May 3, 2025 • 22 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
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Earlier this week, we sort of Los Angeles Lakes eliminated
from play of contention at home by the way by
ant Man himself, Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Lakers lost in five five, and the team met
with the.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Media yesterday to talk about the offseason and what needs
to happen heading into next year.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Head coach JJ Reddick had.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
One thing on his mind yesterday when talking about what
the Lakers need to do to improve.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Take a listen.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
I'll start with the off season and the work that's
required in an off season to be in championship shape.
And you know, we have a ways to go as
a roster, and certainly there are individuals that were in
phenomenal shape. There's certainly other ones that could have been
(00:50):
in better shape.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
First things first, obviously he's talking about Luka Doncic. It
doesn't take a nine style to figure that out. That
may not be the only person he's talking about, but
clearly he's talking about him. At the very least, he's
the one that's going to have the ball in his
hands the majority of the time. He's going to be
the frase to the franchise for the next decade. For
you or at least a foreseeable future. He is a
basketball iconic superstar globally, I might add. And so because
(01:14):
of that, you're looking at him and you know the
conditioning or lack thereof the manner in which he was
attacked the man, the fact that in Game five and
the close out game he gave up none blowbots for
crowd out loud. That is something that has to be rectified.
JJ Reddick knows that, and his willingness to speak about
that is not hypocritical in any way, Ladies and gentleman,
because JJ Reddick say what you all about him, but
(01:34):
he has always been somebody that's been in shape. He
was always his pension, and what rode his success through
Duke as an All American and then ultimately on the
professional basketball level was the fact that JJ Reddick's movement
without the ball was obviously a very very significant thing.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
The man has always been in shape.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
So when he talks about one's conditioning, it's not like
we can look at him and call him out for anything.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
We certainly can't do that. That's number one. Number two.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
And the Lakers talk about improving their roster, understand that
they don't have a boatload of things to work with.
You got some players, the Austin Reeves, the Ruy hotchamor Is,
the Jared Vanderbilts of the world that gave vincents of
the world. All of them are hovering around anywhere from
eleven to thirteen million in salary. Here's the problem with
an Austin Reeves that's making about thirteen million. If you
move him, how much equitable compensation are you getting in return?
(02:21):
He's established himself as a Bona five number.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Three option for the Los Angeles Lake. He's averaged about
twenty points game this year.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
He's improved vastly, and if you're gonna move him, okay,
what kind of equitable conversation are you gonna get in
return for his services? Because at thirteen million dollars, again,
the salaries don't necessarily match.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
He's grossly underpaid.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
So because he's grossly underpaid, you know, it's one of
those situations where if you move him, you're gonna get
short changed on the return. I don't know about that,
but the biggest thing it brings me to is wondering
having me wondering about Lebron James. If Lebron James has
to come back for his twenty third season, which everybody
(03:02):
in their grandmama.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Believes he will. I think a legitimate question to be
asked is what is he playing for?
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Do y'all understand that? Says Lebron James has arrived in
Los Angeles, they missed the playoffs. They won a championship
in the Bubble, but then they spent the next three
years or four years or so either missing the playoffs
or getting bounced in the first round, and at least
once they were swept. Since twenty twenty, okay, Lebron James
(03:35):
has gone to the Western Conference finals. Darvin Ham's first year,
all right, But other than that, he's been home.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
In the first round or before then.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
So you look at the Los Angeles Lakers right now,
you look at the rest of the Western Conference ladies
and gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Okay, So he's not going anywhere.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Houston's not going anywhere, Minnesota's not going anywhere.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Dallas is not going anywhere.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
I gave you four teams right there, and we don't
even have to count on the others. We's denver gonna fade.
Your kitchen still around. Jamal Murray is still there. Aaron
Gordon Is still there, Michael Porter Jr.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Is still there. Where they going?
Speaker 1 (04:18):
That's five teams. Clippers, Lakers had their way with them
during the regular season. The Clippers are the ones still playing,
going up, going for a game seven tomorrow night in
Denver in the first ride of the players, while the
Lakers are already home and five five?
Speaker 2 (04:34):
What's up with them? So I gave you six teams
right there, six teams.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
If you're Lebron James, at some point in time, it's
appropriate and fair to ask what is he playing for?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Because are the Lakers gonna win? Okay? So he's the
one with the assets. Houston is the one with the assets.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Minnesota got ant Man and some defensive wizards around them.
Dallas Kyrie eventually will return, Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Derek Lively.
They ain't gone away. I'm just saying we got to
pay attention to these things. You're talking about five to
(05:19):
six different teams for you can think about the Lakers.
Lebron James is still an all world player. He's still
one of the greatest, there is no question in that.
But if conditioning is an issue with Luca and the
ability of the Lakers front office to do something to
improve the roster or all high question marks. Where does
(05:42):
that leave Lebron James. Is he really playing to win,
meaning does he believe that he can win with him?
Is he playing because he just doesn't feel like relocating.
Is he playing so his other.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Son could come into the NBA?
Speaker 1 (05:57):
These are the questions that people are asking, and I
think they're legitimate because right now, with the Lakers going
home in the first round, it's almost so you can't
even take their regular season effort seriously anymore. You gotta
wait until the postseason when teams have the opportunity to
plan and plot against them in the Best of seventh series.
(06:20):
Can't ignore it. I certainly am not, and I don't
think the rest of you can either. The situation is
what it is, and there is absolutely positively nowhere around
to By the way, as an aside to the people
of Dallas, can we take the heat off of Nico
Harrison just to touch because you talk about somebody that
(06:43):
doesn't look too bad today, it's Nico Harrison.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Because when you look at Luka Doncic, and you look at.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
The way everybody from Julius Randall to Mike Conley Jr.
Or an ant man to a Jada McDaniels. When you
see the way everybody was blown right by him. He
is a defensive liability and offensively because they pressured him
ninety four feet for most of the game.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Come fourth quarter time, he didn't have the legs. Is
he going to dedicate himself.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Is he going to recognize that he's the new face
of the franchise for the Los Angeles Lakers. Is he
going to understand the reporters of making sure he's in
peak condition so he could maximize his talents?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Because I got news for you.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
As great as Luca is, and we all know he's great,
you know somebody else who's having just as big of
an impact as Luca is his former sub Jayalen Brunson,
who by the way, helped Luca carry the Dallas Mavericks
(07:46):
to a Western Conference finals.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
About three years back.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
That same Jayleen Brunson, who the Dallas Mavericks didn't want
to get fifty three million too, and the Knicks ended
up giving him over one hundred and four million dollars
too before signing them to a new contract where he
sacrificed one hundred million dollars which he could have signed.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Had he waited an extra year.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Just to ensure that the New York Knicks got their boy,
Michel Bridges, his former boy at Villanova, to come play
with him with the New York Knicks.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Jaylen Brunson did that.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
That same Jalen Brunson has carried the Knicks to a
second consecutive berth into the Eastern Conference Semifinals courtesy of
a one sixteen, one to thirteen victory over Detroit in
Game six last night in Detroit. Jalen Brunton, as I
told you, was the star, dropping forty points in the business,
including a late three pointer with four seconds left in
(08:40):
the game to seal the victory.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
So I'm looking at a Jalen.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Brunson and I'm saying to myself, this is what he
brings to the table. There's no doubt about that. Michael
Bridges showed up in the open court. When you let
the brother flourish, what does he do? He gets it done.
He gets it done. Annanobe can't say enough about the
defense that he put on Cane, cutting him, held him
(09:06):
like thirty two percent shooting for the series.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Carl Anthony Towns not impressed with his offensive output. We
need more, but we'll see what he does defensively. We'll see.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
So that's just where I'm at with it. I look
at the New York Nicks. I'm very, very proud that
they pulled this out. That they got out of the
first round, no doubt about that. They advanced to the
Eastern Conference second round. However, will they'll be playing against
the Boston Celtics. All right, And I'll get to all
of that.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Some other time.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
For now, for this moment, however, I'm gonna get to
somebody you all seem the love because he's got some
things that he wants to say, He's got some things
that he wants to add, wants to bring to the table.
I can't imagine what he is, but you know what,
It's Friday. I'm in a good mood. I don't mind
letting my nephew come on the show. That's right, nephew,
(09:56):
Josh joining me now to break it all down. Here
is what's up?
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Josh?
Speaker 2 (10:01):
How are you? Man?
Speaker 4 (10:03):
You see me? I'm in full seligatory.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Mo are you are you sitting? Are you sitting at
my desk?
Speaker 5 (10:09):
This is not your desk anymore? This is our desk.
So it's funny. Once again, you're letting your friends off
the hook. So so JJ Reddick is just allowed to,
like you said, he must be talking about Luka Doncik,
isn't he.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
So that's one of that's one of the things he's
that's one of the people he's talking about.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Oh, well, well, Luka Doncik is so out of shape
that JJ JJ decided to play him the most minutes
on the team. He averages the most points on the team,
second in assists, no first, first and assists and second
and rebounds.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Well, first of all, you're missing a point just because
he played them, because Luke is one of your best
players and you have to play him. And JJ Reddick
clearly showed that he wasn't willing to use his bitch
is he lost complete faith in all of them. He's
just saying what you have to do because of how
much you needed. He wasn't saying he wasn't saying that
the man is out of shape, he's a bum. He's
saying that you've got to be in championship.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Shape to win a championship. Oh and that's that's actually
factually correct.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
What would J Reddick know about that?
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Well, JJ Reddy didn't win a championship because he was
never a star player the cat, but he was always
in shape and he was always considered one of.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
The best shooters in basketball.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
And by the way, I'm not letting I'm not letting
them off the hook, because listen, he should have found
a way to use his bench. How you gonna go
a whole second half gate there and not use your
bench once?
Speaker 2 (11:37):
That's egregious. You gotta use your bench.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Or not use the center. You want to use the center,
you can't stop.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Nobody had one.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
He doesn't really have one. I mean, Jackson Hayes wasn't
the answer. What are you gonna do, Josh's.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
You played the tallest player you the coach?
Speaker 1 (11:52):
No, no, no, no, no. There's plenty of tall players
that were scrubs. There's plenty of tall players that weren't
active enough, that didn't handle their business the way.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
That you were like to You can't go by that.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Just because you tall don't mean you automatically get asserted
into the lineup. I mean, listen, you're trying to tell
me there ain't nobody on Golden State that was taller
than Draymond Green.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
But for the longest time.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
They put Draymond Green out there and ask him to
embrace the challenges going up against bigger dudes simply because
you didn't have guys that were confident knew how to playing.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
New the system.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
Does Rudy Gobert look like Hakeem olajah on if you
have somebody out there with some hype twelve.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
If they if they can't play, if they can't play, yes,
because Rudy Gobert is like, what three four time Defensive
Player of the Year. But also, you know what a
lot of putbacks and whatever you listen, the Lakers could
have got. They could have consummated the Mark Williams deal
with Charlotte. They didn't do that, Okay, talking about he
failed some physical or whatever. They got to go out
and get it big. We know they were too small,
(12:50):
so they didn't have the personnel, the.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
Team, the teammates that they did have. Though you're not
gonna play Jared Vanderbilt.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
I thought so.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
I mean, big Perk made that, and I think you
gotta throw If you can throw out Dory and Finney Smith,
and you could throw out Ruy hot.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Chimore, you could throw Jared out there. I think that
I think the.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Problem is is that Minnesota plays defense so well you
need it as much offensive firepower as you could possibly muster.
Jared Vanderbilt doesn't have to be guarded, and that puts
Minnesota at that puts the Lakers that have decided disadvantage
when they're on offense.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
So I feel like the guy that was doing the
most work on the team is taking the most heat.
Even you just saying that Nico is not looking so
bad to that you still gave it way Luca Danci
for for for Anthony Davis, You're still getting bad.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Well, that remains to be seen. Don't what what what
if Dallas makes the finals next year?
Speaker 4 (13:44):
What if Dallas makes the finals? You got Dallas?
Speaker 2 (13:47):
You don't think hold it, you don't think they have
a chance? No, And do you know that? Do you know?
Do you think he got a chance?
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Okay? See yeah, yes, do.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
You see do you did you realize that not only
did Dallas bounce them out in the playoffs last year,
but did you know that in the two meetings that
Dallas had this year without Luca they beat Okay?
Speaker 5 (14:10):
See yeah, that's that's that's that's okay. See, maybe they
match up well with them, but I don't think they
match up with well with with with enough teams in
the West Dallas to make it to the finals, to
make it through everybody.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
All right, let me let me switch to the Knicks
real quick. I know you were excited about them. I
see you draft out and you better have paid for
that ship yourself.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
You bet not a charge to my car. I'm kick
your ass. I'll telling you that right now. You bet not.
But let me ask you this question. Were you surprised
that Knicks won? Last name?
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Surprised? No?
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, okay, all right? Do you believe do you are
you ready for this? Do you believe that Jalen Brunson
is the greatest Nick ever?
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (14:51):
You wasn't here last year. I changed his name to MJ.
I call him Michael Jalen Brunson. I even put his
head on the little Dunk emblem. And because the stats
that that show that you know, he's he's he's right,
he's right on that level of Michael Jordan. Like you know,
he may just be missing the Scottie pipp and Phil
(15:12):
Jackson or put together, but he might go.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
With your ignorance, you always crossing the damn line you're
always going a little bit too far. Most forty point
series clinching wins on road in the NBA history, Michael
Jordan had four. Okay, he has two. Congratulations with that,
we understand that you. D Wade's up there, Charles Barkley's
up there, Giannis is up there, or whatever. Stop with
the stop with the Jordan comparitives.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
No, no, I can I can? I can I do
what you do?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Go ahead?
Speaker 4 (15:38):
How long? How long has you? How long was Jordan
in the league.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Jordan was in the Leaf for fifteen years total, thirteen
in Chicago.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
So Jalen Brunson is about half that and he's half
his you know, forty point game situation.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
So he's on the trajectory.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Now I'm not talking about his size and his overall game.
He can't. He couldn't defend like Jordan.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Jordan's a non time All NBA defensive player, ten times
scoring champions. It's not just stop it, don't don't don't display.
Let me not show you how ignorant you are today.
But let me ask you this, what do you think
the Knicks are gonna do against the Boston Celtics.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
Well, we gotta take you one game at the time.
Speaker 5 (16:11):
Break by break, we're gonna we're gonna break even in
Boston and then we're gonna break even in New York.
Speaker 4 (16:16):
It's step by step. We gotta go seven games.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
You gotta make it nasty and yeah, yeah, you gotta fight,
and you gotta stay out.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
The garden bad.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
So I have to stay out the garden.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Yeah you're not.
Speaker 5 (16:30):
You only show when when we you know, when we
at the brink of winning a series or something like that.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
You don't be there through the wars and stuff.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Uh. First of all, I've gone there during the regular season.
I was on TV.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
I did a countdown from the Garden for Crying Out
Lot and I flew from LA to do the show
from the Garden. That's number one. And that was the
game they got blown out. That game by Boston didn't
even make it a competition. But I was there when
they when they beat Philadelphia last year in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Okay, I was there. I was there this.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Season for a few game games when they want as well.
Don't don't put that on me, but I will say this,
I think the Knicks are gonna lose this series in five.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
First time.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
I'm hopeful, but I think they're gonna fir.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
First of all, you're talking to me. So when you
mentioned in them games that you went to, I know
it is for work. You don't go there because you
want to. People like me pay our hard earned money
to go. You got a free money.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
You just lied. You just lied.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
First of all, you're hard earned money, harder money. Which
one is it you either stealing from me you understead of.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Saying because that's what you do. You take take my
card and you talk.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
You you build tickets, and then you let me know
that you built the tickets. You just said that last week.
So which one is it? Is it your hard earned
money or is it you saying I used your card.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
I'm speaking for the masses I spent it. It's your
money that gets me into the next game. But I'm
talking about for the most part, the people in there
spend their hard earned money. You get to come in
for free, and you barely do. You only come when
we win it. We don't like it. Talk about the Lakers.
You want to be where as warm. You're not from there,
You're from here.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
See me, I spent you just this first time you
wore that.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
This is the first time you wore that, So I've
got when I think about the Knicks, you don't know
any better because you're a young whipper snapper.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
You're two damn young to appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
But Bernard King, I know you heard that name before,
Patrick Ewen, Walt Clyde Fraser, earl of promo role, people
like that. You know, Carmelo Anthony, I would tell you that,
you know, you got to put Walt Clyde Fraser because
that's a that's a that's a guy that delivered the championship.
Obviously it was several decades before you even born. But
(18:38):
bottom line is that's what happened. Uh, that's the champion.
Carmelo Anthony wanted that smoke. He was, He was damn good.
But Jalen Brunson is next level. Ewing is there too,
but Ewen was obviously continues to get smacked down by Jordan.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
No shame in that.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
But I think what I hold against you and is
how he got outplayed against the Keey of Dream of
Logoa in the finals when the New York Knicks had
a chance and they weren't and Jordan.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Wasn't there in their way.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Then he letther keep getting his way I can't, you know,
I gotta look at that.
Speaker 5 (19:04):
So so what are he's saying that, who's who's the
best nick ever?
Speaker 4 (19:07):
But I did hear that conversation.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
I got I would go to I would go with
Clyde Frasier. That's what I'm gonna go with. That's right,
That's what I'm gonna go with. That's what I'm gonna
go with. A champion, A champion, That's what I'm gonna
go with. But let me ask you this, man, uh
before I let you get on out of here, what's
this about? You had about some goat list or whatever?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
What's all your mind? What's that about?
Speaker 4 (19:29):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Like I got like a goat list, like it's a
new one because we argue about Lebron and Jordan a lot,
but it's people like ant Man that is like, he's
on the trajectory he's been on Minnesota.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
He's the number one pick.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
Every year he gets better, every year he goes further,
and it's like, at what point do we start to
like put them people in there? And Jokic three m
VP's already got a chair, Joannis your MVP's defensive.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Place he is.
Speaker 5 (19:57):
We gotta start a new h flux you weighting lists.
You like to call it fluid, I'm gonna call it flush.
You and my words bigger than yours. And yeah, I
think we should.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
A huh longer word, but go ahead.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
Yeah, I think it's something that we can get into
after every game. It can change up depending on what
I feel like shade is on it.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
In other words, you.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Want to have a goat discussion, but you want it
to be something that changes after every damn game.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Yeah, because that's what the goat. That's what the goat is.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
This whole Michael Jordan, this whole Michael Jordan stuff.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Y'all. Don't let go. Y'all, don't let go nothing. You
could come in.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Because we don't want to let go of facts. We
want to let go facts, the fact. We don't want
to let go of fact. Josh, have you ever seen Michael.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Jordan play Yeah, I'm you know on thirty six. Yes,
I've seen Michael Jordan play I'm just not moved.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
I was moving at the time.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Did you say you said you're not moved? I was?
Speaker 4 (20:59):
I was? I was.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
Now I know that y'all only show us the makes
what about the missus?
Speaker 4 (21:05):
He didn't win sixth straight finals.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Yeah, he just he won three.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
He three pedd twice and the two years that he
didn't win was because he retired.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
No, No, he lost to Orlando. I was there for that.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Excuse me, excuse me.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
He lost in ninety He lost in ninety four, right,
and then ninety five he came back with seventeen games
left in the regular season after playing baseball.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I was because he gopped the double nickel on the
Knicks that year before the playoffs. You forgot about that,
didn't you.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Be quiet, say goodbye to the audience, and that your
uncle Steve just had to school you and your nob theself.
Speaker 5 (21:43):
About the fifty five point game. It's not enough nickel
Lebron twenty eighth straight.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Goodbye, Josh, ladies and gentlemen. He has to go. I've
got work to do.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
He
Earlier this week, we sort of Los Angeles Lakes eliminated
from play of contention at home by the way by
ant Man himself, Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Lakers lost in five five, and the team met
with the.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Media yesterday to talk about the offseason and what needs
to happen heading into next year.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Head coach JJ Reddick had.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
One thing on his mind yesterday when talking about what
the Lakers need to do to improve.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Take a listen.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
I'll start with the off season and the work that's
required in an off season to be in championship shape.
And you know, we have a ways to go as
a roster, and certainly there are individuals that were in
phenomenal shape. There's certainly other ones that could have been
(00:50):
in better shape.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
First things first, obviously he's talking about Luka Doncic. It
doesn't take a nine style to figure that out. That
may not be the only person he's talking about, but
clearly he's talking about him. At the very least, he's
the one that's going to have the ball in his
hands the majority of the time. He's going to be
the frase to the franchise for the next decade. For
you or at least a foreseeable future. He is a
basketball iconic superstar globally, I might add. And so because
(01:14):
of that, you're looking at him and you know the
conditioning or lack thereof the manner in which he was
attacked the man, the fact that in Game five and
the close out game he gave up none blowbots for
crowd out loud. That is something that has to be rectified.
JJ Reddick knows that, and his willingness to speak about
that is not hypocritical in any way, Ladies and gentleman,
because JJ Reddick say what you all about him, but
(01:34):
he has always been somebody that's been in shape. He
was always his pension, and what rode his success through
Duke as an All American and then ultimately on the
professional basketball level was the fact that JJ Reddick's movement
without the ball was obviously a very very significant thing.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
The man has always been in shape.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
So when he talks about one's conditioning, it's not like
we can look at him and call him out for anything.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
We certainly can't do that. That's number one. Number two.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
And the Lakers talk about improving their roster, understand that
they don't have a boatload of things to work with.
You got some players, the Austin Reeves, the Ruy hotchamor Is,
the Jared Vanderbilts of the world that gave vincents of
the world. All of them are hovering around anywhere from
eleven to thirteen million in salary. Here's the problem with
an Austin Reeves that's making about thirteen million. If you
move him, how much equitable compensation are you getting in return?
(02:21):
He's established himself as a Bona five number.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Three option for the Los Angeles Lake. He's averaged about
twenty points game this year.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
He's improved vastly, and if you're gonna move him, okay,
what kind of equitable conversation are you gonna get in
return for his services? Because at thirteen million dollars, again,
the salaries don't necessarily match.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
He's grossly underpaid.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
So because he's grossly underpaid, you know, it's one of
those situations where if you move him, you're gonna get
short changed on the return. I don't know about that,
but the biggest thing it brings me to is wondering
having me wondering about Lebron James. If Lebron James has
to come back for his twenty third season, which everybody
(03:02):
in their grandmama.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Believes he will. I think a legitimate question to be
asked is what is he playing for?
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Do y'all understand that? Says Lebron James has arrived in
Los Angeles, they missed the playoffs. They won a championship
in the Bubble, but then they spent the next three
years or four years or so either missing the playoffs
or getting bounced in the first round, and at least
once they were swept. Since twenty twenty, okay, Lebron James
(03:35):
has gone to the Western Conference finals. Darvin Ham's first year,
all right, But other than that, he's been home.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
In the first round or before then.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
So you look at the Los Angeles Lakers right now,
you look at the rest of the Western Conference ladies
and gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Okay, So he's not going anywhere.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Houston's not going anywhere, Minnesota's not going anywhere.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Dallas is not going anywhere.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
I gave you four teams right there, and we don't
even have to count on the others. We's denver gonna fade.
Your kitchen still around. Jamal Murray is still there. Aaron
Gordon Is still there, Michael Porter Jr.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Is still there. Where they going?
Speaker 1 (04:18):
That's five teams. Clippers, Lakers had their way with them
during the regular season. The Clippers are the ones still playing,
going up, going for a game seven tomorrow night in
Denver in the first ride of the players, while the
Lakers are already home and five five?
Speaker 2 (04:34):
What's up with them? So I gave you six teams
right there, six teams.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
If you're Lebron James, at some point in time, it's
appropriate and fair to ask what is he playing for?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Because are the Lakers gonna win? Okay? So he's the
one with the assets. Houston is the one with the assets.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Minnesota got ant Man and some defensive wizards around them.
Dallas Kyrie eventually will return, Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Derek Lively.
They ain't gone away. I'm just saying we got to
pay attention to these things. You're talking about five to
(05:19):
six different teams for you can think about the Lakers.
Lebron James is still an all world player. He's still
one of the greatest, there is no question in that.
But if conditioning is an issue with Luca and the
ability of the Lakers front office to do something to
improve the roster or all high question marks. Where does
(05:42):
that leave Lebron James. Is he really playing to win,
meaning does he believe that he can win with him?
Is he playing because he just doesn't feel like relocating.
Is he playing so his other.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Son could come into the NBA?
Speaker 1 (05:57):
These are the questions that people are asking, and I
think they're legitimate because right now, with the Lakers going
home in the first round, it's almost so you can't
even take their regular season effort seriously anymore. You gotta
wait until the postseason when teams have the opportunity to
plan and plot against them in the Best of seventh series.
(06:20):
Can't ignore it. I certainly am not, and I don't
think the rest of you can either. The situation is
what it is, and there is absolutely positively nowhere around
to By the way, as an aside to the people
of Dallas, can we take the heat off of Nico
Harrison just to touch because you talk about somebody that
(06:43):
doesn't look too bad today, it's Nico Harrison.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Because when you look at Luka Doncic, and you look at.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
The way everybody from Julius Randall to Mike Conley Jr.
Or an ant man to a Jada McDaniels. When you
see the way everybody was blown right by him. He
is a defensive liability and offensively because they pressured him
ninety four feet for most of the game.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Come fourth quarter time, he didn't have the legs. Is
he going to dedicate himself.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Is he going to recognize that he's the new face
of the franchise for the Los Angeles Lakers. Is he
going to understand the reporters of making sure he's in
peak condition so he could maximize his talents?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Because I got news for you.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
As great as Luca is, and we all know he's great,
you know somebody else who's having just as big of
an impact as Luca is his former sub Jayalen Brunson,
who by the way, helped Luca carry the Dallas Mavericks
(07:46):
to a Western Conference finals.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
About three years back.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
That same Jayleen Brunson, who the Dallas Mavericks didn't want
to get fifty three million too, and the Knicks ended
up giving him over one hundred and four million dollars
too before signing them to a new contract where he
sacrificed one hundred million dollars which he could have signed.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Had he waited an extra year.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Just to ensure that the New York Knicks got their boy,
Michel Bridges, his former boy at Villanova, to come play
with him with the New York Knicks.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Jaylen Brunson did that.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
That same Jalen Brunson has carried the Knicks to a
second consecutive berth into the Eastern Conference Semifinals courtesy of
a one sixteen, one to thirteen victory over Detroit in
Game six last night in Detroit. Jalen Brunton, as I
told you, was the star, dropping forty points in the business,
including a late three pointer with four seconds left in
(08:40):
the game to seal the victory.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
So I'm looking at a Jalen.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Brunson and I'm saying to myself, this is what he
brings to the table. There's no doubt about that. Michael
Bridges showed up in the open court. When you let
the brother flourish, what does he do? He gets it done.
He gets it done. Annanobe can't say enough about the
defense that he put on Cane, cutting him, held him
(09:06):
like thirty two percent shooting for the series.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Carl Anthony Towns not impressed with his offensive output. We
need more, but we'll see what he does defensively. We'll see.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
So that's just where I'm at with it. I look
at the New York Nicks. I'm very, very proud that
they pulled this out. That they got out of the
first round, no doubt about that. They advanced to the
Eastern Conference second round. However, will they'll be playing against
the Boston Celtics. All right, And I'll get to all
of that.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Some other time.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
For now, for this moment, however, I'm gonna get to
somebody you all seem the love because he's got some
things that he wants to say, He's got some things
that he wants to add, wants to bring to the table.
I can't imagine what he is, but you know what,
It's Friday. I'm in a good mood. I don't mind
letting my nephew come on the show. That's right, nephew,
(09:56):
Josh joining me now to break it all down. Here
is what's up?
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Josh?
Speaker 2 (10:01):
How are you? Man?
Speaker 4 (10:03):
You see me? I'm in full seligatory.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Mo are you are you sitting? Are you sitting at
my desk?
Speaker 5 (10:09):
This is not your desk anymore? This is our desk.
So it's funny. Once again, you're letting your friends off
the hook. So so JJ Reddick is just allowed to,
like you said, he must be talking about Luka Doncik,
isn't he.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
So that's one of that's one of the things he's
that's one of the people he's talking about.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Oh, well, well, Luka Doncik is so out of shape
that JJ JJ decided to play him the most minutes
on the team. He averages the most points on the team,
second in assists, no first, first and assists and second
and rebounds.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Well, first of all, you're missing a point just because
he played them, because Luke is one of your best
players and you have to play him. And JJ Reddick
clearly showed that he wasn't willing to use his bitch
is he lost complete faith in all of them. He's
just saying what you have to do because of how
much you needed. He wasn't saying he wasn't saying that
the man is out of shape, he's a bum. He's
saying that you've got to be in championship.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Shape to win a championship. Oh and that's that's actually
factually correct.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
What would J Reddick know about that?
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Well, JJ Reddy didn't win a championship because he was
never a star player the cat, but he was always
in shape and he was always considered one of.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
The best shooters in basketball.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
And by the way, I'm not letting I'm not letting
them off the hook, because listen, he should have found
a way to use his bench. How you gonna go
a whole second half gate there and not use your
bench once?
Speaker 2 (11:37):
That's egregious. You gotta use your bench.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Or not use the center. You want to use the center,
you can't stop.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Nobody had one.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
He doesn't really have one. I mean, Jackson Hayes wasn't
the answer. What are you gonna do, Josh's.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
You played the tallest player you the coach?
Speaker 1 (11:52):
No, no, no, no, no. There's plenty of tall players
that were scrubs. There's plenty of tall players that weren't
active enough, that didn't handle their business the way.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
That you were like to You can't go by that.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Just because you tall don't mean you automatically get asserted
into the lineup. I mean, listen, you're trying to tell
me there ain't nobody on Golden State that was taller
than Draymond Green.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
But for the longest time.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
They put Draymond Green out there and ask him to
embrace the challenges going up against bigger dudes simply because
you didn't have guys that were confident knew how to playing.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
New the system.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
Does Rudy Gobert look like Hakeem olajah on if you
have somebody out there with some hype twelve.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
If they if they can't play, if they can't play, yes,
because Rudy Gobert is like, what three four time Defensive
Player of the Year. But also, you know what a
lot of putbacks and whatever you listen, the Lakers could
have got. They could have consummated the Mark Williams deal
with Charlotte. They didn't do that, Okay, talking about he
failed some physical or whatever. They got to go out
and get it big. We know they were too small,
(12:50):
so they didn't have the personnel, the.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
Team, the teammates that they did have. Though you're not
gonna play Jared Vanderbilt.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
I thought so.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
I mean, big Perk made that, and I think you
gotta throw If you can throw out Dory and Finney Smith,
and you could throw out Ruy hot.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Chimore, you could throw Jared out there. I think that
I think the.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Problem is is that Minnesota plays defense so well you
need it as much offensive firepower as you could possibly muster.
Jared Vanderbilt doesn't have to be guarded, and that puts
Minnesota at that puts the Lakers that have decided disadvantage
when they're on offense.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
So I feel like the guy that was doing the
most work on the team is taking the most heat.
Even you just saying that Nico is not looking so
bad to that you still gave it way Luca Danci
for for for Anthony Davis, You're still getting bad.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Well, that remains to be seen. Don't what what what
if Dallas makes the finals next year?
Speaker 4 (13:44):
What if Dallas makes the finals? You got Dallas?
Speaker 2 (13:47):
You don't think hold it, you don't think they have
a chance? No, And do you know that? Do you know?
Do you think he got a chance?
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Okay? See yeah, yes, do.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
You see do you did you realize that not only
did Dallas bounce them out in the playoffs last year,
but did you know that in the two meetings that
Dallas had this year without Luca they beat Okay?
Speaker 5 (14:10):
See yeah, that's that's that's that's okay. See, maybe they
match up well with them, but I don't think they
match up with well with with with enough teams in
the West Dallas to make it to the finals, to
make it through everybody.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
All right, let me let me switch to the Knicks
real quick. I know you were excited about them. I
see you draft out and you better have paid for
that ship yourself.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
You bet not a charge to my car. I'm kick
your ass. I'll telling you that right now. You bet not.
But let me ask you this question. Were you surprised
that Knicks won? Last name?
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Surprised? No?
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, okay, all right? Do you believe do you are
you ready for this? Do you believe that Jalen Brunson
is the greatest Nick ever?
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (14:51):
You wasn't here last year. I changed his name to MJ.
I call him Michael Jalen Brunson. I even put his
head on the little Dunk emblem. And because the stats
that that show that you know, he's he's he's right,
he's right on that level of Michael Jordan. Like you know,
he may just be missing the Scottie pipp and Phil
(15:12):
Jackson or put together, but he might go.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
With your ignorance, you always crossing the damn line you're
always going a little bit too far. Most forty point
series clinching wins on road in the NBA history, Michael
Jordan had four. Okay, he has two. Congratulations with that,
we understand that you. D Wade's up there, Charles Barkley's
up there, Giannis is up there, or whatever. Stop with
the stop with the Jordan comparitives.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
No, no, I can I can? I can I do
what you do?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Go ahead?
Speaker 4 (15:38):
How long? How long has you? How long was Jordan
in the league.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Jordan was in the Leaf for fifteen years total, thirteen
in Chicago.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
So Jalen Brunson is about half that and he's half
his you know, forty point game situation.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
So he's on the trajectory.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Now I'm not talking about his size and his overall game.
He can't. He couldn't defend like Jordan.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Jordan's a non time All NBA defensive player, ten times
scoring champions. It's not just stop it, don't don't don't display.
Let me not show you how ignorant you are today.
But let me ask you this, what do you think
the Knicks are gonna do against the Boston Celtics.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
Well, we gotta take you one game at the time.
Speaker 5 (16:11):
Break by break, we're gonna we're gonna break even in
Boston and then we're gonna break even in New York.
Speaker 4 (16:16):
It's step by step. We gotta go seven games.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
You gotta make it nasty and yeah, yeah, you gotta fight,
and you gotta stay out.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
The garden bad.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
So I have to stay out the garden.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Yeah you're not.
Speaker 5 (16:30):
You only show when when we you know, when we
at the brink of winning a series or something like that.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
You don't be there through the wars and stuff.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Uh. First of all, I've gone there during the regular season.
I was on TV.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
I did a countdown from the Garden for Crying Out
Lot and I flew from LA to do the show
from the Garden. That's number one. And that was the
game they got blown out. That game by Boston didn't
even make it a competition. But I was there when
they when they beat Philadelphia last year in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Okay, I was there. I was there this.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Season for a few game games when they want as well.
Don't don't put that on me, but I will say this,
I think the Knicks are gonna lose this series in five.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
First time.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
I'm hopeful, but I think they're gonna fir.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
First of all, you're talking to me. So when you
mentioned in them games that you went to, I know
it is for work. You don't go there because you
want to. People like me pay our hard earned money
to go. You got a free money.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
You just lied. You just lied.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
First of all, you're hard earned money, harder money. Which
one is it you either stealing from me you understead of.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Saying because that's what you do. You take take my
card and you talk.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
You you build tickets, and then you let me know
that you built the tickets. You just said that last week.
So which one is it? Is it your hard earned
money or is it you saying I used your card.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
I'm speaking for the masses I spent it. It's your
money that gets me into the next game. But I'm
talking about for the most part, the people in there
spend their hard earned money. You get to come in
for free, and you barely do. You only come when
we win it. We don't like it. Talk about the Lakers.
You want to be where as warm. You're not from there,
You're from here.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
See me, I spent you just this first time you
wore that.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
This is the first time you wore that, So I've
got when I think about the Knicks, you don't know
any better because you're a young whipper snapper.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
You're two damn young to appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
But Bernard King, I know you heard that name before,
Patrick Ewen, Walt Clyde Fraser, earl of promo role, people
like that. You know, Carmelo Anthony, I would tell you that,
you know, you got to put Walt Clyde Fraser because
that's a that's a that's a guy that delivered the championship.
Obviously it was several decades before you even born. But
(18:38):
bottom line is that's what happened. Uh, that's the champion.
Carmelo Anthony wanted that smoke. He was, He was damn good.
But Jalen Brunson is next level. Ewing is there too,
but Ewen was obviously continues to get smacked down by Jordan.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
No shame in that.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
But I think what I hold against you and is
how he got outplayed against the Keey of Dream of
Logoa in the finals when the New York Knicks had
a chance and they weren't and Jordan.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Wasn't there in their way.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Then he letther keep getting his way I can't, you know,
I gotta look at that.
Speaker 5 (19:04):
So so what are he's saying that, who's who's the
best nick ever?
Speaker 4 (19:07):
But I did hear that conversation.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
I got I would go to I would go with
Clyde Frasier. That's what I'm gonna go with. That's right,
That's what I'm gonna go with. That's what I'm gonna
go with. A champion, A champion, That's what I'm gonna
go with. But let me ask you this, man, uh
before I let you get on out of here, what's
this about? You had about some goat list or whatever?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
What's all your mind? What's that about?
Speaker 4 (19:29):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Like I got like a goat list, like it's a
new one because we argue about Lebron and Jordan a lot,
but it's people like ant Man that is like, he's
on the trajectory he's been on Minnesota.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
He's the number one pick.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
Every year he gets better, every year he goes further,
and it's like, at what point do we start to
like put them people in there? And Jokic three m
VP's already got a chair, Joannis your MVP's defensive.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Place he is.
Speaker 5 (19:57):
We gotta start a new h flux you weighting lists.
You like to call it fluid, I'm gonna call it flush.
You and my words bigger than yours. And yeah, I
think we should.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
A huh longer word, but go ahead.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
Yeah, I think it's something that we can get into
after every game. It can change up depending on what
I feel like shade is on it.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
In other words, you.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Want to have a goat discussion, but you want it
to be something that changes after every damn game.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Yeah, because that's what the goat. That's what the goat is.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
This whole Michael Jordan, this whole Michael Jordan stuff.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Y'all. Don't let go. Y'all, don't let go nothing. You
could come in.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Because we don't want to let go of facts. We
want to let go facts, the fact. We don't want
to let go of fact. Josh, have you ever seen Michael.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Jordan play Yeah, I'm you know on thirty six. Yes,
I've seen Michael Jordan play I'm just not moved.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
I was moving at the time.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Did you say you said you're not moved? I was?
Speaker 4 (20:59):
I was? I was.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
Now I know that y'all only show us the makes
what about the missus?
Speaker 4 (21:05):
He didn't win sixth straight finals.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Yeah, he just he won three.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
He three pedd twice and the two years that he
didn't win was because he retired.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
No, No, he lost to Orlando. I was there for that.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Excuse me, excuse me.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
He lost in ninety He lost in ninety four, right,
and then ninety five he came back with seventeen games
left in the regular season after playing baseball.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I was because he gopped the double nickel on the
Knicks that year before the playoffs. You forgot about that,
didn't you.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Be quiet, say goodbye to the audience, and that your
uncle Steve just had to school you and your nob theself.
Speaker 5 (21:43):
About the fifty five point game. It's not enough nickel
Lebron twenty eighth straight.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Goodbye, Josh, ladies and gentlemen. He has to go. I've
got work to do.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
He
Host
Stephen A. Smith
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Intentionally Disturbing
Join me on this podcast as I navigate the murky waters of human behavior, current events, and personal anecdotes through in-depth interviews with incredible people—all served with a generous helping of sarcasm and satire. After years as a forensic and clinical psychologist, I offer a unique interview style and a low tolerance for bullshit, quickly steering conversations toward depth and darkness. I honor the seriousness while also appreciating wit. I’m your guide through the twisted labyrinth of the human psyche, armed with dark humor and biting wit.