March 25, 2026 • 18 mins
Former NBA player Wally Szczerbiak joins the show to share his thoughts on the NBA's potential return to Seattle, he reflects on his time playing for the team and the city's passionate fan base, what the impact of the team's departure and the city's current excitement about a potential new franchise and much more.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The announcement that the NBA is exploring expansion to finally
come back to Seattle.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Well, I absolutely love it. I did not know that
I was the second leading scorer. Yep, that's pretty cool. Yeah,
that's awesome. I love playing there. I honestly love playing there.
You know, kind of rebuilt my career a little bit
after a couple of injury riddled years with the Boston Celtics.
And you know, Seattle's just a great place. I love
(00:31):
living there. I think it's amazing that the team is
coming back. I think it's very important for the NBA
to have a franchise in Seattle. So, you know, I
can't wait till it happens. It looks like it's going
to happen, and it'll be a great thing for all
players coming into the league. I remember my rookie year
that was my first trip out to the West Coast
when I was with Minnesota and we played the Sonics
(00:54):
Ray Allen. Great teams out there and just a special
place and a great, great city.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
So you were traded on Draft night, I believe, with
Jeff Green to Seattle for Ray Allen.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Right, is that correct?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
It was what turned out to be Jeff Green. It
was the fifth pick in the draft, right, so they
might have drafted Jeff at the time. Also Delante West
within that deal, I remember being traded from Boston to
Seattle with Delante and then from Seattle to Cleveland with Delante,
So we were part of two trades together, and I
(01:30):
think that was pretty much the whole deal. And you know,
and the crazy story is I ended up getting traded
from Seattle midway through the season to Cleveland and then
guarding Ray Allen in the second round of the Eastern
Conference playoffs and we took them to seven games. They
ended up beating us in Game seven by like five
(01:52):
points when going on to win the NBA Championship. But
how that trade ended up going full circle was pretty crazy.
So you know, it just goes to show you never
know what's going to happen in the NBA. And you know,
hopefully Seattle has some good years in them in the
future when they get a new franchise.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
No doubt.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Wally Zurbiak joining us here on MJ and the Midday
Seattle Sports Leader ninety three three KGRM.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
What was that like for you and the team?
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Because I knew, you know, It was obviously well documented
how much Kevin Durant loved being here in Seattle. He
didn't want to move, and you guys were just stuck
in the middle. And you know, there was this power
struggle between Howard Schultz and Clay Bennett and then them
six days after drafting Russell, Westbrook moved to Oklahoma City.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
What was that entire experience like for you, Wally.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
I didn't pay attention to it. You know. My dad
was a professional basketball player, and he taught me just
don't read the newspapers and just pay attention to what
your job like, just go out there and play basketball.
I mean, I don't mean to dismiss it, but as
a player, like you can't worry about what you can't control,
like you just go out there and play. And that's
(03:08):
what I did. I embraced the city. I love the city,
I love the fans. I kind of knew there was
something going on, but that part of it, you know,
I was just there to kind of enjoy my teammates,
enjoy that locker room, have fun playing basketball. And that's
what I did. And you know, I didn't know what
was on the horizon. I thought there was a possibility
(03:31):
the team was going to move, but that that was
just my attitude when I was there, and you know,
as a result, I have just great memories of Seattle.
I think it's a great city, and I'm excited for
a new owner to you know, move a team there
and hopefully have a lot of success.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
What was what was the overall in the locker room?
Did any of that outside you know, obviously you know
soap opera drama, Did that infiltrate the locker room at all?
Or did you guys just kind of put all that out.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
It was one of the most fun teams I had, honestly,
Nick Collinson, Kirk Thomas, Chris Wilcox, I mean, Damian Wilkins.
We had some great veterans in that locker room. Luke Riddenauer,
just awesome guys like that's all I remember going out
there and playing and having fun. An amazing assistant coach,
(04:28):
Scottie Brooks. He was he was the coach in waiting,
as we saw, ended up taking Oklahoma City to really
high places. Did a great job when he got the
job in Oklahoma City, going to NBA Finals and stuff
like that. You know, Sam Presty obviously you see how
great of a general manager and president he is with
what he's done with his career. It was an awesome
(04:50):
locker room. It really was.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Wow, that's kind.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
I just enjoyed my time there, I really did. I
really enjoyed my time there, and it was it was
a lot of fun place to play and a lot
of great guys in that locker room.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
How is PJ Carlos Simo as a head coach?
Speaker 2 (05:06):
No comment?
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Okay, all right, then, fair enough. Here's the weird thing
is that PJ still lives here. And and I don't
know if you've been back to Climate like to the
new Climate Pledge Arena. I'm not saying this, Wally, because
I'm here in Seattle Chase Center. I went down there
the week of the Super Bowl, and I will I'll
tell you what man Climate Pledge Arena is like.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
If you compare it to Chase Center, it might be better.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
So if you ever get a chance and you come
back through Seattle, I hope you do get a chance someday.
Last year, the NCAA tournament was here, Wally, and it's
it's unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Man.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
So this is a far cry from t Arena that
you played.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
In that's awesome. I love hearing that. I was up
there up in the Old Rose Garden and the Moda
Center doing the college basketball games for CBS, you know,
last week, and I love being up in that area.
So next time I'm in Seattle, I will definitely check
it out. And it's good stuff. You know. Obviously the
hockey team's doing great there, cracking. It's a great franchise.
(06:13):
So having basketball back in Seattle, I'll probably end up
doing some games with the next so I can't wait
to see it.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
No, that'll that'll be a lot of fun. It's surreal,
you know, and it's one of the biggest travesties in sports,
where you know, a franchise was taken away from a
city and a lot of people here and I've only
been here over a year, Wally, but a lot of
people here thought it would be like a Charlotte thing. Ah,
they'll be back in a few years. Well, three turned
into five, five, turn into ten, ten turn into fifteen,
(06:42):
fifteen turn into eighteen, and by the time that they're
you know, purportedly going to come back, it'll.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Be twenty years.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
So it's a travesty and you know, you know you're
you're from Long Island, but so you grew up there
in the northeast, but has so many great players that
have come from this area back in the day.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
And you know it's a apollo.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Bang Cao is one of them right now out of
Seattle O Day High School. So it'll be good to
see it come back here. And I saw you in Portland.
What was your I think it was the best region
by far and away for games. What was your take
of the first weekend of March Madness.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
It was a record breaking weekend, a lot of viewership.
I think the quality of basketball is at an all
time high in college. Our region was really competitive. Darius Acuff,
Texas High Point just really good games all around. It
was a lot of fun to be a part of that.
(07:47):
My partner, Brad Nessler, is one of the greats on
the call of any sport that he does, so being
paired up with him was just an honor, quite honestly,
and I hope we get to do it for a
lot more years to come. And the way the NCAAA
produces games, the way they run their operation, it is
(08:08):
as good as it gets. And being a part of it,
being able to experience it. I was a rookie, it
was my first time doing it. I just had a
lot of fun. And this weekend Alting Studio with CBS
and CBS Sports Network. It's a really good Sweet sixteen.
It's gonna be a great Final four and I just
can't wait. I'm excited. I think college is in a
(08:28):
great place. I'm bumming the Florida lost. That was my team.
I thought they were gonna win it all. But that
just goes to show you any anything can happen in
March Madness.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Wally Zerbiak, former Seattle Supersonic, was on the final team
here back in the seven eight season.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Joins us here on MJ in the Midday.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Wally, I mean, I'm biased, I admit it, but when
it comes to postseasons, what's better than March Madness. It's
a rhetorical question, but maybe you think something is Is
there anything better than March Madness?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
No? No, I've played in the NBA playoffs, made the
Eastern and Western Conference finals. That's pretty cool. But the
way they crown a champion and the drama and the
pressure on the coaches and players in a one and
done scenario, in a forty minute game with one in
(09:21):
one free throws that kick in after the seventh foul
and a half. It's just nothing better. It really is
the best way to crown a champion. And I love
being a part of it. I love playing as being
a part of it. I love being a broadcaster. So
I just can't wait to watch the rest of this
NCAA tournament play out. It's the ultimate drama in sports
(09:43):
and it's just the best. It really is.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
While he Serbia here on MJ the Midday, you mentioned
you got to call the games in Portland and you
were there with Brad Nessler and you got to see
Darius Acuff from Arkansas and Aja Bonsa from BYU Is
there anything? And you cover the NBA with the knicks
and all that, do you like? Where would you rank
those two if you were drafting? And obviously we don't
(10:10):
know what the lottery will be because that doesn't happen
for another couple of months, But where would you put
A Cuff and AJ Debonsa amongst the top picks in
the draft in June?
Speaker 2 (10:20):
I would take AJ Debonton number one. I saw Darren
Peterson two weeks before that at Kansas Live very talented,
but he does not have nearly the competitive motor that
Aj Debonta does, So I would take Aj Debonsa one.
I love the talent that Darren Peterson has. When I
(10:44):
first laid eyes on him at the beginning of the year,
I thought he would be the guy. But after seeing
him and the way the season played out and seeing
him live what Aj Debonsa did for BYU and and
what he did on both ends of the floor, and
you know with double teams, like, he's going to be
really good in the NBA. So I would take him
(11:04):
number one. You know, Boozer's right there. Between Boozer and
Peterson two three, and Darius A. Cuff. You know, I
think I would take him in the top five. So
those guys are elite players. Darius say Cuff's going to
continue to wow us in a college basketball uniform, and
he's really really good, Like he has command of the team,
(11:25):
he can score whenever he wants. The question with him
is just going to be you know, defensively at his size,
I think he's going to be fine, but you know
he's gonna have to answer some questions at the next
level defensively, but the offense you can't question the decision making,
the point guard skills, they're all there.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Is there somebody or maybe a hybrid of a bunch
of different players that a Cuff reminds you.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Of a little bit of Stefan Marburry and Alan Iverson,
a combo of both of them. Okay, I think he's
the more skilled Iverson, but he's not white as quick
as an athletic, but a way better shooter. I think
he's kinda he's kind of like Stefan Marbury with a
(12:11):
little bit like more of a true point guard in him,
a little bit better passer and stuff like that. But
Stefan was as good as it comes as far as scoring,
get into the basket, explosive and finishing, and that's what
Acuff has. But I think Acuff has a little bit
better decision making skills and king skills in his DNA.
(12:36):
Moving forward.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Wally Zurbiak on MJ in the midday AJ to Bonsa,
there was talk about there how BYU spent seven million
dollars and they don't make it past the first weekend
and whether or not, you know, they got a return
on their investment, that to be determined. But how about
vis Wally, John cal Perry sixty seven, Kelvin Sampson seventy,
(12:58):
Rick Barnes seventy one, Tom Izzo seventy one, and Rick
Patino seventy three years old, and they're all still remaining.
So is it really a young man coaches game when
you know those guys are still around?
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Doesn't matter to me. If you can coach and I
get an opportunity to play for one of those guys,
sign me up. Age is not a thing when it
comes to coaching. Command of the locker room is all
the matters, and those guys obviously have command of the
locker room. They know how to prepare their players for
success success, And I know those guys will tell you
(13:35):
they're not the reason they're having success. It's because of
their guys and their players in the locker room. The
great coaches know that players make a coach, and that's
why those guys are having a lot of success because
they have great players that are making them succeed at
a high level.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
The amazing thing, Wally though about those coaches, they come
from the old.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
School, the pre nil era, and they're having success.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
In the nil era where you've seen a lot of
coaches Jay Wright, Roy Williams coach k they got out,
they didn't.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Want anything more to do with that.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
So how has cal and Patino and Rick Barnes and
Kelvin Sampson been able to do this where it's completely
antithetical to what they were used to over the course
of the last twenty years.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
For talent, that's the bottom line. And now you can
use financial motivation to find players, and players are obviously
going to motivate it to go to a place that's
going to pay them very handsomely. So they have an
eye for talent and they know how to mold that talent.
They know how to how to cultural locker room and
(14:50):
Jela locker room, and as a result, they're having a
lot of success, no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Whially, before we let you go, two things. Now that
Florida's out out, who's the team to beat? And that
you think is you know, the prohibited favorite to cut
down the nets in Indianapolis.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
The Arizona Wildcats.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
What does Arkansas have to do to beat them?
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Well, that's gonna be a must watch game. I can't
wait for it. Acuff's gotta go off and they have
to hope Kravos gets in foul trouble because that's one
of my favorite big men in college basketball. The field
that he has for the game, the way he defends
the rim and defends pick and roll. He is exactly
(15:39):
what you want out of the center. And they got
to hope he gets in foul trouble because I think
they're gonna have trouble dealing with him down low.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
All right, Wally, we appreciate your time, and before we
let you go, your favorite memory of playing here in
Seattle for the Sonics.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Oh, favorite memory. That's a tough one. I remember dropping
thirty five with the Timberwolves on the road in Seattle
and getting technicals for bouncing the ball and the crowd
hating me. So I remember that when I was playing
in Seattle in Key Arena, Oh a big one. Let
(16:17):
me think. I don't remember much as a player. I
just remember having a great overall experience. I mean, you
know what, you know what ring PJ Carlissimo yelling at
me for taking a shot quick in one of our
only wins at home early on this season. That might
be one of my fond memories.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
I'll leave it at that, all right, Wally, Zerbiak, Hey,
well the internet. Oh wow, we have to check that out, man,
Wally Zerbiak, Hey, you know they always say, you know,
when you walk in a room, that's the smartest guy
in the room. I can tell you when Wally Zurbiak
walks in a room, I can tell you this fellas
he's the most handsome guy in the room.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
And all the ladies are looking at Wally. Believe me,
I've seen it, Wally. We appreciate you. Joning goes, thanks, man,
you got it.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Have a great one, you.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Too, Wally's servyak.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
I guess you know, wasn't the biggest fan of PJ Carlossimo.
You know it's hey, you know what, there there's I
love coach. I'm a big PJ fan, but I didn't
play for him. But I kind of felt when I
asked him the question, what was it like playing for
pg Carlssamo, he goes no comment. I'm like, oh, all right,
then won't continue to do that?
Speaker 3 (17:31):
All right? We are awaiting.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
The Commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver, and we will
go live to Midtown Manhattan, New York City, as he
will hold a press conference on the announcement of the
Board of Governors making an official to explore expansion teams
in Seattle and Las Vegas. So we will be on
(18:00):
pins and needles on standby. You're gonna want to stay
tuned for that. We are your home for the Sonics
return right here, so don't go anywhere. Sports Radio ninety
three to three kJ r FM
The announcement that the NBA is exploring expansion to finally
come back to Seattle.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Well, I absolutely love it. I did not know that
I was the second leading scorer. Yep, that's pretty cool. Yeah,
that's awesome. I love playing there. I honestly love playing there.
You know, kind of rebuilt my career a little bit
after a couple of injury riddled years with the Boston Celtics.
And you know, Seattle's just a great place. I love
(00:31):
living there. I think it's amazing that the team is
coming back. I think it's very important for the NBA
to have a franchise in Seattle. So, you know, I
can't wait till it happens. It looks like it's going
to happen, and it'll be a great thing for all
players coming into the league. I remember my rookie year
that was my first trip out to the West Coast
when I was with Minnesota and we played the Sonics
(00:54):
Ray Allen. Great teams out there and just a special
place and a great, great city.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
So you were traded on Draft night, I believe, with
Jeff Green to Seattle for Ray Allen.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Right, is that correct?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
It was what turned out to be Jeff Green. It
was the fifth pick in the draft, right, so they
might have drafted Jeff at the time. Also Delante West
within that deal, I remember being traded from Boston to
Seattle with Delante and then from Seattle to Cleveland with Delante,
So we were part of two trades together, and I
(01:30):
think that was pretty much the whole deal. And you know,
and the crazy story is I ended up getting traded
from Seattle midway through the season to Cleveland and then
guarding Ray Allen in the second round of the Eastern
Conference playoffs and we took them to seven games. They
ended up beating us in Game seven by like five
(01:52):
points when going on to win the NBA Championship. But
how that trade ended up going full circle was pretty crazy.
So you know, it just goes to show you never
know what's going to happen in the NBA. And you know,
hopefully Seattle has some good years in them in the
future when they get a new franchise.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
No doubt.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Wally Zurbiak joining us here on MJ and the Midday
Seattle Sports Leader ninety three three KGRM.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
What was that like for you and the team?
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Because I knew, you know, It was obviously well documented
how much Kevin Durant loved being here in Seattle. He
didn't want to move, and you guys were just stuck
in the middle. And you know, there was this power
struggle between Howard Schultz and Clay Bennett and then them
six days after drafting Russell, Westbrook moved to Oklahoma City.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
What was that entire experience like for you, Wally.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
I didn't pay attention to it. You know. My dad
was a professional basketball player, and he taught me just
don't read the newspapers and just pay attention to what
your job like, just go out there and play basketball.
I mean, I don't mean to dismiss it, but as
a player, like you can't worry about what you can't control,
like you just go out there and play. And that's
(03:08):
what I did. I embraced the city. I love the city,
I love the fans. I kind of knew there was
something going on, but that part of it, you know,
I was just there to kind of enjoy my teammates,
enjoy that locker room, have fun playing basketball. And that's
what I did. And you know, I didn't know what
was on the horizon. I thought there was a possibility
(03:31):
the team was going to move, but that that was
just my attitude when I was there, and you know,
as a result, I have just great memories of Seattle.
I think it's a great city, and I'm excited for
a new owner to you know, move a team there
and hopefully have a lot of success.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
What was what was the overall in the locker room?
Did any of that outside you know, obviously you know
soap opera drama, Did that infiltrate the locker room at all?
Or did you guys just kind of put all that out.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
It was one of the most fun teams I had, honestly,
Nick Collinson, Kirk Thomas, Chris Wilcox, I mean, Damian Wilkins.
We had some great veterans in that locker room. Luke Riddenauer,
just awesome guys like that's all I remember going out
there and playing and having fun. An amazing assistant coach,
(04:28):
Scottie Brooks. He was he was the coach in waiting,
as we saw, ended up taking Oklahoma City to really
high places. Did a great job when he got the
job in Oklahoma City, going to NBA Finals and stuff
like that. You know, Sam Presty obviously you see how
great of a general manager and president he is with
what he's done with his career. It was an awesome
(04:50):
locker room. It really was.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Wow, that's kind.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
I just enjoyed my time there, I really did. I
really enjoyed my time there, and it was it was
a lot of fun place to play and a lot
of great guys in that locker room.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
How is PJ Carlos Simo as a head coach?
Speaker 2 (05:06):
No comment?
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Okay, all right, then, fair enough. Here's the weird thing
is that PJ still lives here. And and I don't
know if you've been back to Climate like to the
new Climate Pledge Arena. I'm not saying this, Wally, because
I'm here in Seattle Chase Center. I went down there
the week of the Super Bowl, and I will I'll
tell you what man Climate Pledge Arena is like.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
If you compare it to Chase Center, it might be better.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
So if you ever get a chance and you come
back through Seattle, I hope you do get a chance someday.
Last year, the NCAA tournament was here, Wally, and it's
it's unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Man.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
So this is a far cry from t Arena that
you played.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
In that's awesome. I love hearing that. I was up
there up in the Old Rose Garden and the Moda
Center doing the college basketball games for CBS, you know,
last week, and I love being up in that area.
So next time I'm in Seattle, I will definitely check
it out. And it's good stuff. You know. Obviously the
hockey team's doing great there, cracking. It's a great franchise.
(06:13):
So having basketball back in Seattle, I'll probably end up
doing some games with the next so I can't wait
to see it.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
No, that'll that'll be a lot of fun. It's surreal,
you know, and it's one of the biggest travesties in sports,
where you know, a franchise was taken away from a
city and a lot of people here and I've only
been here over a year, Wally, but a lot of
people here thought it would be like a Charlotte thing. Ah,
they'll be back in a few years. Well, three turned
into five, five, turn into ten, ten turn into fifteen,
(06:42):
fifteen turn into eighteen, and by the time that they're
you know, purportedly going to come back, it'll.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Be twenty years.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
So it's a travesty and you know, you know you're
you're from Long Island, but so you grew up there
in the northeast, but has so many great players that
have come from this area back in the day.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
And you know it's a apollo.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Bang Cao is one of them right now out of
Seattle O Day High School. So it'll be good to
see it come back here. And I saw you in Portland.
What was your I think it was the best region
by far and away for games. What was your take
of the first weekend of March Madness.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
It was a record breaking weekend, a lot of viewership.
I think the quality of basketball is at an all
time high in college. Our region was really competitive. Darius Acuff,
Texas High Point just really good games all around. It
was a lot of fun to be a part of that.
(07:47):
My partner, Brad Nessler, is one of the greats on
the call of any sport that he does, so being
paired up with him was just an honor, quite honestly,
and I hope we get to do it for a
lot more years to come. And the way the NCAAA
produces games, the way they run their operation, it is
(08:08):
as good as it gets. And being a part of it,
being able to experience it. I was a rookie, it
was my first time doing it. I just had a
lot of fun. And this weekend Alting Studio with CBS
and CBS Sports Network. It's a really good Sweet sixteen.
It's gonna be a great Final four and I just
can't wait. I'm excited. I think college is in a
(08:28):
great place. I'm bumming the Florida lost. That was my team.
I thought they were gonna win it all. But that
just goes to show you any anything can happen in
March Madness.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Wally Zerbiak, former Seattle Supersonic, was on the final team
here back in the seven eight season.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Joins us here on MJ in the Midday.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Wally, I mean, I'm biased, I admit it, but when
it comes to postseasons, what's better than March Madness. It's
a rhetorical question, but maybe you think something is Is
there anything better than March Madness?
Speaker 2 (09:00):
No? No, I've played in the NBA playoffs, made the
Eastern and Western Conference finals. That's pretty cool. But the
way they crown a champion and the drama and the
pressure on the coaches and players in a one and
done scenario, in a forty minute game with one in
(09:21):
one free throws that kick in after the seventh foul
and a half. It's just nothing better. It really is
the best way to crown a champion. And I love
being a part of it. I love playing as being
a part of it. I love being a broadcaster. So
I just can't wait to watch the rest of this
NCAA tournament play out. It's the ultimate drama in sports
(09:43):
and it's just the best. It really is.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
While he Serbia here on MJ the Midday, you mentioned
you got to call the games in Portland and you
were there with Brad Nessler and you got to see
Darius Acuff from Arkansas and Aja Bonsa from BYU Is
there anything? And you cover the NBA with the knicks
and all that, do you like? Where would you rank
those two if you were drafting? And obviously we don't
(10:10):
know what the lottery will be because that doesn't happen
for another couple of months, But where would you put
A Cuff and AJ Debonsa amongst the top picks in
the draft in June?
Speaker 2 (10:20):
I would take AJ Debonton number one. I saw Darren
Peterson two weeks before that at Kansas Live very talented,
but he does not have nearly the competitive motor that
Aj Debonta does, So I would take Aj Debonsa one.
I love the talent that Darren Peterson has. When I
(10:44):
first laid eyes on him at the beginning of the year,
I thought he would be the guy. But after seeing
him and the way the season played out and seeing
him live what Aj Debonsa did for BYU and and
what he did on both ends of the floor, and
you know with double teams, like, he's going to be
really good in the NBA. So I would take him
(11:04):
number one. You know, Boozer's right there. Between Boozer and
Peterson two three, and Darius A. Cuff. You know, I
think I would take him in the top five. So
those guys are elite players. Darius say Cuff's going to
continue to wow us in a college basketball uniform, and
he's really really good, Like he has command of the team,
(11:25):
he can score whenever he wants. The question with him
is just going to be you know, defensively at his size,
I think he's going to be fine, but you know
he's gonna have to answer some questions at the next
level defensively, but the offense you can't question the decision making,
the point guard skills, they're all there.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Is there somebody or maybe a hybrid of a bunch
of different players that a Cuff reminds you.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Of a little bit of Stefan Marburry and Alan Iverson,
a combo of both of them. Okay, I think he's
the more skilled Iverson, but he's not white as quick
as an athletic, but a way better shooter. I think
he's kinda he's kind of like Stefan Marbury with a
(12:11):
little bit like more of a true point guard in him,
a little bit better passer and stuff like that. But
Stefan was as good as it comes as far as scoring,
get into the basket, explosive and finishing, and that's what
Acuff has. But I think Acuff has a little bit
better decision making skills and king skills in his DNA.
(12:36):
Moving forward.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Wally Zurbiak on MJ in the midday AJ to Bonsa,
there was talk about there how BYU spent seven million
dollars and they don't make it past the first weekend
and whether or not, you know, they got a return
on their investment, that to be determined. But how about
vis Wally, John cal Perry sixty seven, Kelvin Sampson seventy,
(12:58):
Rick Barnes seventy one, Tom Izzo seventy one, and Rick
Patino seventy three years old, and they're all still remaining.
So is it really a young man coaches game when
you know those guys are still around?
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Doesn't matter to me. If you can coach and I
get an opportunity to play for one of those guys,
sign me up. Age is not a thing when it
comes to coaching. Command of the locker room is all
the matters, and those guys obviously have command of the
locker room. They know how to prepare their players for
success success, And I know those guys will tell you
(13:35):
they're not the reason they're having success. It's because of
their guys and their players in the locker room. The
great coaches know that players make a coach, and that's
why those guys are having a lot of success because
they have great players that are making them succeed at
a high level.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
The amazing thing, Wally though about those coaches, they come
from the old.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
School, the pre nil era, and they're having success.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
In the nil era where you've seen a lot of
coaches Jay Wright, Roy Williams coach k they got out,
they didn't.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Want anything more to do with that.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
So how has cal and Patino and Rick Barnes and
Kelvin Sampson been able to do this where it's completely
antithetical to what they were used to over the course
of the last twenty years.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
For talent, that's the bottom line. And now you can
use financial motivation to find players, and players are obviously
going to motivate it to go to a place that's
going to pay them very handsomely. So they have an
eye for talent and they know how to mold that talent.
They know how to how to cultural locker room and
(14:50):
Jela locker room, and as a result, they're having a
lot of success, no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Whially, before we let you go, two things. Now that
Florida's out out, who's the team to beat? And that
you think is you know, the prohibited favorite to cut
down the nets in Indianapolis.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
The Arizona Wildcats.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
What does Arkansas have to do to beat them?
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Well, that's gonna be a must watch game. I can't
wait for it. Acuff's gotta go off and they have
to hope Kravos gets in foul trouble because that's one
of my favorite big men in college basketball. The field
that he has for the game, the way he defends
the rim and defends pick and roll. He is exactly
(15:39):
what you want out of the center. And they got
to hope he gets in foul trouble because I think
they're gonna have trouble dealing with him down low.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
All right, Wally, we appreciate your time, and before we
let you go, your favorite memory of playing here in
Seattle for the Sonics.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Oh, favorite memory. That's a tough one. I remember dropping
thirty five with the Timberwolves on the road in Seattle
and getting technicals for bouncing the ball and the crowd
hating me. So I remember that when I was playing
in Seattle in Key Arena, Oh a big one. Let
(16:17):
me think. I don't remember much as a player. I
just remember having a great overall experience. I mean, you
know what, you know what ring PJ Carlissimo yelling at
me for taking a shot quick in one of our
only wins at home early on this season. That might
be one of my fond memories.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
I'll leave it at that, all right, Wally, Zerbiak, Hey,
well the internet. Oh wow, we have to check that out, man,
Wally Zerbiak, Hey, you know they always say, you know,
when you walk in a room, that's the smartest guy
in the room. I can tell you when Wally Zurbiak
walks in a room, I can tell you this fellas
he's the most handsome guy in the room.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
And all the ladies are looking at Wally. Believe me,
I've seen it, Wally. We appreciate you. Joning goes, thanks, man,
you got it.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Have a great one, you.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Too, Wally's servyak.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
I guess you know, wasn't the biggest fan of PJ Carlossimo.
You know it's hey, you know what, there there's I
love coach. I'm a big PJ fan, but I didn't
play for him. But I kind of felt when I
asked him the question, what was it like playing for
pg Carlssamo, he goes no comment. I'm like, oh, all right,
then won't continue to do that?
Speaker 3 (17:31):
All right? We are awaiting.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
The Commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver, and we will
go live to Midtown Manhattan, New York City, as he
will hold a press conference on the announcement of the
Board of Governors making an official to explore expansion teams
in Seattle and Las Vegas. So we will be on
(18:00):
pins and needles on standby. You're gonna want to stay
tuned for that. We are your home for the Sonics
return right here, so don't go anywhere. Sports Radio ninety
three to three kJ r FM
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