April 2, 2025 • 24 mins
Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
There's a lot of NBA stuff to get into, make
no mistake about that, particularly with the fight for the
Western Conference playoff seatings, because that's exactly where I want
to go. Here's a look at the current seating out West,
where the Douvin Nuggets are currently the third seed, the
Lakers are the fourth seed, and the Golden State Warriors
are currently at sixth. So we could be looking at
(00:24):
a scenario where Lebron and Steph face each other in
the first round, and that could be a dilemma for
the fans and the league. And here's where I'm going
with this. At some point in time, we gotta make
a decision. Ladies and gentlemen. Think about the scenario here.
Let's say, for example, that the Golden State Warriors hold
on to the sixth seed in the Western Conference. They
would possibly face Denver, who's a three seed. Right, But
(00:47):
if they moved up to the fifth seed because Memphis
is sliding after letting go of their coach Taylor Jenkins,
they don't look great. They've lost the last two games
or so. If Golden State finds a way to inch
up to the the seed and the Lakers stay at
the fourth seed, that's Lebron James and the Lakers versus
Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the first round.
(01:07):
It guarantees one of them gets to the second round,
but it also guarantees that one of them is bounced
out in the first round. So what do you prefer.
Do you prefer Lebron going up against, say the Clippers
going up against say the Minnesota Timberwolves with ant Man
in the first round? Do you prefer that with the
possibility of advancing to the second round while Golden State
(01:29):
goes up against somebody like Denver, they'd be undersized. But nevertheless,
with Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler and what they could
do together if they were fortunate enough to knock off Denver,
did you get to the second round as well? Or
do you want Lebron and Steph to face one another
and one of them go home in the first round.
I'm not gonna lie to you. I like that scenario
(01:50):
better because I don't know if I could bet on
the Golden State Warriors to beat the Denver Nuggets when
Jokic or Jamal Murray or out of the lineup or
both of them, Denver ain't the same, but when in
the lineup, they're league leaders in field goal percentage shooting.
They're one of the better three point shooting teams. Oh,
by the way, they're top notch in fast break points.
For crying out loud, this is what they bring to
(02:10):
the table, and they got a championship pedigree. I don't
know if I want to bet my money on Steph
Curry and Jimmy Butler the Golden State Warriors knocking off
those brothers and Denvor, particularly with never having a home
court advantage in a first round playoff series of Game
seven would be back in the Mile High City. I
don't know about that. So we might have to settle
on Steph Curry and Lebron James going up against one
(02:33):
another and advancing, with one of them definitively advancing out
of the first round. And oh, by the way, in
that series, I would still go with the Lakers, even
though Golden State could beat them. I would say the
Lakers have to be the favorites. Here's my personal preference though,
no matter what happens, I want ant Man to go
as deep as he could go. I want to see
ant Man. I want to see Anthony Evers that's who
(02:54):
the hell I want to see. Okay, I just want
to make sure that I'm clear about that before we
move on to my next subject. Y'all can sit up there.
We'll take a poll. Y'all can sit up there, expressed
us what y'all think. Who would y'all rather see? Would
you rather see Lebron and Steph in the first round
against one another? Or do you want to see them
going against different opponents so they could possibly both advance
(03:15):
beyond the first round? Is that your preference? Or is
the preference them going up against one another? Just let
a brother know, Just let a brother know. I'm about
to ask this next brother to this question because he
is my next guest. Talented actor best known for his
role as Lawrence on HBO's hit series Insecure. Since then,
he started a string of hit TV shows and films,
(03:36):
including his latest called Freaky Tales, which hits theaters on
April fourth. My brother, the one and only Jay ellis
in the house. What's that big time? How you doing man?
How's everything?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
My guys?
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Good bro, It's good to see you. By the way,
Tell everybody the first of all, how tall are y'all
was with you about two weeks ago. You're about to
lookit six three six y four, right, you're about six
to four inches?
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yeah, how about six y four that's what they call it?
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Yes, right, you intern with the Portland Trailblazers before you
became this you know this, this star on television and film.
You are damn intern with the Portland tra Trailblazers, were
you not.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Man, I was there for the three S two o
three season, the jail Blazer season. Man Mo Cheeks was
the coach. Obviously know that roster, but yeah, I was
there for all the trouble.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Man, there we go. And so that means you know
your basketball. So you heard what I said, you heard
what I broke down. If you had your brothers knowing
that you out in southern California, but you're very familiar
with the Bay, et cetera. What scenario would you want most?
Would you want Lebron and Steph going up against one
another in the first round? Will one of them definitively
advanced beyond the first round? Or do you want to
(04:40):
take the risk of them going against somebody else and
both of them getting bounced out.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
I like to see them both get deeper versus that's
a great team, man, So I'm not sure that's who
they want to see in the first round for sure.
So you know, I think you're right. I think it's
a lot of fun. I think it's great for the
game to go see, you know, the Warriors and the
Lakers slugging out in the first round.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
So you're you're good with them and at least knowing
that one of them will advance past the first round,
right yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Man, listen, this is playoff basketball as we know it.
These are two great teams, and so you know, I
think we're gonna have a lot of fun. You know,
I think the series will go longer than what some
people might expect it to go. But you know, I
think that's the basketball that we want to see, and
that's why we sign up, and that's why we watch,
and that's why we show up to these stadiums and
these arenas to see games like this.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Are you sure it's fair to classify both of them
as great when you talk about them as teams, I
know they're good, but great. We know great teams when
we see them. Do you really feel both of them
are great?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Here's what I think.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Boston is great Oklahoma City is great, right, we know
what the top of the pack looks like. We know
that for sure, Like there's no questions about that. Here's
what you can't do though. You can't count either of
these teams out. You can't count the experience out. You
can't count the pedigree out, you know. And so I
think these teams can have had a flashes of greatness
(06:01):
and can be great, you know. Sustaining that over the
playoffs obviously is tough, and that's what basketball is about.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Would you be excited about a Boston OKC finals, Yeah,
give it to me.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
I mean, listen, I'd love to see OKAC maker run.
I think Boston, you know, will get there. I'm excited
to see them back and see them defending their championship.
It would be fun to see Okay see you know
what I mean, especially as an Oklahoma boy. You know,
I grew up in Tolsa, so you know, it'd be
fun to see Okay See you.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Know, going there and and have a real shot.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
That team is special, man, Like you look at that team,
like those guys are really special.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
They really show up every I was listening this morning.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Man.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
They they might mess around and when seventy games.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Yeah, like, this is a really great team, and I
do think it would be fun to go watch a
team where everybody is locked arms, you know what I'm saying,
going to play basketball.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
It'd be fun to see them get there.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
There's some other teams that I might like to get there,
but you know, it'd be fun to watch.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Let me tell you what I shared before we get
in the U a little bit more. Let me tell
you what I shared about this season. First of all,
I don't want as much as as popular and as
much of a bonanza in the ratings it would be
for the Lakers to go up against Boston. The reason
I don't want to see that series is because I
believe the Los Angeles Lakers would get slaughtered by the
Boston Celtics. I don't think that's a match they're made for.
(07:20):
They're built for that, I don't think so. I just
don't like that for the Lakers. I want a competitive
NBA Finals. I don't want some lopside of the fair
where we go, we're lucky to see you win a game.
I think Boston would destroy them. Here's what I would
tell you is my most attractive proposition in terms of
interest as great as the Oklahoma City Thunder, all those
young Thoroughbreds led by SGA. Who's my MVP this year
(07:43):
by the way, the Brother Spectacular. Let me tell you
what my matchup is. Could you imagine if it was Lebron,
James and Luca and the Lakers going to Cleveland to
try to stop Cleveland from capturing the championship. Lebron having
to stop Cleveland from winning the championship, to me, that
(08:04):
would be that could be an epic matchup. What do
you say to that.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
No, that's a lot of fun, man.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
I mean, obviously to see him have to go back
home and win a championship would be you know, it
would be amazing. That Cleveland team also, Bro, I mean, wow, wow,
what a phenomenal team from from one through twelve. Bro,
everybody shows up and plays their part. That would be
a lot of fun. I mean, obviously, the storylines would
be great, you know what I mean in terms of
(08:30):
all the other things that come with it. But the basketball,
the style of play for those two teams, it would
be a.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Lot of fun to watch them go up against each other.
But you can't count out a Boston Lakes. No, no, no,
you know what I mean, Like, that's that's basketball.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
I mean, that's that's that's that's basketball. And I'm not
I think Boston is the best team in the NBA
and they should repeat. You gotta bet your money on them.
I'm just talking about I think that the Lakers are
no match for them. Where is there a better match
for Cleveland? And so because of it, it would make
that it would make for an epic matchup, whereas I
think Boston against LA that series ends in five. That's
(09:04):
my problem. I won a seven game series for the finals.
I won a game seven of an NBA finals, a
championship on the line, it's forty eight minutes away? Is
everybody got to show up? That's what I want to see.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Yeah, listen, listen, I think again, you know, listen, really
get to seven. I don't know, but I think Lebron
and Luca could pull something out. You know what I'm
saying that maybe we wouldn't have expected, But you're right.
I think Cleveland Lakers matchup is a lot more fun
to watch. It's a lot more even again, the style
of play of those two teams, it would be fun,
the storylines, it would be fun. That'd be fun to watch, man.
(09:38):
I also would love to watch Donovan get there.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Man.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
I think Donovan is a guy, he's a stud, bro,
and I think, you know, he's kind of was overlooked
in Utah even though he was doing the thing in
Utah as well.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
And obviously he's flourished in Cleveland. So would love to
see him get there.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Let me transition to you, man, because I got to
get to some of the things that you're doing. That's
why you're here, not to talk basketball. I just I
just got your basketball analysis while I had you on camera.
But let me ask you this an NBA star, a
corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teenage punks, neo Nazis,
and a debt collector and balk on a collision course
in nineteen eighty seven Oakland, California. Does this sum up
(10:14):
the present the premise of Freaky Tales? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Man, this is a wild movie, bro. It brings together
four different groups of people in four different stories that
all obviously converge at one point in my story. You know,
I got to play Sleepy Floyd in this film, who, obviously,
as we know, as a warrior great still holds the
record for twenty nine points in the fourth quarter in
the playoffs, and you know, it was amazing to be
able to go in there and play a fictionalized version
(10:40):
of him where I got to honor that that greatness,
but still got to go have fun and do this
amazing martial arts and weapons work that I get to
do in this film to kind of avenge all.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
These characters and all these stories.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Why was Sleepy Ford the character you picked? What was
that about?
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Yet? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Man, I mean listen, the first time I read the script,
it was the most original thing I feel like I
had read in a really long time, you know, and
it really jumped off the page of me, and it
really set me in nineteen eighty seven, Oakland. I grew up,
you know this, But like I spent time in Sacramento
as a kid. I had an uncle in Hayward, I
got family in Stockton. I spent a lot of time
around the Bay and got in and out of there
a lot. So, you know, obviously thinking of that eighties
(11:21):
Warriors team and this moment that he had, you know,
it was just an honor to be able to do it.
But you know, to be able to flex and show
my action skills and my martial arts skills.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
My practice like that was you know a lot of
fun and a challenge.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I love a challenge. I love a physical challenge. And
you know, getting to do that in this film was amazing, man.
And you know, getting getting to be the hero there
we go.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
So this wasn't something where you know, you had some
stunt double or somebody. This was you doing martial arts
and all of that stuff. That's what you would do, Jay.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah, we don't do stunt double Steven and we don't
do stun double Steven and we don't do that.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Bro.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Now I'm listen, man, I will tell you something. I
hadn't done martial arts since I was about seven eight
years old, and I might have got a yellow belt,
I'm not even sure. And I met my stunt double
living this film and I told him. I was like, Bro,
you're not gonna work in this movie. And he was like, cool,
that just means you got a lot more to do.
And I learned five or six different styles of martial arts.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I learned how to use five or six different weapons. Bro.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
I was doing three days. I would do two hours
every morning. I would do an hour of lifting in
the middle of the day. Then I'd go two hours
of weapons at night, two and a half hours of
weapons at night, six days a week, and did that
all the way up until you know, we started rolling
cameras on Sleepy Story.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
I heard you called Tom Cruise for some help, some advice,
mister Maverick top gun himself. Is that truer submission impossible?
Is that true? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Man?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
I mean, listen, who better to call than than the
guy who's really he's really the definitive you know, action star.
You know what I mean, Like when you think about
that genre and you think about all that he's done, Like,
who better to call and say, hey, man, how do
I do this?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
You know what I mean? How do I train?
Speaker 3 (13:00):
How do I how do I recover? How do I
prepare myself for this? How do I make sure I
don't get injured? How do I make sure I'm hitting
my mark and through all this physicality?
Speaker 2 (13:09):
How do I make sure that I.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Am absorbing every single one of these martial arts styles
and weapons practices that that.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
You're you know, you're learning at a time.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
And he was gracious, man, you know, he sent me
this crazy long text with all these different things to
do and think.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
About and to watch watch film. You know.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
One of the things I keep telling people is like
he told me, watch film everything, and every single night
before you go to bed, watch it so you can see.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
What you did right, what you did wrong, what you
need to improve on.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
And literally every single night, I would lay in bed
and watch whatever I did that day.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
How hard is it for you to watch this? I know,
doing TV every day. I don't like to do that
too much. I really really don't. To me, tomorrow's the
next day. I got to show up, right, How hard
is it for you to look at it and just
watch yourself and critique yourself?
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Nah, that's not for me, man, that's not really you know,
in a TV show, I think it's interesting because I'm
watching to understand the tone of the show. I'm watching
to make sure I understand that I'm locked into the
right the right show, and then after a while I
stop watching. But you know, it's not my favorite thing
to do, you know what I mean. I feel like
I get to go make it, and that's what I
(14:18):
want to do.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
I'm not the one I want to necessarily watch it.
I want other people to watch it and experience it.
And you know, I hear how people feel about it,
you know, and that's how I know I'm doing my job.
You know, whether you love my characters, whether you hate
my characters, As long as you feel one way or another,
I'm doing my job right.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
The key the enemy is indifference. That's the death difference.
As long as they'll love you I hate you. You good
to go that much? We do go that much, we don't.
You know the Netflix series Running Point, which you staring
as well, you know you played ahead of the fictitious
La Waves. I mean, that's a hit on Netflix right now.
You look at what you're doing with all of these projects.
(14:55):
Where do you feel you are in your career at
this particular moment in tom And how are you feeling
about the industry as a whole with this quote unquote
sensitive times that we live in and so much to
be watching out for in terms of characters you portray
and how information is absorbed.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Yeah, I mean, I'll say for the industry, man, I'm
feeling optimistic. I'm feeling like, you know, we obviously hit
some bumps and bruises, you know, from obviously the pandemic
like everyone else in the world, through you know, the
strikes that we went through, and obviously there's been a
ton of reshuffling and restructuring, but I think some of those,
you know, those things are starting to settle. Obviously LA
(15:32):
had its own, you know, heartbreaking troubles with the fires
this year, but I feel like a lot of that's
starting to settle a little bit.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
In the industry, you.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Know, people want to get back to work, man, and
writers are getting busy again, and writers' rooms are opening up,
and films are being you know, kind of fast track
to be made. And so I feel like we're going
to make a roaring comeback and start making a lot
of stuff again.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
And I think, you know, for me and my career
and where I'm at, you know, I.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Only dreamed of a lot of this, man, and then
I started putting it up on a vision board at
a certain point, and you know, I feel like I've been.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Building these pieces and putting this.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Career together of work that I'm proud of, and work
that you know, I want to look back and say
I did that, you know what I mean, and be
proud of it.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
And you know, I've been fortunate to do that.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
I've been fortunate to work with a lot of amazing people, filmmakers, writers,
you know, actors obviously, and you know it's it's beautiful.
I think of it like winning a championship. I never
won a championship, you know what I'm saying. But I
think of it like, you know, next year, you start
all over again and none of whatever happened in the
past doesn't matter. So you know, I pick up every
single day and just keep doing the work, and you know,
(16:42):
hopefully the career keep going.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
I'm wondering about the challenge of an artist, particularly one
in Hollywood, like yourself and others, considering how the industry,
according to the reports anywhere, his skill back to some
degree sense to strike, you know, how much production is
actually being put out there? Seems like content is king,
but it also seems like studios, networks, et cetera spending
less money, making less of an investment. I guess I'm asking,
(17:07):
are these times harder or is it more of the same.
Coming from a perspective such as yourself based on what we.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Know, Yeah, that's a great question, Steven.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
You know, I think it is challenging, right, There's not
as many opportunities out there for people. There's not as
many you know, if you're an actor, there's not as
many productions going, which means you don't get as many
opportunities to go get a job. If you're a writer,
there's not as many writers rooms open, which means you
don't get an opportunity to get a job. Or when
the few rooms do open, they staff so quickly you
(17:37):
don't get an opportunity to get a job. And so,
you know, I think it has been a challenge man.
You know, I think about a lot of friends of
mine who are below the line workers. You know, you
think your craftsmen, you think your hair and makeup folks,
you know, your gaffers, your teamsters, you know, and a
lot of folks have been out of work.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
So it's definitely been a hard time and it's been
a trying time. I think.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
On the creative side, though, you try to look at
it as an opportunity to create, and you try to
look at it as an opportunity to say, if I
could tell a story that I want.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
To tell, how could I do that right? How do
I do that via a scripted podcast? Do I do
that via a TV show? Do I do that via
a film that I'm writing?
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Or I want to direct or a short film, and
so I think it's it's really forcing people or giving
people the opportunity rather to like go be creative and
think about how you want to give back to this
creative community and put something into it. And that is,
you know, That's how I try to look at it, man.
And I think a lot of my friends who aren't
(18:39):
as busy as they want to be, like, that's how
they're trying to look at it as well. It's like,
how can they go create something for themselves and start
a whole new lane for themselves?
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Is it challenging when you consider fact like like for me,
this is my show, I've created this show, etc. You know,
but you got to go out there and get support
unless you want to finance it yourself. That's not the
role of an actor, producer, whatever. That's not a role
that folks customarily want to play. Do you find that
to be more challenging, more fulfilling, or too challenging to
(19:10):
the point where you're like, damnit, I got to do
something new that's got some guaranteed funds in the mix.
What's your mentality about that?
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Man?
Speaker 3 (19:16):
I love a challenge, So I'm probably the person you
know what I'm saying, who's gonna go, Who's going to go?
Try to figure it out, right, I'm the person who's
going to go, you know, be like, oh, well, how
do you raise money? Or how do you you know,
get this thing made?
Speaker 2 (19:30):
How do you do a podcast? Excuse me?
Speaker 3 (19:32):
How do you license a piece of Ip's? That's me
and kind of how my brain works.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
You know.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
It is a very daunting thing though, you know, like
that is not why many of us got into this.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Many of us became actors because we just want to
tell stories, right. We love the power of storytelling and
how we can reach the world.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
And it is self indulgent at times, like it's no lie,
but like at the end of the day, like you know,
you do love the work and you love the study
of people and you get to perf and so now
knowing that you have to add all these different layers,
you know, I think of it as you know, putting
little things in your toolbox, you know what I mean.
And you slowly you start to become a Swiss army
(20:11):
knife and you start to realize like, oh, I can
write a thing, act in a thing, get my homeboy
to direct it, get another friend to produce it and
now we can put it out on YouTube, or now
we can license it to a streamer. And you know
it it's a tough thing for sure.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
You know, it's a lot to learn.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
But I think there's a lot of people out there
who who want to do it, and you know, are
now given the opportunity to do it because there's no
other choice, right, And I think people would rather do
that before walk away from it because you love it
too much, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Like, I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Stephen Ey, Wow,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Like, I just this is my this is what I
was put on this earth to do, is tell stories
and entertain people.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
So I'm going to find a way to do that
by any means necessary.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
So I'll let you get on out of here.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Man.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Speaking of telling stories, tell us the story of the
upcoming the NBA Finals. Who are you seeing? Who do
you see winning?
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Cool man? Why you do this?
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Come on, man, Come on man. You want to tell stories, right?
You want to tell stories? Well, listen, Chyson, come with what
a variety of forms stories could come with. There could
be reality stories, or they could be fantasy. They could
be fantasy you know what I'm saying, you could give
a fantasy version. I mean, Draymond Green out there talking
about the Golden State Warriors gonna win the championship. Some
people think that's fantasy. A few think that's reality. Others
(21:26):
think that Lebron and Luca got a shot they want
to ignore. Ok't see in Boston. I mean those a
fantasy's that could become reality? What about you?
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Okay, okay, okay, okay. I think Boston gets there. I
think Boston gets there. I think we know that, we
see that.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
The West is tough. Man. Listen, I mean you know this.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
You do this every single day, man, six, seven and eight,
five or five through eight, or like one game apart.
Like this is crazy, man, like it is. It is
insane to see this. You know again, you know going
back to that, you know, you out who your MVP is.
You know, Joker is my MVP. I would love to
see Denver get there again. I think that would be
(22:06):
a lot of fun. Don't wish them and then obviously
don't wish that.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
You just feel like I don't feel like being in
the Maha City, man, I don't feel like being in
that altitude. Man. I just don't feel like going through
it again, Jay, I just don't. I just don't know, Bro, No,
my body doll losing his breath and shit all the time.
I mean, you know what's up.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
When that dude is on the court, you know it.
Everybody knows it. Bro. It's the craziest thing to watch. Man.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
You look up and you like, this dude has a
triple double in the third quarter and you don't even
know how it happened because it happens.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
It's so smooth you don't even know, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
And then when Jamal Murray is clicking and you know
it's Aaron Gordon can catch the ball anywhere and his
bag has gotten better, especially on the dribble.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Man. Like, you know, they're a really fun team to watch,
and you know, I believe.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
In Okay see, but I think they got to go
against some dogs to get there. They got to go
get some vets to get there. They got to go
and get some dogs to get there. And that's not
to say that they're not dogs. But I'd like to
see Denver get there. And if it's not Denver, than
you know, I like to see the Lakers get there.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Man. I'm a hometown boy. I'm a hometown boy.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
So you're a hometown boy that ultimately doesn't want to
admit that you're picking the Boss and Celtics to win
the championship. Whoa, whoa, that's what you're saying. I mean,
that's what that was my interpretation. I mean, I could
be wrong, but that's my interpretation.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
WHOA. Listen, I don't know what happens when the finals
come around.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
You deserve the right to hold on to that thought, right.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Yeah, I don't know what happens when the finals come around.
Freaky you know what I'm saying. But you know, I
would love to see Boston play the Nuggets. And if
it's not the Nuggets, I love to see him play
the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
All right, my man? All the best to you, my brother.
Freaky Tales in theaters Friday, April fourth, The Running Point,
by the Way, streaming now on Netflix and pick up.
Did Everyone have an Imagine, every friend or just me
wherever you buy your books. The brother is a publisher,
He's an actor, the storyteller, extraordinary. The one and only
Jay Ellis appreciate you, my man, priud, do you make.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
You We'll catch him soon, all right, bro, thank you.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Man and only jay ellis in the house, right here
with Stephen Am
There's a lot of NBA stuff to get into, make
no mistake about that, particularly with the fight for the
Western Conference playoff seatings, because that's exactly where I want
to go. Here's a look at the current seating out West,
where the Douvin Nuggets are currently the third seed, the
Lakers are the fourth seed, and the Golden State Warriors
are currently at sixth. So we could be looking at
(00:24):
a scenario where Lebron and Steph face each other in
the first round, and that could be a dilemma for
the fans and the league. And here's where I'm going
with this. At some point in time, we gotta make
a decision. Ladies and gentlemen. Think about the scenario here.
Let's say, for example, that the Golden State Warriors hold
on to the sixth seed in the Western Conference. They
would possibly face Denver, who's a three seed. Right, But
(00:47):
if they moved up to the fifth seed because Memphis
is sliding after letting go of their coach Taylor Jenkins,
they don't look great. They've lost the last two games
or so. If Golden State finds a way to inch
up to the the seed and the Lakers stay at
the fourth seed, that's Lebron James and the Lakers versus
Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the first round.
(01:07):
It guarantees one of them gets to the second round,
but it also guarantees that one of them is bounced
out in the first round. So what do you prefer.
Do you prefer Lebron going up against, say the Clippers
going up against say the Minnesota Timberwolves with ant Man
in the first round? Do you prefer that with the
possibility of advancing to the second round while Golden State
(01:29):
goes up against somebody like Denver, they'd be undersized. But nevertheless,
with Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler and what they could
do together if they were fortunate enough to knock off Denver,
did you get to the second round as well? Or
do you want Lebron and Steph to face one another
and one of them go home in the first round.
I'm not gonna lie to you. I like that scenario
(01:50):
better because I don't know if I could bet on
the Golden State Warriors to beat the Denver Nuggets when
Jokic or Jamal Murray or out of the lineup or
both of them, Denver ain't the same, but when in
the lineup, they're league leaders in field goal percentage shooting.
They're one of the better three point shooting teams. Oh,
by the way, they're top notch in fast break points.
For crying out loud, this is what they bring to
(02:10):
the table, and they got a championship pedigree. I don't
know if I want to bet my money on Steph
Curry and Jimmy Butler the Golden State Warriors knocking off
those brothers and Denvor, particularly with never having a home
court advantage in a first round playoff series of Game
seven would be back in the Mile High City. I
don't know about that. So we might have to settle
on Steph Curry and Lebron James going up against one
(02:33):
another and advancing, with one of them definitively advancing out
of the first round. And oh, by the way, in
that series, I would still go with the Lakers, even
though Golden State could beat them. I would say the
Lakers have to be the favorites. Here's my personal preference though,
no matter what happens, I want ant Man to go
as deep as he could go. I want to see
ant Man. I want to see Anthony Evers that's who
(02:54):
the hell I want to see. Okay, I just want
to make sure that I'm clear about that before we
move on to my next subject. Y'all can sit up there.
We'll take a poll. Y'all can sit up there, expressed
us what y'all think. Who would y'all rather see? Would
you rather see Lebron and Steph in the first round
against one another? Or do you want to see them
going against different opponents so they could possibly both advance
(03:15):
beyond the first round? Is that your preference? Or is
the preference them going up against one another? Just let
a brother know, Just let a brother know. I'm about
to ask this next brother to this question because he
is my next guest. Talented actor best known for his
role as Lawrence on HBO's hit series Insecure. Since then,
he started a string of hit TV shows and films,
(03:36):
including his latest called Freaky Tales, which hits theaters on
April fourth. My brother, the one and only Jay ellis
in the house. What's that big time? How you doing man?
How's everything?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
My guys?
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Good bro, It's good to see you. By the way,
Tell everybody the first of all, how tall are y'all
was with you about two weeks ago. You're about to
lookit six three six y four, right, you're about six
to four inches?
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yeah, how about six y four that's what they call it?
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Yes, right, you intern with the Portland Trailblazers before you
became this you know this, this star on television and film.
You are damn intern with the Portland tra Trailblazers, were
you not.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Man, I was there for the three S two o
three season, the jail Blazer season. Man Mo Cheeks was
the coach. Obviously know that roster, but yeah, I was
there for all the trouble.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Man, there we go. And so that means you know
your basketball. So you heard what I said, you heard
what I broke down. If you had your brothers knowing
that you out in southern California, but you're very familiar
with the Bay, et cetera. What scenario would you want most?
Would you want Lebron and Steph going up against one
another in the first round? Will one of them definitively
advanced beyond the first round? Or do you want to
(04:40):
take the risk of them going against somebody else and
both of them getting bounced out.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
I like to see them both get deeper versus that's
a great team, man, So I'm not sure that's who
they want to see in the first round for sure.
So you know, I think you're right. I think it's
a lot of fun. I think it's great for the
game to go see, you know, the Warriors and the
Lakers slugging out in the first round.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
So you're you're good with them and at least knowing
that one of them will advance past the first round,
right yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Man, listen, this is playoff basketball as we know it.
These are two great teams, and so you know, I
think we're gonna have a lot of fun. You know,
I think the series will go longer than what some
people might expect it to go. But you know, I
think that's the basketball that we want to see, and
that's why we sign up, and that's why we watch,
and that's why we show up to these stadiums and
these arenas to see games like this.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Are you sure it's fair to classify both of them
as great when you talk about them as teams, I
know they're good, but great. We know great teams when
we see them. Do you really feel both of them
are great?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Here's what I think.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Boston is great Oklahoma City is great, right, we know
what the top of the pack looks like. We know
that for sure, Like there's no questions about that. Here's
what you can't do though. You can't count either of
these teams out. You can't count the experience out. You
can't count the pedigree out, you know. And so I
think these teams can have had a flashes of greatness
(06:01):
and can be great, you know. Sustaining that over the
playoffs obviously is tough, and that's what basketball is about.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Would you be excited about a Boston OKC finals, Yeah,
give it to me.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
I mean, listen, I'd love to see OKAC maker run.
I think Boston, you know, will get there. I'm excited
to see them back and see them defending their championship.
It would be fun to see Okay see you know
what I mean, especially as an Oklahoma boy. You know,
I grew up in Tolsa, so you know, it'd be
fun to see Okay See you.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Know, going there and and have a real shot.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
That team is special, man, Like you look at that team,
like those guys are really special.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
They really show up every I was listening this morning.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Man.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
They they might mess around and when seventy games.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Yeah, like, this is a really great team, and I
do think it would be fun to go watch a
team where everybody is locked arms, you know what I'm saying,
going to play basketball.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
It'd be fun to see them get there.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
There's some other teams that I might like to get there,
but you know, it'd be fun to watch.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Let me tell you what I shared before we get
in the U a little bit more. Let me tell
you what I shared about this season. First of all,
I don't want as much as as popular and as
much of a bonanza in the ratings it would be
for the Lakers to go up against Boston. The reason
I don't want to see that series is because I
believe the Los Angeles Lakers would get slaughtered by the
Boston Celtics. I don't think that's a match they're made for.
(07:20):
They're built for that, I don't think so. I just
don't like that for the Lakers. I want a competitive
NBA Finals. I don't want some lopside of the fair
where we go, we're lucky to see you win a game.
I think Boston would destroy them. Here's what I would
tell you is my most attractive proposition in terms of
interest as great as the Oklahoma City Thunder, all those
young Thoroughbreds led by SGA. Who's my MVP this year
(07:43):
by the way, the Brother Spectacular. Let me tell you
what my matchup is. Could you imagine if it was Lebron,
James and Luca and the Lakers going to Cleveland to
try to stop Cleveland from capturing the championship. Lebron having
to stop Cleveland from winning the championship, to me, that
(08:04):
would be that could be an epic matchup. What do
you say to that.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
No, that's a lot of fun, man.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
I mean, obviously to see him have to go back
home and win a championship would be you know, it
would be amazing. That Cleveland team also, Bro, I mean, wow, wow,
what a phenomenal team from from one through twelve. Bro,
everybody shows up and plays their part. That would be
a lot of fun. I mean, obviously, the storylines would
be great, you know what I mean in terms of
(08:30):
all the other things that come with it. But the basketball,
the style of play for those two teams, it would
be a.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Lot of fun to watch them go up against each other.
But you can't count out a Boston Lakes. No, no, no,
you know what I mean, Like, that's that's basketball.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
I mean, that's that's that's that's basketball. And I'm not
I think Boston is the best team in the NBA
and they should repeat. You gotta bet your money on them.
I'm just talking about I think that the Lakers are
no match for them. Where is there a better match
for Cleveland? And so because of it, it would make
that it would make for an epic matchup, whereas I
think Boston against LA that series ends in five. That's
(09:04):
my problem. I won a seven game series for the finals.
I won a game seven of an NBA finals, a
championship on the line, it's forty eight minutes away? Is
everybody got to show up? That's what I want to see.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Yeah, listen, listen, I think again, you know, listen, really
get to seven. I don't know, but I think Lebron
and Luca could pull something out. You know what I'm
saying that maybe we wouldn't have expected, But you're right.
I think Cleveland Lakers matchup is a lot more fun
to watch. It's a lot more even again, the style
of play of those two teams, it would be fun,
the storylines, it would be fun. That'd be fun to watch, man.
(09:38):
I also would love to watch Donovan get there.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Man.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
I think Donovan is a guy, he's a stud, bro,
and I think, you know, he's kind of was overlooked
in Utah even though he was doing the thing in
Utah as well.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
And obviously he's flourished in Cleveland. So would love to
see him get there.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Let me transition to you, man, because I got to
get to some of the things that you're doing. That's
why you're here, not to talk basketball. I just I
just got your basketball analysis while I had you on camera.
But let me ask you this an NBA star, a
corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teenage punks, neo Nazis,
and a debt collector and balk on a collision course
in nineteen eighty seven Oakland, California. Does this sum up
(10:14):
the present the premise of Freaky Tales? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Man, this is a wild movie, bro. It brings together
four different groups of people in four different stories that
all obviously converge at one point in my story. You know,
I got to play Sleepy Floyd in this film, who, obviously,
as we know, as a warrior great still holds the
record for twenty nine points in the fourth quarter in
the playoffs, and you know, it was amazing to be
able to go in there and play a fictionalized version
(10:40):
of him where I got to honor that that greatness,
but still got to go have fun and do this
amazing martial arts and weapons work that I get to
do in this film to kind of avenge all.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
These characters and all these stories.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Why was Sleepy Ford the character you picked? What was
that about?
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Yet? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Man, I mean listen, the first time I read the script,
it was the most original thing I feel like I
had read in a really long time, you know, and
it really jumped off the page of me, and it
really set me in nineteen eighty seven, Oakland. I grew up,
you know this, But like I spent time in Sacramento
as a kid. I had an uncle in Hayward, I
got family in Stockton. I spent a lot of time
around the Bay and got in and out of there
a lot. So, you know, obviously thinking of that eighties
(11:21):
Warriors team and this moment that he had, you know,
it was just an honor to be able to do it.
But you know, to be able to flex and show
my action skills and my martial arts skills.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
My practice like that was you know a lot of
fun and a challenge.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I love a challenge. I love a physical challenge. And
you know, getting to do that in this film was amazing, man.
And you know, getting getting to be the hero there
we go.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
So this wasn't something where you know, you had some
stunt double or somebody. This was you doing martial arts
and all of that stuff. That's what you would do, Jay.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah, we don't do stunt double Steven and we don't
do stun double Steven and we don't do that.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Bro.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Now I'm listen, man, I will tell you something. I
hadn't done martial arts since I was about seven eight
years old, and I might have got a yellow belt,
I'm not even sure. And I met my stunt double
living this film and I told him. I was like, Bro,
you're not gonna work in this movie. And he was like, cool,
that just means you got a lot more to do.
And I learned five or six different styles of martial arts.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I learned how to use five or six different weapons. Bro.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
I was doing three days. I would do two hours
every morning. I would do an hour of lifting in
the middle of the day. Then I'd go two hours
of weapons at night, two and a half hours of
weapons at night, six days a week, and did that
all the way up until you know, we started rolling
cameras on Sleepy Story.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
I heard you called Tom Cruise for some help, some advice,
mister Maverick top gun himself. Is that truer submission impossible?
Is that true? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Man?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
I mean, listen, who better to call than than the
guy who's really he's really the definitive you know, action star.
You know what I mean, Like when you think about
that genre and you think about all that he's done, Like,
who better to call and say, hey, man, how do
I do this?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
You know what I mean? How do I train?
Speaker 3 (13:00):
How do I how do I recover? How do I
prepare myself for this? How do I make sure I
don't get injured? How do I make sure I'm hitting
my mark and through all this physicality?
Speaker 2 (13:09):
How do I make sure that I.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Am absorbing every single one of these martial arts styles
and weapons practices that that.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
You're you know, you're learning at a time.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
And he was gracious, man, you know, he sent me
this crazy long text with all these different things to
do and think.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
About and to watch watch film. You know.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
One of the things I keep telling people is like
he told me, watch film everything, and every single night
before you go to bed, watch it so you can see.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
What you did right, what you did wrong, what you
need to improve on.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
And literally every single night, I would lay in bed
and watch whatever I did that day.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
How hard is it for you to watch this? I know,
doing TV every day. I don't like to do that
too much. I really really don't. To me, tomorrow's the
next day. I got to show up, right, How hard
is it for you to look at it and just
watch yourself and critique yourself?
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Nah, that's not for me, man, that's not really you know,
in a TV show, I think it's interesting because I'm
watching to understand the tone of the show. I'm watching
to make sure I understand that I'm locked into the
right the right show, and then after a while I
stop watching. But you know, it's not my favorite thing
to do, you know what I mean. I feel like
I get to go make it, and that's what I
(14:18):
want to do.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
I'm not the one I want to necessarily watch it.
I want other people to watch it and experience it.
And you know, I hear how people feel about it,
you know, and that's how I know I'm doing my job.
You know, whether you love my characters, whether you hate
my characters, As long as you feel one way or another,
I'm doing my job right.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
The key the enemy is indifference. That's the death difference.
As long as they'll love you I hate you. You good
to go that much? We do go that much, we don't.
You know the Netflix series Running Point, which you staring
as well, you know you played ahead of the fictitious
La Waves. I mean, that's a hit on Netflix right now.
You look at what you're doing with all of these projects.
(14:55):
Where do you feel you are in your career at
this particular moment in tom And how are you feeling
about the industry as a whole with this quote unquote
sensitive times that we live in and so much to
be watching out for in terms of characters you portray
and how information is absorbed.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Yeah, I mean, I'll say for the industry, man, I'm
feeling optimistic. I'm feeling like, you know, we obviously hit
some bumps and bruises, you know, from obviously the pandemic
like everyone else in the world, through you know, the
strikes that we went through, and obviously there's been a
ton of reshuffling and restructuring, but I think some of those,
you know, those things are starting to settle. Obviously LA
(15:32):
had its own, you know, heartbreaking troubles with the fires
this year, but I feel like a lot of that's
starting to settle a little bit.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
In the industry, you.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Know, people want to get back to work, man, and
writers are getting busy again, and writers' rooms are opening up,
and films are being you know, kind of fast track
to be made. And so I feel like we're going
to make a roaring comeback and start making a lot
of stuff again.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
And I think, you know, for me and my career
and where I'm at, you know, I.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Only dreamed of a lot of this, man, and then
I started putting it up on a vision board at
a certain point, and you know, I feel like I've been.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Building these pieces and putting this.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Career together of work that I'm proud of, and work
that you know, I want to look back and say
I did that, you know what I mean, and be
proud of it.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
And you know, I've been fortunate to do that.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
I've been fortunate to work with a lot of amazing people, filmmakers, writers,
you know, actors obviously, and you know it's it's beautiful.
I think of it like winning a championship. I never
won a championship, you know what I'm saying. But I
think of it like, you know, next year, you start
all over again and none of whatever happened in the
past doesn't matter. So you know, I pick up every
single day and just keep doing the work, and you know,
(16:42):
hopefully the career keep going.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
I'm wondering about the challenge of an artist, particularly one
in Hollywood, like yourself and others, considering how the industry,
according to the reports anywhere, his skill back to some
degree sense to strike, you know, how much production is
actually being put out there? Seems like content is king,
but it also seems like studios, networks, et cetera spending
less money, making less of an investment. I guess I'm asking,
(17:07):
are these times harder or is it more of the same.
Coming from a perspective such as yourself based on what we.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Know, Yeah, that's a great question, Steven.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
You know, I think it is challenging, right, There's not
as many opportunities out there for people. There's not as
many you know, if you're an actor, there's not as
many productions going, which means you don't get as many
opportunities to go get a job. If you're a writer,
there's not as many writers rooms open, which means you
don't get an opportunity to get a job. Or when
the few rooms do open, they staff so quickly you
(17:37):
don't get an opportunity to get a job. And so,
you know, I think it has been a challenge man.
You know, I think about a lot of friends of
mine who are below the line workers. You know, you
think your craftsmen, you think your hair and makeup folks,
you know, your gaffers, your teamsters, you know, and a
lot of folks have been out of work.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
So it's definitely been a hard time and it's been
a trying time. I think.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
On the creative side, though, you try to look at
it as an opportunity to create, and you try to
look at it as an opportunity to say, if I
could tell a story that I want.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
To tell, how could I do that right? How do
I do that via a scripted podcast? Do I do
that via a TV show? Do I do that via
a film that I'm writing?
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Or I want to direct or a short film, and
so I think it's it's really forcing people or giving
people the opportunity rather to like go be creative and
think about how you want to give back to this
creative community and put something into it. And that is,
you know, That's how I try to look at it, man.
And I think a lot of my friends who aren't
(18:39):
as busy as they want to be, like, that's how
they're trying to look at it as well. It's like,
how can they go create something for themselves and start
a whole new lane for themselves?
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Is it challenging when you consider fact like like for me,
this is my show, I've created this show, etc. You know,
but you got to go out there and get support
unless you want to finance it yourself. That's not the
role of an actor, producer, whatever. That's not a role
that folks customarily want to play. Do you find that
to be more challenging, more fulfilling, or too challenging to
(19:10):
the point where you're like, damnit, I got to do
something new that's got some guaranteed funds in the mix.
What's your mentality about that?
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Man?
Speaker 3 (19:16):
I love a challenge, So I'm probably the person you
know what I'm saying, who's gonna go, Who's going to go?
Try to figure it out, right, I'm the person who's
going to go, you know, be like, oh, well, how
do you raise money? Or how do you you know,
get this thing made?
Speaker 2 (19:30):
How do you do a podcast? Excuse me?
Speaker 3 (19:32):
How do you license a piece of Ip's? That's me
and kind of how my brain works.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
You know.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
It is a very daunting thing though, you know, like
that is not why many of us got into this.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Many of us became actors because we just want to
tell stories, right. We love the power of storytelling and
how we can reach the world.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
And it is self indulgent at times, like it's no lie,
but like at the end of the day, like you know,
you do love the work and you love the study
of people and you get to perf and so now
knowing that you have to add all these different layers,
you know, I think of it as you know, putting
little things in your toolbox, you know what I mean.
And you slowly you start to become a Swiss army
(20:11):
knife and you start to realize like, oh, I can
write a thing, act in a thing, get my homeboy
to direct it, get another friend to produce it and
now we can put it out on YouTube, or now
we can license it to a streamer. And you know
it it's a tough thing for sure.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
You know, it's a lot to learn.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
But I think there's a lot of people out there
who who want to do it, and you know, are
now given the opportunity to do it because there's no
other choice, right, And I think people would rather do
that before walk away from it because you love it
too much, you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Like, I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Stephen Ey, Wow,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Like, I just this is my this is what I
was put on this earth to do, is tell stories
and entertain people.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
So I'm going to find a way to do that
by any means necessary.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
So I'll let you get on out of here.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Man.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Speaking of telling stories, tell us the story of the
upcoming the NBA Finals. Who are you seeing? Who do
you see winning?
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Cool man? Why you do this?
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Come on, man, Come on man. You want to tell stories, right?
You want to tell stories? Well, listen, Chyson, come with what
a variety of forms stories could come with. There could
be reality stories, or they could be fantasy. They could
be fantasy you know what I'm saying, you could give
a fantasy version. I mean, Draymond Green out there talking
about the Golden State Warriors gonna win the championship. Some
people think that's fantasy. A few think that's reality. Others
(21:26):
think that Lebron and Luca got a shot they want
to ignore. Ok't see in Boston. I mean those a
fantasy's that could become reality? What about you?
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Okay, okay, okay, okay. I think Boston gets there. I
think Boston gets there. I think we know that, we
see that.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
The West is tough. Man. Listen, I mean you know this.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
You do this every single day, man, six, seven and eight,
five or five through eight, or like one game apart.
Like this is crazy, man, like it is. It is
insane to see this. You know again, you know going
back to that, you know, you out who your MVP is.
You know, Joker is my MVP. I would love to
see Denver get there again. I think that would be
(22:06):
a lot of fun. Don't wish them and then obviously
don't wish that.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
You just feel like I don't feel like being in
the Maha City, man, I don't feel like being in
that altitude. Man. I just don't feel like going through
it again, Jay, I just don't. I just don't know, Bro, No,
my body doll losing his breath and shit all the time.
I mean, you know what's up.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
When that dude is on the court, you know it.
Everybody knows it. Bro. It's the craziest thing to watch. Man.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
You look up and you like, this dude has a
triple double in the third quarter and you don't even
know how it happened because it happens.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
It's so smooth you don't even know, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
And then when Jamal Murray is clicking and you know
it's Aaron Gordon can catch the ball anywhere and his
bag has gotten better, especially on the dribble.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Man. Like, you know, they're a really fun team to watch,
and you know, I believe.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
In Okay see, but I think they got to go
against some dogs to get there. They got to go
get some vets to get there. They got to go
and get some dogs to get there. And that's not
to say that they're not dogs. But I'd like to
see Denver get there. And if it's not Denver, than
you know, I like to see the Lakers get there.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Man. I'm a hometown boy. I'm a hometown boy.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
So you're a hometown boy that ultimately doesn't want to
admit that you're picking the Boss and Celtics to win
the championship. Whoa, whoa, that's what you're saying. I mean,
that's what that was my interpretation. I mean, I could
be wrong, but that's my interpretation.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
WHOA. Listen, I don't know what happens when the finals
come around.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
You deserve the right to hold on to that thought, right.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Yeah, I don't know what happens when the finals come around.
Freaky you know what I'm saying. But you know, I
would love to see Boston play the Nuggets. And if
it's not the Nuggets, I love to see him play
the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
All right, my man? All the best to you, my brother.
Freaky Tales in theaters Friday, April fourth, The Running Point,
by the Way, streaming now on Netflix and pick up.
Did Everyone have an Imagine, every friend or just me
wherever you buy your books. The brother is a publisher,
He's an actor, the storyteller, extraordinary. The one and only
Jay Ellis appreciate you, my man, priud, do you make.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
You We'll catch him soon, all right, bro, thank you.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Man and only jay ellis in the house, right here
with Stephen Am
Host
Stephen A. Smith
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