team and he should have been on that team. You
feel what I'm saying to you, It's time to shut
the hell up. This ain't the time to be talking
about Jason Tatum and the Brothers a champion. He's a
champion and nobody could take that away from him. I
couldn't wait to get to this next story that I'm
(40:52):
ready to talk about right now because I saw it
in the news last week, and obviously it's apropos that
I comment about it. That can't be good news for
NBA fans. No way in hell. My man, my brother,
the one and only, Charles Barkley announced that he will
retire at the end of next NBA season. After the
(41:13):
next NBA season, Barkley joined NBA TV after the Mavericks
Game four win on Friday, and he had this to say.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
I have made the decision myself.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
No matter what happens, next year is going to be
my last year on television, and I just want to
say thank you to my NBA family.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
You guys been great to me. My heart is full
with joy and gratitude.
Speaker 1 (41:37):
Now, Barkley has been one of the faces of inside
the NBA for twenty five years, but it appears that
TNT is going to lose NBA rights following next season
with some combination or to some combination of Amazon, NBC
obviously ESPN, and Disney of course ABC to be exact.
Here's why I think, ladies and gentlemen, I'm not in
(41:57):
any way calling Charles Barker a liar. I think that
Charles Barkley is very sincere. I just don't think it's
gonna happen. I don't think Charles Barkley's leaving. Let me
tell you what I think is going on, and it's
just a thought. I have not spoken to him. I
have not asked him about it. Charles Barkley loves those
(42:23):
people over at TNT. I'm not talking about just Ernie Johnson, Shack,
Kenny Smith. I'm talking about all the people behind the scenes.
And what Charles has publicly lamented was how Warner Brothers
Discovery has handled the whole NBA situation and how he
(42:43):
feels like TNT employees are being thrown out to pasture
and it sickens him, so he doesn't just want to
go away and go somewhere else while one hundred and
fifty to two hundred plus people find themselves looking for
a new job because they're out of a job courtesy
of this move. And that is the Charles Barkley you're
(43:07):
hearing right now. Charles Barkley that loves the people he
works with, that loves a lot of the bosses he
worked for, that loves some of the colleagues he worked
with on the end, behind the scenes. Of course, it's
a family over there to him, and he can't imagine
wanting to be somewhere else, working with or for somebody
(43:29):
else while those people are looking for a job. Say
the same Barkley that said I've had my time and
I'm about to give it up. Let those same people
be out of a job and somebody tells, Charles Barkley,
you know what, your production company could produce your own
NBA show and everybody will flock to you, and he
(43:50):
could keep those people employed. I'm willing to bet my
check Charles Barkley would do it just for them, because
no matter the fact that he's the round mount of rebound,
he's the mouth that roars, He'll tell it like it
is and or how he thinks it should be, et cetera,
et cetera. The brother's got a hearter goal, he's got
a heart go. He's one of the best human beings
(44:10):
you'll ever see in your life. And those people are
people he cares a great deal about. And it's because
he cares so much about them. I'm not saying he's lying.
I'm saying, don't believe he's going for good. Don't believe it.
I don't believe it for one second. His voice is
(44:33):
too powerful it's too influential, it's too enjoyable, and he
loves the game of basketball too much. He ain't eighty,
He's still got a lot of life left in him.
So I don't think for one second this is gonna
be the end. I just think he's pissed off at
the way colleagues at TNT are being thrown out to
(44:55):
pasture in his eyes, and he'd rather walk away that
worked for somebody else while they find themselves looking for
a job because he feels that sick about it. That's
Charles Barkley. If you know him, that's what you know
about Charles Barkley. That's who he is. That's who he is.
(45:15):
So what I would say to you is stay tuned.
Anything's possible. The other thing is one thing I will
get on Charles Barkley about. You know, he talked about
Jamal Crawford, Vince Carter and others passing to baton to them.
Let me say this to you, you ain't gonna find
(45:38):
too many people on the planet that love that loved
Jamal Crawford more than me. I love the Brother. My
nickname for him was an one he could boogey on anybody.
The Brother was spectacular, especially one on one basketball. The
brother was spectacular, loved Jamal Crawford, j C Special, and
Vince Carter is a Hall of Famer and the best
endgame dunker I think I've ever seen. They're damn good
(46:04):
at being basketball analysts, and I hope their future is bright.
But when Charles Barkeley says he's gonna pass the baton
Charles Balkeley in making that call, I can assure you
that Charles Barkley is not going to decide who his
successor is in that particular seat that he sits in.
(46:25):
It's not gonna happen. It's not gonna happen. They're good, Hell,
they're very good. But I'm telling you it don't go
down like that. Take it from your boy, stephen A.
I'm telling you what I know. Let me move on
to mister Jeff Van Gundy, former head coach of the
(46:46):
New York Knicks, former head coach for the Houston Rockets,
former NBA color commentator extraordinaire for ESPN's a team on
the NBA Games on ESPN and ABC. That Jeff Van Gundy,
just as I thought maybe he would, he would get
an interview for the head coaching job with the Los
Angeles Lakers. ESPN's Adrian woljon Earowski reporter this morning that
(47:07):
Jeff Van Gundy has agreed to join the Los Angeles
Clippers as the top assistant under Tyron Lou. The sixty
two year old Van Gundy spent sixteen years as a
TV analyst for ESPN before accepting a role as a
senior consultant with the Boston Celtics this past season, just
won the title last night. Van Gundy has a strong
relationship with Lou after having coached them for a season
(47:29):
with the Rockets and teaming up with him as members
of the USA Basketball staff. I miss Jeff Van Gundy.
I miss Mark Jackson. This is not me throwing any
shade at Darris Burg, JJ Reddick, certainly the Hall of famer,
(47:51):
Mike Breen, Doris Burk's a Hall of Famer two. This
is not about anything like that. This is about the
fact that Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were truly
in eighteen They were exceptional at their jobs. They were
riveting in a lot of ways. They were an illustrious
tag team that the basketball world enjoyed for more than
(48:17):
a decade. Love them both, respect the hell out of them,
and Jeff Van Gundy having a job back in the NBA.
I couldn't be happier for him. He's a good man.
Stan van Gundy, his brother is a good man. And
by the way, the other day I heard Stan van
Gundy on Dan Levatard Show speaking about how his now
late wife, Jeff Van Gundy's sister in law, had passed
(48:41):
away after committing suicide. I had no idea. My heartfelt
condolences to the Van Gundy family. Back to basketball, Jeff
Van Gundy deserves to be what he wants in a
game of basketball. If it's a coach, fine, If it's
an assistant coach, fine, if it's a color commentator, fine.
(49:03):
I respect the hell out of Jeff and I'm very
fond of them. But it's one thing that we all
have to understand, and nobody speaks about this because everybody
talks about stuff is unfair. And you know, he got
let go. In the world of business, when cuts take place,
cuts take place, there's hundreds of people who lost their jobs.
(49:31):
And it wasn't just at ESPN or at Disney. Have
you seen what happened at Meta? Have you seen what
has happened at places like Apple and Amazon and other places.
The climate that we're living in, these kind of things happen.
(49:51):
I'm not saying it's right. I'm not saying it's fair.
Damn it is downright cruel. When have we know in
the world of business to be otherwise? And I got
news for you. I was sad to see Jeff Van
Gundy go, even saden to see my brother Mark Jackson,
cause obviously I'm a lot tighter with him than I
(50:13):
am with Jeff Van Gundy. But I'm never concerned about
them landing on their feet because of who they are,
how impeccable their reputations are, and the kind of opportunities
that will inevitably come their way. I can assure you
I know of plenty of people when they lose their jobs.
(50:37):
If they were to lose their jobs, it wouldn't be
quite that easy. Matter of fact, it would be significantly
more daunting. So again, in terms of Jeff Van Gundy,
I miss you, buddy. I wish him and Mark Jackson
was still at our network, just like I'm happy that
Darris Burke and Mike Breen and JJ Reddick are still there.
(51:00):
I'm happy Richard Jefferson and Ryan Ruco. Are they're doing
their thing? Tim Legler, let me not forget him. Well,
I think it is an outstanding basketball analyst. It should
be doing more color commentary, Make no mistake about it.
I work with special people with my day job at
the ESPN, but nothing's guaranteed. Nobody is safe, that includes me,
(51:26):
and I'm speaking from experience. Remember I got fired in
two thousand and nine. Take nothing for granted. In the
world of business, ladies and gentlemen, no one's ever safe.
In this day and age. Numbers make calls, not just people.
Numbers dictate a lot. Never forget that, Never forget that.
(51:54):
Coming up, I get a lot of jokes about my
hairline in case you didn't know, which I know you do.
But someone else in the sports world showed off something
that has me feeling a lot better about myself than Jays.
I ain't gonna lie to you. Find out who plus Tavonte,
Tank Davis knocked out Frank Martin? Are we looking at
the best fighter on the planet. I'll give you my
(52:16):
answer up next right here on the Stephen A. Smith
Show over the digital airwas of YouTube and iHeartRadio. Don't
touch that dollar go anywhere, I'd be back and moment
welcome back to Steven A. Smiths Show right here over
the digital airwaves of YouTube. Before I get on out
of here for this particular show, I needed to revisit
(52:37):
what transpired this past Saturday night. Javonte Tank Davis knocked
out challenger Frank Martin in the eighth round all right
at MGM Grand's Guarden Arena to retain his WBA lightweight title.
Martin was simply outmatched, y'all. He was out matched against
Davis's power and speed and skill and box and IQ.
(52:59):
I've said it before, I'll say it again. If you
get into the ring with boxing's number one attraction, because
that's who the hell Javonte Tank Davis is, okay, you're
getting in with a shark in blood infested waters. So
I M call in the Baltimore native of Mini Mike
Tyson with a record of thirty and oh twenty eight
(53:20):
by knockout, he's pound for pounds, one of the top
five fighters on a planet easily and guess what he
might be top's overall. Now, there's some names through out
there in fairness, Terrence Crawford, we can't forget about him.
Can't forget about him. Better BF or the better DF
light heavyweight division, can't forget about him. Okay, you gotta
throw him some love. Can't get around that. Canelo Alvarez
(53:43):
can't forget about him. My guy, David Benavita is twenty eighth,
twenty nine to oh, twenty four knockouts, the Mexican Monster,
as so labeled. Mike Tyson can't forget about him either.
I brought up Terrence Crawford after his destruction of Ero
Sponge Junior. We know that Terrence Crawford deserves to be
in a conversation. But here's the deal. This cat is
twenty seven and oh with twenty four knockouts. Now he's
(54:08):
special super band to wait, we don't see much of him.
I remember I saw him knockout Nenito Donaire, Nanito Donaire.
But the Brother Special, no doubt. We can debate the
top fighter in the world pound for pound. We can
do that. What we cannot do is debate who's the
(54:30):
most exciting fire Who is the biggest box office attraction
in boxing? That would happen to be Javonte Davis. We
just got We just gotta accept it. He goes into
the ring, Frank Martin and him talking a lot of stuff,
and I knew I said something special. Listen, Frank Martin's
going up against him, and you hear a lot of
guys talking trash, and Travonte Davis is a master at
(54:52):
messing with your mind. He's a master and messing with
your head and getting inside of your head. That's true.
But what really really stood out of my mind was
when he was in the press conference leading up to
the fight and he said to Frank Martin, you really
really took this fight a little bit too early. He said,
you really really should have waited. That's really the mistake
(55:14):
you made. You really should have waited. Martin eighteen and
oh undefeated. But with twelve knockouts and what happened, Tank
Davis comes out, especially after Frank Martin was telling folks
went on Ryan Clark in the Pivot podcast, you know,
(55:34):
with Channing Crowded and Fred Taylor and those boys talking
about how he buckled. You know, Tank Tank Davis's legs
and all the time, Tank Davis is a press coming.
What are you talking about? That's a lie? You what
the hell are you talking about? You don't make no sense,
blah blah blah blah. You're just lying. And you know
when I knew he was lying, when Frank Martin was lying.
When Tank Davis got in that ring Saturday night and
(55:58):
from opening tap, walked right to him and stalked him.
Opening tap, made him uncomfortable, was in his face, throwing
haymakers coming for him from opening tap, and then the
knockout was beautiful, swung a right hook, came with the
left upper cut from the south port stands obviously, and
(56:20):
then he was completely caught off guard. Frank Martin was
wobbled and left the whole right side of his face
open and TANKSI yeah, and took him out. There's levels
to this. Frank Martin is good, he's a talented boxer,
but was very deliberate in his protection and what have you,
(56:40):
because boxing doesn't come that naturally to him. So what
happened is is that you protecting yourself, protecting yourself, protecting yourself,
and Travonte just set you up and ultimately wore you
down and court you. And now we got to look
at Frank Martin and just go like this because you're
not gonna get a rematch with Tank Davis why would
(57:02):
he waste his time with that? So the biggest fight
in your career, of your life, you blew because of
the man in which you got taken out. That's what happens.
Back to the drawing board. I think that Frank Martin's
a talented fighter. He'll make some things happen down the
line in the future, but we'll never look at him
the same after that destruction. We'll never look at him
(57:24):
the same. Not to say that we won't respect him,
but we'll never look at him the same because he
got destroyed by Javonte Davis. And that's no shame, that's
no slouch, but damn still, in all you get destroyed,
you get destroyed. And so now I'm looking at it,
Javonte Davis is the number one box office attraction. Who
I want to see him against next is Shakur Stevenson.
(57:47):
I don't want to see him against Devin Hainey because
Devin Haney has proven to me that he's not a
good punch taker. So my thing is, if you're Javonte Davis,
you catch Devin Hainey, oh my lord, oh my god.
You know you survived three knockdowns from Ryan Garcia that
ain't gonna happen against Javonte Davis, so I don't want
(58:09):
to see that fight. And then I'm looking at Tank
Davis and I'm like, damn, at one thirty five, you
know you're a bit too big, you know you look
too strong. Maybe you should move up to one forty
to your female Lopez stuff like that. That would be
an interesting fight. But of course Stevenson, with all the
noise that has been made about him, deserves a shot.
And of course Lomanchenko, because we know that Lomanchenko is
(58:30):
a brilliant, brilliant boxer, but he's so small, He's so small.
I'm not comfortable seeing Lomanchenko against Javonte Davis because my
attitude is nobody has a shot against Javonte Davis if
you can't punch with power. That's not to say that
Lomonchenko can't punch with power. He saw what he did
(58:50):
to camp Bosis, beat the shit out of him. But
I'm saying to you, against Javonte Davis, I don't know,
I don't know. I mean, it would be a very interesting,
very compelling, but I wouldn't be worried about Javonte Davis
getting knocked out, I'd be worried about Lemonchenko. I want
(59:10):
to see Javontae Davis in the ring where somebody perceived
as having enough power to put him on the canvas too.
That's what I want to see. That's what I want
to see. I don't think lo Minchenko gives us that.
I think your course, Stevenson might. That's just where I'm
at with this, y'all. That's just where I'm at with it.
(59:32):
Before I get on out here for today, Former professional
soccer player turned Fox Sports analyst Landon Donovan was on
the network's broadcast when fans noticed a chunk of hair
missing behind his ear. The broadcast didn't show a full
view at the back of Donovan's head, so it's unclear
whether there is here missing in other spots as well,
(59:54):
but the bizarre look had social media in an uproar,
to say the least. Donovan later explaed that he was
told it wouldn't appear on camera, and in a text
exchange with former teammate Mike McGee that went viral, he
explained that he had a hair transplant two weeks ago.
Oh my god, I didn't see that. Who's this friend
(01:00:20):
of yours? Who is the friend that told you that
ain't gonna be seen on television. It's not like you
had on the hat or something. Who the hell told
you that? Who the hell told you that would not
be seen on television. I don't even want to hear
shit about my headline again, not a word. I'm not
(01:00:44):
doing bad. I'm not doing bad at all. Put me
up against that picture on that landa donovhan. I got
love for you, my brother, respect for you.
Speaker 3 (01:00:50):
I'm not.
Speaker 1 (01:00:50):
I'm just having fun with you. No harm, no foul.
But you ain't never got to worry about my headline
looking like that. Oh no, oh no. Let me tell
y'all something right now too, and don't put it past me. Look,
y'all ain't got no shame of my game. I will
go to hairclub for men. I'll tell you about it.
I'll let you come join me while I'm doing it.
I don't give a shit. I couldn't use my headline
(01:01:13):
being about this much closer. I wouldn't mind that. I
ain't ashamed to tell you. Look, you got a lot
of fake stuff going on out here. Remember that Chris Rock.
Chris Rock wants talked about you, ladies. Now the fellas.
You know, some of us need to be fake, damnit.
Some of us need to pay us, some of us
need to shave it all over. Some of us need
(01:01:34):
to get in the damn gym rolling around with our
row ton. So it's a lot of shit we need
to do as men, But we ain't gonna let the
ladies off the hook. Did off the hook here? Remember
what Chris Rock said and stand up comedy before he said,
he said, we'll give a damn about y'all talking about women.
He said, you a liar, You a liar, You you
a liar. Remember that when he did that stand up
(01:01:57):
that comedy show. He said, you got hiss on. You
ain't that tall, you understand? He said, you got you
got green eyes. Your eyes ain't no damn green. You know,
you got you got fake booms, you know? And he
said remember that, he said, you wearing weaves your heir
ain't that color? He said, you lie every damn day.
(01:02:19):
But you want me to tell the truth. Few that's
what Chris Rock said, not me, but it was funny.
It's kind of true. It's amazing how many people, particularly
of the opposite sex, get to do things to accentuate
your beauty, okay, But the second a man tries to
do something like that, we got to go through hell. Now,
(01:02:41):
landon Donovan, I mean, I don't know what the hell
you were thinking showing up with that. I don't know
what you were thinking. That's on you, bro, But I'm
gonna give you a pass in ways that a lot
of women might not give you a pass. But the
fellas we gonna give you a pass because we feel
your pain. We feel your pain, and we hear for
(01:03:02):
you brought to a point. Ain't no way in hell
I'd ever be seen with my eye in public with
my head like that. I don't know what you were thinking.
And if you're gonna show out in public, put a
hat on. What you don't do is be a part
of a broadcast with your hair like that. And then
(01:03:22):
you're gonna sit up there and say your friend told
you they wouldn't see it. Damn cut him off. Friends
like that? Who needs enemies? Get rid of his ass
quick faster than a hurry. Ladies, I'm only playing with you,
you know ste what I'm saying. Ain't nobody got no
problem that y'all accentuating your beauty in whatever way you choose.
It's a free world. Live it up, girl, Live it
(01:03:42):
up to each his and her own. One person's ecstasy
is another person's misery. Do you be all about you?
That's the final note, nugget of info from your Stephen.
Speaker 2 (01:04:00):
There.
Speaker 1 (01:04:00):
I'm about to sign off until next time. I'll be
back with Marvel until then, Peace of Love Everybody is
the latest edition. Stephen A. Smith Show, Signing off until
next time.
Host
Stephen A. Smith
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