The Saturday Stein Line with Marc Stein (December 16, 2023) Full

This week we lead off with a deep dive on the Warriors after the latest Draymond Green suspension and feature visits with two guests: Former NBA All-Star Devin Harris with the story of Harris' long-awaited graduation from the University of Wisconsin and The Los Angeles Times' Dan Woike reflecting on all the basketball he just watched in Texas.

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
Welcome to It's a Saturday Steinline withMark Stein, presented by Panini Trading Cards
and Collectibles on ninety seven to oneThe Freak, the official homes Well Dallas
Mavericks Games, hosted by legendary NBAreporter and publisher of his substack, the
Steinline. Here's Mark Stein. Everyone, Happy Saturday, Welcome in and thanks

(00:31):
for joining us for another edition ofthe Saturday Steinline presented by my good friends
at Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles.Huge week for my Panini guys. They
have extended their famed contract with FIFA, soccer's world governing body. If you

(00:53):
collect Panini Soccer stickers, you knowwhat I'm talking about. That relationship goes
all the way back to the nineteenseventy World Cup. The new deal will
take Pannini through the next two Men'sWorld Cups in twenty twenty six and twenty
thirty. There's also a Women's WorldCup in there as well. Yes,

(01:15):
I am a sticker fanatic, butwe'll you know what, We'll get into
that in another show because that reallydevotes or that deserves more time. A
huge and wild week in the NBAas well, We're gonna get into as
much of it as we can Thisafternoon, We've got beloved former Mavericks caar

(01:36):
Devin Harris. He'll be joining usin the next segment to talk about getting
his undergraduate degree in history from theUniversity of Wisconsin. That happens tomorrow for
Devin Harris, with another former Badgerstar with Mavericks ties, Michael Finley.

(01:57):
He'll be giving the commencement speech.In segment three. We've got my pal
Dan Woiki from the La Times joiningus. Dan was courtside with me Tuesday
for that nationally televised MAVs Lakers thriller, and then Dan went to San Antonio
for the Lakers two game baseball serieswith the Spurs. So we have Dan

(02:23):
lined up because I wanted to gethis first hand report from Wembyland, his
impressions of Victor wembin Yama twenty fivegames in also what he thought of seeing
the Mavericks again. Of course,the Mavericks have now beaten the Lakers twice
into really close games in short succession, one in La one here in Dallas.

(02:43):
And look, we could do awhole segment on the Lakers decision to
hang a banner after winning the league'sfirst in season tournament in Las Vegas.
We could really do a robust tradeseason preview now. Yesterday was December fifteenth.
Eighty plus players who were who signedcontracts in the summer are now eligible

(03:08):
to be moved. The whole leagueexecutive wise, will be headed to Central
Florida next week for the G LeagueShowcase. That's the NBA's answer to Baseball's
Winter Meetings. I'm gonna mostly holdthe trade stuff though for next week's show,
because I'm going to showcase as wellto chronicle it myself. Hopefully I

(03:31):
come back with a notebook full oftrade related goodness. That's the goal,
you know what. Honestly, wecould do a whole show on game Ballgate
if we wanted to. The bizarrescenes from Wednesday night in Milwaukee, when
Yanas Antetokumpo rumbles for a career highsixty four points that included thirty two trips

(04:00):
the line, Yana sank twenty fourof those. All of that, though
relegated to the sidebar because of acontroversy slash mystery about Yannis either getting the
game ball or getting a different ball. I'm still not sure which one he
ended up with. The reality thougheveryone is one story right now looms and

(04:27):
lords over the entire league, andthat is the indefinite suspension that was meeted
out this week by the League officeto Draymond Green after the pirouette and swiped
to the face from Green that knockedPhoenix's man Mountain Usuf Nurkic, sent Nurkic
to the ground. This happened inTuesday night's late game. Literally, as

(04:49):
I walked in the door after gettingback from the AAC, my son was
hollering at me. My son,Aaron was hollering at me to get in
here and see what what happened inPhoenix. You know, I think we've
never really seen the league take this, take this announced approach of you know,
indefinite suspension, and I think thereis inevitably, on some level some

(05:15):
of the motivation here. It's tooyou know, dial down the morning after
outrage. If they put a finitenumber on it, there's going to be
screaming the suspension is too short,the suspension is too long, whatever number
that the league would have come upwith, So they've muted that discussion to

(05:36):
some degree. My personal feeling thisis an I would stress an unofficial forecast
here. I don't think we seeDraymond Green back on the court for the
Warriors again until twenty twenty four.The Warriors had nine games left on their
schedule when the suspension was announced.Nine games left in twenty twenty three,

(06:00):
that is, and I think ithas to be at least ten games,
twice as long, at least asthe recent five game band that Draymond Green
received for that choke hold he appliedto Minnesota's Rudy Gobert. It's got to
be at least twice as long tome for this suspension to have any credibility,

(06:26):
validity, viability, choose your favoriteword there, to show that there's
some real work being done behind thescenes that just helps Draymond Green put a
stop to this. It's been aself destructive streak of violent acts. It's
the third now we've seen for himin just over a year since the training

(06:50):
camp punch that he landed on JordanPoole last October. There was the soccer
style stamp on Demontes Sibonis in thefirst round of the playoffs in April that
led to a one game suspension.Late in the regular season, Draymond Green
also had to miss a game onsuspension for accumulated technical fouls, then the

(07:12):
go Bear headlock, and now thisand the Warriors after a six and two
start, they are ten and fourteen. Green remains their best defender. He's
a hugely important connector on offense,all of his smart screening, passing,

(07:36):
positioning, He does a lot oforchestration offensively. I mean, he has
now missed six of Golden State's twentyfour games through suspension. He's also been
ejected from three games a season,and just on a personal note, I'm
really hoping that he can figure somethingout here and come back with a much

(08:03):
better ability to stay on the floormaintain his poise. Is the polite way
that Steve Kerr keeps putting it,because at this point he's really damaging his
own legacy. And you know,a lot of people, you know,
he's a very polarizing player. Thereare lots of people who certainly do not

(08:28):
consider themselves Draymond Green fans, andI totally get it, totally understand it.
But he is an absolutely revolutionary defensiveplayer in this game's history. And
if you expand that point, he'sa revolutionary small ball player in the game's
history, unique ability at six'five to do a lot of things at

(08:52):
both ends to off set his lackof shooting prowess, and it's going to
end up in the Hall of Fame, and I think it's deserved. He's
been a key cog to four championshipteams, four in eight years. You
do not see that every day,and I agree with Steve Kerr when he
says repeatedly they don't win those fourwithout him, And you know, I

(09:20):
put all my cards on the tablehere it. I've always been a huge
admirer of those winning qualities because Iwas embedded with the Warriors for the first
three years of that eight season run. Four championships and six trips to the
finals in a span of eight seasons, and when you have that kind of

(09:41):
close range view like I was fortunateto have because I was Sports Centers embedded
correspondent with the Warriors from twenty fourteento fifteen through most of the title run
in sixteen seventeen, and so youget to see every day the impact that

(10:01):
a player like Draymond Green had onall that winning that the Warriors did,
and you can understand why there havebeen numerous and various missteps along the way,
but you can see why Steve Kerrand Stephen Curry and so many others

(10:24):
in Golden State, you can understandwhy they've always stood by him through the
bad times. But this last yearit has just taken an absolutely untenable turn.
And like I said, as aDraymond Green admirer, I really hope
he's able to step back here andprocess what's happened in the last year and

(10:46):
realize that if he doesn't find away to change, and he's, you
know, steadfastly always said that he'snot going to change and that this is
who he is. If he doesn'tfind a way to change, doesn't find
a way to walk that in gametightrope, better, he's not gonna be

(11:07):
talked about all these basketball qualities thatI'm lauding him for. Kerr said it
so well the other day quote,I want him to reap the rewards of
an incredible career and legacy, andI want him to finish that career in
a really wonderful, dignified manner.Is that possible. It's completely up to

(11:28):
Draymond Green at this point. Now. As for the Warriors, the team
in the larger picture. Lots ofpeople around the league this week have been
asking the question, is it over? Is the dynasty done? Officially?
Are we finally safe to make thatdeclaration? And look, NBA know it

(11:48):
all is like me have been scaredto make it because of what just happened
eighteen or so months ago, andthe MAVs were involved in it, when
the Warriors beat the MAVs in theWest Finals and went on to win title
number four in eight seasons, whenrealistically no one was expecting it anymore.

(12:16):
And you know, it's an interestingstudy in sports fandom and just you know,
things are not supposed to go onforever. And this is year ten.
If we start the clock with thechampionship team of twenty fourteen, fifteen,

(12:37):
So you know, to me,what we're seeing the Warrior struggles,
You know, I guess because I'mI consider myself neutral here. It's it's
not surprising and it's easier to understandand look for all the coverage that has
been devoted already this season to DraymondGreen's transgressions, to Clay Thompson's slow start.

(13:01):
Although we always hear about the slowstart, he made eight threes the
other night against the Clippers. Youhear far less when and he's still having
the occasional game like that. ButI would say Andrew Wiggins regression. You
could actually make the case that isGolden State's foremost problem. Wiggins is in
year one of a four year,one hundred and nine million dollars deal that

(13:24):
he earned for being such a differencemaker during the title run two seasons ago.
The Mavericks know what a difference makerhe was as well as anyone.
Wiggins is only twenty eight. He'sjust been removed from the starting lineup and
he and Wiggins's he's just not tradableplaying like this. And the Warriors,

(13:54):
truth be told, they are nota one move away team in their current
state. So they got a zillionissues to work out in the Bay Area.
It's not just the Draymondgreen conundrum.And look, they have factors to
consider in terms of team building thatno other team is facing. Because of

(14:16):
the equity that Draymond Green and KlayThompson have built up after their contributions again
to four championship teams in a spanof eight seasons. You don't see that
in the modern NBA. So restassured, we have only begun to talk
about the Warriors on this show onmy This League Uncut podcast that I do

(14:41):
twice a week with Turner Sports ChrisHaynes on my substack as well. Please
check out the substack at mark Steindot substack dot com if you're not already
reading, and if you are alreadyreading, profuse thanks for me. The
next moves that this franchise that's beenbathed in success, The next moves for

(15:09):
the Warriors, coming weeks, comingmonths, gonna be fascinating. We're gonna
shift though, as this show carrieson from the fascinating Warriors, this subject
is also fascinating, but it's moreheartwarming. The story coming after the break
Devin Harris getting his college degree fromthe University of Wisconsin at the age of

(15:35):
forty, with fellow MAVs Ledge MichaelFinley delivering the commencement address. Devin Harris
he joins us next to talk usthrough it all here on ninety seven,
won the Freak. This is theSaturday Steinline Wiz Mark Stein, presented by

(15:56):
Benini Trading cards and collectibles on yourofficial homes all tell this Mavericks game The
Freak. The Saturday Steinline dribbles onhere, presented by Panini Trading Cards and
Collectibles. And we're bringing in aspecial guest now because what will be happening
tomorrow in Madison, Wisconsin, itwill indeed be special and quite unique,

(16:23):
and it will feature unexpected ties toyour Dallas Mavericks because the University of Wisconsin
it's holding its winner commencement ceremonies onSunday with a certain Michael Finley, former
Wisconsin Star, former Dallas Mavericks AllStar. Michael Finley will be delivering the

(16:44):
commencement address. And Devin Harris draftedby the Mavericks with the fifth overall pick
out of Wisconsin. It'll be twentyyears in June since that draft. He
started his career with the Mavericks,ended his career with the Mavericks. He
had three separate playing stints with theMAVs. One of the most popular Mavericks
of the last two decades. AndDevin Harris will be graduating from the University

(17:08):
of Wisconsin as part of this classat the age of forty and I can
proudly say he's a teammate of minenow because we've had the opportunity to work
together on a number of Bally SportsSouthwest broadcasts over the past two seasons,
and it is my honor now towelcome to the Saturday Steinline for the first

(17:30):
time. Welcome in Devin Harris andcongratulations. This achievement is quite awesome.
Thanks, Sonny. Yeah, I'msuper excited about it. It's been a
lot of hard work, especially overthe last three years. I think the
surprise to me was the Michael Finleyannouncement for the convincement. It's the pretty
cool full circle moment, I thinkfor both of us, and it should

(17:53):
be a pretty fun weekend. Yeah, because I mean, look, my
hat is off to you. WhenI was done with college, I was
done. I cannot imagine doing thisin adulthood. And I think as recently
as the Mavericks last road trip,you were working on a term paper while
traveling for broadcast duties. I don'tthink I would have the discipline to do
that. So walk us through whatit's been like to me. I think

(18:15):
you were twenty eight credit short,so that's a lot of work you had
to do. Like, what hasthis been like in adulthood to do this
while you're you're you're working on yourbroadcasting career at the same time. Yeah,
it's it's been a lot, tobe honest, you know, not
only with the broadcasting career, butraising three small kids and you know,

(18:36):
stressing to them, you know,how important education is, and there's no
better way that I can stress thatby showing them. But it's my summers
have pretty much been taken over.My history credits, the important ones have
been you know, more online forsummer classes. So it's it's it's been
an I feel like an overwhelming taskat some points. But I haven't had

(19:02):
to overload too much in the fallin the spring, which has been sort
of a blessing. But you know, this last semester, you know,
I've had to actually physically go toclass for half the semester, so I've
had to make the trip up toMadison probably about eight times. And as
fun as it is to be ina classroom at forty again, it's not
that much fun. But it's it'sbeen a longcoming for me, and it's

(19:26):
something that I wanted to finish becauseI made a lot of promises when I
left school early, and I gothere as a twenty one year old and
probably could have finished it a lotsooner. But I think now it's just
more the right time for me.Again. Like you mentioned Michael Finley,
he went on a similar journey.He got his degree I think in twenty
fourteen, so also after leaving schooland finishing his NBA career. I mean,

(19:51):
it must just I can't even imaginehow excited you must be to think
about walking up there and getting yourdegree on Sunday. And you know you
mentioned it as well, you cameout of school after your junior year,
So what what what were those promises? Who did you promise this too,
that you would go back and dothis? You know, at the family

(20:11):
meeting where we kind of discussed,you know, everybody's thoughts on what I
should stay or I should go.Obviously that was the first order of business,
to figure out what was best.But the second order was, Okay,
if we do decide to leave early, you know, what are you
going to do about going back?And you know I made a promise to

(20:33):
my parents. I made a promiseto my high school trainer. You know
that they really stressed in the pointof going back and finishing. But I
just wanted to throw it out therethat it may not happen right away,
but as long as it gets donein any sort of timeframe, I think
everybody will be pleased. But mydad was also going through finishing his degree

(20:56):
at the age of fifty at thattime, and it's a hell of a
accomplishment for him, but something he'scontinued to hold over my head this entire
time. I was very I'm veryproud of it, able to get that
weight off and he's about it anymore. Yeah, I read about that.
So your father, Terry got hisdegree at fifty and so you've had to

(21:17):
hear about this for the last nineteentwenty years. Yes, yes, I'm
still not even down this turnpaper.It's not due till tomorrow, so I
got a little bit more time tofinish, so you know, the job's
still not done well. Like Isaid, I can't even imagine being in
a hotel room on the road andhaving the discipline to do it. You
are a better man than me.Devin Harris, the beloved former Mavericks guard

(21:41):
and of course current Mavericks broadcaster withBally Sports Southwest, joining us here on
ninety seven to one The Freak onthe Saturday Steinline presented by Panini Trading Cards
and Collectibles and then to do thiswith Michael Finley to make this trip with
him, just walk us through whatyour relationship has been like. You guys
got to play a season together here, and I mean, this is someone

(22:03):
in who I imagine has been inyour life for a long time now.
Yeah, obviously somebody that I lookedup to even going to school. You
know, you look at those thoserecord books and you see what kind of
success he had in the four yearshe was at Wisconsin, so kind of
chasing him in that sense, andthen obviously being drafted here sharing the same
agent. When I got here,he sort of took me under his wing

(22:26):
as his you know, his rookiehad a lot of responsibilities that first year.
But he's always been somebody I cango to for advice, somebody that
kind of looked up to as anolder brother. That hasn't changed in the
you know, twenty two years thatI've known him, and just walking watching
him go through the same process intwenty fourteen and being watched, being watching

(22:51):
him being celebrated, you know,a couple of years ago with his Jersey
retirement and all those things that wentalong with it, and being part of
those special moments that he's had inhis life has always been something that I
cherished, and I've watched him growuh in that role as well as the
role is you know, in thefront office, and he's done a phenomenal
job. So I'm really excited towatch him as a public speaker on Sunday.

(23:18):
And I think just uh, forall Badger fans and and and Mavericks
fans, I think it's just uh, it'll be an honor just to watch
him celebrate me graduating, but doingin a way where he can, you
know, be recognized as a commitmentspeaker. And uh, I think it's
something we'll both kind of remember,and I think it's exciting for both of
us. Yeah, I hope it'sonline somewhere. I hope people in Dallas

(23:41):
will be able to we can figureout how to tune in and watch this,
because I think you're right. Ithink I think people will be curious
to see what kind of commencement speechwe get. Before I let you go,
and I know you're swamped, andI really appreciate you doing this.
Let's let's talk about a couple acouple of Mavericks issues before before I let
you get back to all the chaosin Madison. We always talk about Luca

(24:06):
and Kyrie, but I want totake your focus a little further Afield another
former number five pick, Dante Examstill marveling at what we saw from him
the other night against the Lakers.Seven made threes when he came into the
game with only eight threes in hisfirst nineteen games as a MAV. Tell
me just what of your impressions beenof Exhem now compared to when we first

(24:30):
saw him in the NBA. Youknow, I think as in Utah,
he dealt with a lot of injuries. He had big shoes to fill when
he first got there and just justdidn't quite grow into the role that they
were looking for. And I hadto give him a lot of credit.
He took a lot of his weaknessesthat he had when he went overseas and

(24:53):
he really worked on those. Shootingwas one of them. He's always been
a pretty good defender, and Ican't speak enough about out you know,
how he's learned how to play hisIQ, learning when to cut his driving
ability. You know, I thinkhe's gotten a little bit more athletic than
he was in the first time thatwe saw him. I think that's just
due to him being more healthy,but you know he fits into playing with

(25:15):
Luca and Kai. He can runthat second unit without them. And I
don't think the Mavers really knew whatthey had in him when they first got
him, But I know he's beena huge savor in a lot of different
areas of somebody that can play somany different positions, whether it's on the
ball, off the ball, andjust watching him blossom into a role or

(25:36):
you know, he really struggled tofind in those first years in the NBA,
and it's just I don't think peopleunderstand how hard it is to leave
the NBA, go and play overseasbut then find your niche, you know,
so many years later. It's beenremarkable and I think a huge element
of this team's early success because theMAVs are off to a better start than
a lot of skeptics me included thought. But Dante Exum, Derek Jones Junior,

(26:04):
Grant Williams, Tim Hardaway Junior,all of these guys are producing more
I think than was anticipated. Andthen that leads me to the other guy.
I really want to ask you aboutDerek Lively. What this kid is
doing at nineteen. I mean,he's been a massive surprise and just a
massive bright spot. And I wouldlove to just get your impressions of what

(26:27):
you've seen from Lively compared to whatyou expected coming into the season. I
mean, every rookie has their ownlearning curve per se, and obviously the
more you play, the quickly youget things. And I think the smartest
thing for the Master to do wasjust throw them right into the fire.
But he's proven that he can handlea lot. I think the relationship with

(26:51):
Tyson Chandler coming in as a youngplayer has really helped him understanding how to
be effective, having the confidence tobark out orders from a defensive standpoint,
have got the trust more so earningfrom Luca being in the right spot at
the right time. You can tellhe studies and he understands the speed of
the game, and I guess Idon't think the MAVs you can tell when

(27:14):
he sits out. You know,the MAVs struggle in a lot of different
ways, from rim protection to thatrole presence. And I think he surprised
a lot of people on his offense, not necessarily scoring wise, but how
he can play make and how youknow when they do trap Luca, you
know he can run into the middleof the floor and make good decisions and
make the right decisions, and thattakes this offense to another level. You

(27:37):
can tell he has a little bitof a chip on the shoulder in a
sense, and he wants to provehimself. We saw that opening night against
Women Yama. You know, hewas the most effective rookie on the floor
that night. That shows me that, you know, he's he's got room
to grow. And I think themore he plays with Luca, the more
he plays with Kai, you know, the more confidence he's gonna you know,
gain, and he's got the trustof the coaches, and that's all

(27:59):
you can want is as a youngplayer, he has been an absolute revelation.
Is Talk. Franco from d magazinehad some great stats earlier this week.
Is Talk research basically the last twentyfive years, and Dwight Howard is
the only nineteen year old who exceededthe production we've seen so far from Lively,
who's averaging nine points eight rebounds,three offensive boards, and one point

(28:22):
five block shots a night. Again, Dwight Howard is the only nineteen year
old in the last twenty five yearsbesides Lively to be producing at that level.
Mister Harris. It was awesome tocatch up with you. I'm so
happy for you and your family.This is going to be an incredible weekend.
And love hearing this story. AndI'm jealous too. I think I've
told you this before. I've onlybeen to Madison once. The Mavericks played

(28:45):
an exhibition game there in the ninetynine two thousand season, a few months
before Mark Cuban bought the team,and I had a postgame trip to State
Street Brats and had a broad thathas stayed with me in my memory as
being absolutely scrumptious for the last twentyfive years. So I got to get

(29:06):
back there somehow have a great timeon my behalf as well. Well do
I always like talking to's with you, Steiny, and I will have a
couple broughts for you this weekend.I promise you love it. There he
goes everyone, Devin Harris, soonto be a University of Wisconsin graduate.
We've got lots more of the SaturdaySteinline. Next here at ninety seven one

(29:27):
the Freak. This is Dirk Lwitzky, and you're listening to the Saturday Steinline
with my guys Steiny On ninety sevenwon the freak. Thanks for sticking with
us everyone here on the Saturday Steinlinepresented by Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles.
You heard Dirk Nooviski's voice there.Dirk was a surprise court side spectator in

(29:51):
Phoenix last night for one of themajor headlines of the week that I didn't
mention in the first segment. Dirkwas there with Steve Nash. They both
wanted to be present for Sean Marion'sinduction into the Sun's Ring of Honor and
what happens Nowitzki and Nash were treatedto a fifty point eruption from a visiting

(30:17):
New York nick named Jalen Brunson,The One who Got Away. Brunson just
keeps getting better and better and betteras he bids for his all star breakthrough
as a nick. Let us gonow to the guest line again. Check
in with one of my favorite scribes. He spent the whole week in Texas,

(30:40):
fresh off a trip to Vegas forthe end season tournament. He sat
next to me Tuesday night again forthat thriller MAVs one twenty seven, Lakers
one twenty five, and then heactually saw the Spurs win a game,
just San Antonio's fourth win all season. See what he makes of Victor woman

(31:02):
Yama, who is now one tozero against Lebron James, three and twenty
against everyone else. Dan Wiki ofthe Los Angeles Times, welcome to the
show, my friend. Yeah,Steiny, No, that that made me
smile, the thought of vict webenYaba being the most successful player in the

(31:22):
league history against Lebron James. He'sa retire now, Yeah, just lock
into that. It was funny.Last year there was a stretch when I
think through three games Max Chrissy wasshooting one hundred percent from the field and
we were like, you know,if you just if you hung it up
right now, you would be thegreatest shooter of all time statistically, And
he decided to keep playing and historywe'll forget him for that. Well,

(31:47):
look, you were just there forthree days. I don't know how you're
already home. You must have yourI didn't know the LA Times has its
own concord to get you home thisquick. But you are back home in
California. Tell me, tell meyou're in essions of Victor wen Minyama after
these two games and just kind ofwhat the angst level was in San Antonio
that you detected because before last night, before beating the Lakers, and of

(32:09):
course Anthony Anthony Davis didn't play,it is it has been a rough,
rough stretch for the young man.Yeah. I think starting with the things
that he does well, before hemakes any shops, before he dribbles the
basketball, any of that stuff,there is a he scares the Bejesus out
of you quality to Victor Womenyama whenhe's in the paint. And I talked

(32:32):
to Lakers about this pregame on Wednesday, post game Wednesday, pre and post
on Friday, and it is likethe presence is in ignorable. He is
so big and so long and andI mean these are NBA players right,
like guys. Remember Jackson Hayes toldme before that it was funny. Before

(32:53):
the game on Wednesday, I wastalking Jacks Naisal Hallway and I had said
some like well, like you know, have you seen him yet? Like
and He's like no, I'm likeno, I looking at any pictures like
I just want to see it inexperience it for myself. Talk to him
pregame Friday, he said he's JackSnay's has never felt so short in his
entire life, you know, andthis is everybody. I mean, like
Austin Reeves like could not believe heget a shot blocked because he thought women

(33:16):
Emo was guarding, you know,Christian Wood in the corner. You know
you saw Lebron not want to testhim. Max Christy did try. He
got you know, swallowed up atthe basket eight. It's to me like,
like, like Mark, he isgoing to be an all defensive team
player very very quickly. So likelet's just start with like that part of

(33:38):
it, right, like the length, the stocks, the steals in the
blocks, the deflections. That's alreadythere. I think I would say the
next thing that I noticed, andit really happened Wednesday was like when it
came time for like the Spurs tolike pack it in, you know,
you move on to the next game. He did not quit and he took

(34:00):
over and he wanted to close outthat game. He was aggressive, He
called for the ball, He didit at the rim, he did it
with the jump shot. I knowthe jumper has not been there for him,
but you watch him shoot it,and I think it's a safe bet
that he's going to start making morejumpers eventually. And it's just as you
know, it's one of the mostyou don't want to dig in too much

(34:22):
to Nightperbily, but it's like oneof the most most unique skill sets of
all time. Yeah, I mean, look the man, he's averaging nineteen
eleven and three. They've just movedhim to center. This is a team
that lacks shooting and playmaking around himand he I mean, talent wise,
you already see what a special playerhe's going to be. But I mean,

(34:46):
there's no way of getting around it. They lost eighteen games in a
row, and you would never expectthat with a rookie that we hype up
to this degree. From what youcould tell in a couple of games being
there, how much was that wayin on on him. Yeah, you
could see it after, especially likeyou know, after they won on Friday,

(35:08):
How just how happy he was,the relief, the release of all
that pressure for him for other guyson that team. Look, I mean,
you look at that roster and like, that is not a roster that's
built to compete. It's a rosterthat's built to develop and potentially unearthed.

(35:29):
You know, two or three playersthat will ideally be next to him for
a good chunk of his career,and like that's sort of it, you
know what I mean, Like theyplayed last night without a point guard.
Trade Jones was out with with anillness. Trade Jones does not start anymore.
You know. They did the sohandthing at point for a little bit.
Now it's malapat Brandam's turn. Youknow, the spacing is what it

(35:54):
is around him. They shot itwell, really well last night. But
but it's you know, it's it'shard and like it is one of those
things Mark, I think, youknow, there are these big adjustments that
guys make when they go from playinguh you know, well in his case
professionally in France. But like Imean, you just lose, and you

(36:15):
lose more regularly than you've ever lostbefore in your entire life. Like you
like learning how to like handle losingand learning how to handle slumps and things
like that. Is you never wantto get used to it, but you
you've got to have some tolerance foror else the emotional lows are going to
just you're going to crumble. AndI think it's you know, his demeanor,

(36:37):
his intensity, it was there inthose two games against the Lakers.
He was not physically intimidated despite theLakers' best efforts, he you know,
and he got him a win,and I think, you know, we'll
see. Look, I don't thinkevery all is right in San Antonio,
right, Like this team is goingto struggle. That seems like a pretty

(36:58):
safe bet. And as the yeargoes on, you know, his legs
and his arms are only gonna getheavier and it's going to be harder for
him. But you know, youlook at him and you just you see
enough of the flashes to take adeep breath and kind of say, all
right, let's be a little morebig picture with this, and you know,
a small handful of years, likethis guy's a chance to be one
of the special players in the league. Dan Wiki from the Los Angeles Times,

(37:22):
our guest here on ninety seven,won the Freak on the Saturday Steinline
presented by Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles. You've had a front row seat as
well for maybe the Mavericks two bestwins, holding on in LA after they
had the big lead, and thenwhat we saw Tuesday night, same thing,

(37:42):
another wild one. Give me yourimpressions, as only an occasional observer
of the Mavericks, what do youthink of these MAVs, I think their
role players have settled into what they'retrying to do offensively around and well,
Kyrie didn't play in the second game, but I saw him play in LA.

(38:05):
You know, I think like aplayer like Tim Hardaway, who shot
the ball incredibly well against the Lakersseason, has been pretty efficient, certainly
by his standards all season, youknow, as a guy who's flying off
the screens, you know, isstarting to shoot before the pass even comes,
like he's really settled into what he'strying to do. I think Grant
Williams has helped them as a floorspacer, has helped them as like kind

(38:30):
of a guy who's willing to kindof get into the mud a little bit
defensively. I think they can usemore of that, you know, and
you look at Derek Lively and againyou see you see the recipe for a
very successful NBA career, you know, in terms of a guy who plays
really hard, who is an intimidatedwho rim runs and you know, we

(38:52):
can protect the basket. And Ijust think that those things combined with you
know, more continuity and comfortable betweenLuka Dotcicch and Kyrie Irving and it's like,
this is a good basketball team.Now. I always sort of just
generally wonder what your feeling is whenyou kind of play, well, we're

(39:13):
gonna outscore you style of basketball,you know what I mean, I do
think that sort of limits you.But you know, from what I saw
that the games that I saw,particularly in LA, like I mean,
I saw pretty engaged Lucadacic on defense. I saw very engage Kyrie Irving on
defense in that game. And youknow, if you can get that kind
of effort sustained in a playoff seriesand stuff like that, nobody's gonna want

(39:34):
to play them. They have thekinds of individual talent that you know,
and the guys who have the ballin their hands. You know, you
mentioned to Jalen Brunson getting fifty,Like that's just like that possibility is just
always on the table from two differentguys when you play the Mavericks, and
that's just there aren't that many teamsthat can scare you that way. So,

(39:54):
you know, I think that Ithink they had a good offseason,
you know, without making me majormajor changes, and it seems like they're
moving in the right direction. ButMark, like you know, I was
thinking I was looking at this today, just kind of looking at the Western
Conference right now, and it's justlike I mean, I mean, it's
it's brutal, like you know,like picking a favorite or picking a team,

(40:16):
like trying trying to trying to thinklike who's in good position and who's
in bad position. I mean,there's nine teams that all are credible and
maybe even ten, you know,if you I'm they are like legitimately ten
teams that are like incredibly could wina playoff series, if not two,

(40:36):
and that'll sort itself out a littleovertime. But you know, seeing Dallas,
I mean, they're they're certainly inthat mix. No, I totally
agree with you. I think weall kind of coming into the season had
Denver with an advantage over the restof the West. But you know,
Jamal Murray has missed quite a bitof time, so the Nuggets have been
you know, they've had their stretcheswhere they've looked very mortal. And yeah,

(40:58):
there's just this stack of teams inthe pack and it's very congested.
And last season we only had twofifty win teams in the West, and
you know, I'm not sure thatwe're going to have that many more this
season. But I warned you,Dan Wyke, when you agreed to do
this, how fast it would go. And we're already basically down to what
is going to be the last question? But look, I think I think
you can guess where I'm going togo with this one. We are basically

(41:20):
two weeks away no what, Yeah, two weeks away from Lebron Lebron James
turning thirty nine. You don't haveto tell me what you're gonna get him
for that, but just give usyour impressions of Lebron with yet another turn
back the clock season. Yeah,it's it's wild, Mark, you know,
you you wait for, you know, these clear signs of the climb,

(41:44):
and look they're there, you know, the not getting across half court
on possessions, the uptake and turnoversand different things like that. But then
you you know, watching him inthe end season tournament and seeing him like
you know, when the stakes wereI don't want to say it there highest,
but at the highest as they get. In you know, November,

(42:04):
you saw a guy who was stillthrowing fastballs like all the time, Like
that performance he had in the semifinals against New Orleans. You know,
in twenty two minutes was astounding,like an all time great, you know
efficiency floor game for a player.I think thirty points and twenty two minutes
up plus thirty six eight assists completemaestro. You would talk to some people

(42:27):
around him and they would say,like he looked like Cleveland Lebron, and
that the fact that we're still likehaving those discussions, you know, your
five year six into his LA tenure, as he's approaching thirty nine years old.
It's it's hard to write about iton the regular because it just sounds
like you're kind of just like blowingsmoke, but like it's wild. But
you know, the Lakers did notplay well last night. Lebron James had

(42:51):
two monster stunks and hit a cornerthrough over Whembe that were like big time
highlights, and postgame, he wasexhausted, but like that competitive juice,
the competitive fire was still there andhe was mad. They went one and
two on the road trip, despitethe fact that they just won the Ncason
Tournament, despite the fact that theway they played on the way to winning
that tournament kind of sort of validateslike what they're trying to do in terms

(43:14):
of the type of defensive team theycan play, the type of defensive team
they can be. I'm sorry,the balance sort of offensive stuff they have
around him. You know, it'snot a guy who looks like he's slowing
down, and I just don't knowwhen that's gonna happen. Well, you
are a lucky man to get tosee it, Dan Wyke, Thanks a
mil for joining us. Dan Wykefrom the La Times just back home after

(43:38):
covering the Lakers in both Dallas andSan Antonio. Friends, that is going
to do it for this edition ofthe Saturday Steinline. The MAVs played Portland
tonight seven thirty pregame show with KevinGray Chuck Cooperstein on the call at eight
o'clock. Thanks much to Maddy gbehind the glass. Thanks much much to

(44:01):
our glue guy Groobs for all hiswork and getting this show ready. Can't
do it without you. A quickprediction Bill's twenty eight Cowboys twenty I live
in a Bill's household. Everyone