December 23, 2023 • 44 mins
The latest on the injury-hit Mavericks as they approach the end of the calendar year and the NBA's Christmas Day schedule AND Marc's week in Orlando chasing trade scuttle at the G League Showcase ... plus interviews with former Maverick Theo Pinson and reigning NBA slam-dunk champion Mac McClung ... all of that features on the latest edition of The Saturday Stein Line presented by Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
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(00:03):
Welcome to the Saturday Steinline with MarkStein, presented by Panini Trading Cards and
Collectibles on ninety seven to one TheFreak, the official homes all Dallas Nevericks
games, hosted by legendary NBA reporterand publisher of his substack, the Steinline.
Here's Mark Stein. Welcome in everyone, Happy Holidays, Welcome in to
(00:32):
another edition of the Saturday Steinline presentedby Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles. Second
to last show of this calendar year, just two days before the annual five
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game NBA Bonanza on Chris Christmas Day. It's always been a standout day on
the regular season calendar for the NBA. Much more challenging now though past few
years the NFL they've got their ownChristmas Day doubleheader that does crazy ratings,
(01:15):
so much more competition for viewers.And if you're listening to this show,
I suspect you already know the battingorder for Christmas Day Monday for the NBA,
but just in case, we'll runthrough it. It starts with Bucks
(01:36):
at Nicks at fabled Madison Square Gardens, still my favorite place to watch a
game, even though I don't getthere too often. Proceeding to Warriors at
Nuggets Denver. The defending champs meansthey have the honor of hosting a game
in one of the marquee Christmas Dayslots on ABC. Then it's Celtics at
(02:00):
Lakers, the league's oldest rivalry renewedand crazy. The Lakers are suddenly in
an absolute funk. The Lakers areone in six since the n Season Tournament.
Of course, it was just Mondaythat they hung the in season tournament
banner to much derision, much discussion, much debate, a lot of people,
(02:23):
a lot of former Lakers not happywith that decision. I always thought
they were going to hang a bannerbecause Jenie Buss has a great relationship with
Adam Silver, and the inn SeasonTournament means so much to the league.
I knew the Lakers were going todo something to commemorate it, but they
are a mess lately. Sixers atHeat Next up. Hopefully it'll be a
(02:53):
Joe l Embiid reunion with his goodfriend Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler's had a
calf issue here this week, andso we'll see if Butler can get back
for the big Christmas Day game andthen in the nightcap, let's face it,
a game that needs no introduction.Two teams that are not fond of
each other, two teams that donot send each other Christmas cards. Mavericks
(03:17):
at Suns in the Desert. TheMavericks, of course, have been extremely
banged up lately. They're dealing witha long, long list of injury.
Tonight against San Antonio at home,it's going to be the ninth game and
counting that Kyrie Irving misses with aright heel contusion. Kyrie played in aid
(03:40):
of Dallas' first ten games, andthat's a ratio that the Mavericks would gladly
welcome for the season. Unfortunately,they have only seen him in nine of
the last eighteen games after that injuryhe sustained earlier this month's very unfortunate injury
when Pow landed on him, andthe MAVs have gone eight and ten in
(04:04):
those eighteen games, so that eightand two start a bit of a distant
memory. As we dribbled towards Christmaslast week of twenty twenty three, it
is a big one for the DallasMavericks on a lot of fronts, especially
if we can wedge tonight into ifwe can cheat a little bit and treat
(04:26):
that as part of the final weekbecause tonight, of course, first time
that Victor wembin Yama will play inDallas as a spur rematch of Opening night.
Disappointment, of course, that DerekLively is expected to miss his fourth
straight game with a left ankle sprainalso suffered in Portland, also via misfortune
(04:53):
under the basket, under the samebasket that Kyrie Irving took that hard hit
from Dwight Palace fall in Portland.The Mavericks are zero to five this season
when Lively does not play. AndI'm sure you haven't forgotten what we saw
on opening nights almost two months ago, exactly now, October twenty fifth.
(05:17):
Derek Lively that night, he reallywas the most effective nineteen year old seven
footer on the floor. With thewhole basketball world watching tuned in to see
Victor Webb Minyama's NBA debut, Iwas there, Lively with sensational that night.
The Mavericks didn't start him, remember, because they wanted to ease the
(05:40):
burden they've played. They were replacingon Derek Lively. And we've since seen
Lively become already an indispensable part ofthis team who is missed hugely when he's
not out there. Dallas then hasa Christmas Eve flight to Phoeni after tonight's
game. Gotta get ready, gotto get in place for the Christmas Day
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matchup with the Suns. Should mentiontoo, the Sons are struggling big time.
The Suns are fourteen and fourteen now, and Bradley Beal sustained his own
bad luck ankle twists. He hadjust come back from a long standing back
problem. It was Beal was onlyin the second game in which we've actually
(06:29):
gotten gotten a look at the DevinBooker, Kevin Durant Bradley Beal super team
trio were almost thirty games into theseason. Now we've only seen these guys
play together for a game and ahalf, and we will not see it
on Christmas Day either. As BradleyBeal tries to recover now from an ankle
injury. Sons also look like theycould really use a point guard. This
(06:54):
plan of trying to play with eitherDevin Booker or Bradley Beal as the initiator,
I mean you start to hear somegrumbling my podcast pal Chris Haynes as
a story out today Eric Gordon sayinghe wants more touches. Kevin Durant talked
about it a little bit earlier thisweek, about the offensive flow issue that
the Suns are having. So that'ssomething to keep an eye on. As
far as tonight I can pass alongto you, I've been told that Luka
(07:18):
Doncic is on course to return.He didn't play last night in Houston with
what the team termed a quad injury. Doncic is averaging forty minutes a game
this month, so you have tothink that even one night off it's been
a you know, with that kindof monster load that he has to carry
(07:40):
offensively without Kyrie irving there beside him, even one night off has to help
hugely. And you know, Doncicwants to be ultra fresh, as fresh
as possible, not only for ashowdown with Victor wemin Yama, which is
a game that beyond Texas, beyondDallas, beyond San Antonio. He's going
(08:05):
to have great interests worldwide with twointernational stars, but also Luca wants to
be ultra ready for his Christmas Dayreunion with Devin Booker. He's also closing
in on a very nice little milestone. Luca is at nine thousand, nine
(08:28):
hundred and fifty career points. Fiftymore gets them to ten thousand, and
sources say I may or may nothave a fun little video piece cooked up
for Bally's Sports Southwest once Luca officiallydoes cross the ten thousand point threshold,
(08:50):
likely to happen in Phoenix on Christmas. But let's be honest, who would
be shocked? Who would be stunnedif Luca didn't deliver a fifty ball tonight
against the Spurs at home against Wembyto get to ten k this evening.
I wouldn't completely rule it out.Something else we have to track this week
(09:13):
mark Cuban sale of a majority stakein the Dallas Mavericks, which remains stunning
to say every time I have toutter the words that should be official this
coming week. The process for thesale to be ratified at league level,
it began Wednesday. A league committeethat deals with ownership transfers convened from there
(09:41):
a unspecified The league doesn't tell usexactly how long the window is, but
a window opened for the other twentynine teams to vote on this. They
are not required to immediately cast thevotes, but it's The expectation is that
that vote total will be settled andrevealed this coming week before the end of
(10:03):
twenty twenty three, and the salerequires approval from twenty two of the league's
other twenty nine teams. And areally interesting aspect of this whole thing,
I reported this on my substack afew days ago. League sources tell me
that Mark Cuban will retain a twentyseven percent stake in the team, and
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that's more, just to name oneexample, that is more than Joe Lacob's
share of the Warriors, and JoeLacob gets to operate as the owner with
the controlling interest of the Golden StateWarriors the Las Vegas SANS Corp. With
President and COO Patrick Dumont. Heis poised to take over as Mavericks governor
(10:54):
when that vote goes through. SANSCorp would own seventy three percent of the
franchise because they are buying out allof Mark Cuban's previous minority ownership partners,
and then Cuban would suddenly shift toalternate governor just days shy of his twenty
(11:18):
fourth anniversary of buying the team.Even with my declining and fading memory that
just lets me down way more thanI wish it would, which pains me
because my memory used to be good, used to be a strength. Superpower
is probably stretching it, but usedto be a strength frustrates me. But
even with my even with my memoryissues, don't think I'll ever forget the
(11:48):
date January fourth, two thousand,I was the Mavericks s beeat writer for
the Dallas Morry News. Cuban strikesa deal to buy the Mavericks from ross
Pero Junior for two hundred year wellshy of what we think is the estimates
I've been hearing is the franchise willbe sold in the four billion with a
(12:09):
B range when this thing gets done. And like I said, it still
sounds crazy to say any of thesewords. I'm still processing it, still
getting used to it. All right. I think that gets up. I
think that gets us up to speedon all matters Mavericks that have been happening
this week, stuff that's looming inthe immediate future. I actually spent the
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whole week away from the team.I was at the G League Showcase in
Orlando. Just got back from thatyesterday, and the G League Showcase the
way it's evolved, it really hasbecome the NBA's answer to Baseball's Winter Meetings.
Now, you can't really make thatclaim in terms of deal volume.
Teams aren't going there to sign freeagents and make trades. But while watching
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the whole G League. The wholeG League comes to this event and each
team plays at least two games.While watching all these games and scouting three
hundred plus players, there's front officeexecutives from every team their meeting, the
trade talks get a little bit moreserious. Its scouts, it's agents,
it's media intruders like myself who arestalking all these front office guys and agents
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and trying to get intel. Becausethe February eighth trade deadline, it is
now within view. And I wouldalso have to say and happily, so
this G League showcase was great forour humble little show. I was able
to get an interview with former MaverickTheo Pinson, who was at the showcase
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playing for the local Texas Legends.Theo trying to work his way back into
the league, but also still intown, still keeping a close eye on
the Mavericks. So we're going tovisit with Theo in the next segment and
get some of his views on whathe sees with the team now and also
just what it's like to be inthat environment playing with the whole league watching
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you. I also have an interview. We'll save this one for the last
segment. I've got a chat withMack McClung, the former Texas tech Star,
but better known, of course forstunningly emerging as the NBA's Slam Dunk
(14:28):
champion last February. As a Gleaguer, he was the G League's Player
of the Month for November with theOsiola Magic that's Orlando's affiliate, And one
of the things we talk about withMac McClung. He's been invited, He's
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been invited to defend his slam dunkcrown in Indianapolis in February, but he
tells me he's still deliberating, stillthinking about it. He has not gone,
he has not formally taken the stepof accepting that invitation. And one
last thing I'm gonna say about theshowcase. You know, it's not open
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to the public, so the dresscode there is much more casual than an
NBA game. I'm old school.I still wear a suit or at minimum
a blazer to every NBA game Icover. That's what's required in my own
personal NBA Operations manual. But Iam a huge hat guy. I have
been obsessed with ball caps of alltypes since I was I don't know six
(15:37):
or seven. And let me tellyou something, I wore my ninety seven
to one the free Cat to thegym three days in a row. Orlando
did not anticipate what an absolute conversationpiece it is. I mean, you
would not believe how many different anydifferent front office executives from various teams around
(16:03):
the league had questions about the hator made comments about the hat. Had
I known that, I would haveset up to have a photographer travel with
me to take pictures, because Iknow Ben Rogers especially he loves people seeing
freak gear and freak merch. I'mtold there's a website you can actually get
the hat, freakdfw dot com.I believe there's even a T shirt of
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this show, the Saturday Steinline,available for purchase on the site. I'm
a little too close to the subjectto try to judge the quality of the
shirt design, since it has thelogo of this show and my giant head
on it, but my free catI love it. Ninety seven won the
Freak. It's become This cap hasbecome a go to part of my wardrobe,
(16:52):
wearing it as we speak, asI'm doing this show with Rinaldo carrying
me from behind the glass. Allright, Lots more of the Saturday steinline
to come. As mentioned, We'vegot a chat with Theo Pinson, a
chat later with Mac McClung. Lotsmore hoop talk on the way here on
ninety seven to one The Freak.It's the Saturday Steynline with Mark Stein,
(17:15):
presented by Panini Trading Cards and Collectibleson your official home to Dallas Mavericks Games
nine A Freak. The Saturday Steinlinedribbles on, presented as always by my
friends at Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles. One quick note, there was a
pre recorded update during the break rulingLuka Doncic out tonight. That again was
(17:37):
pre recorded and I think outdated information. As I reported both on Twitter before
the show and in the first segment, all of my information says that Luca
is indeed on course to return tothe lineup tonight against San Antonio. I've
heard optimism as well that Dante exemwill be back, So that is actually
(18:00):
the latest there. Had a reallygood week at the G League showcase in
Orlando. It was my return toCentral Florida for the first time since being
in the Walt Disney World Bubble inthe summer of twenty twenty. And it's
funny whenever you run into someone whowas in the bubble with the team,
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with the league, media member,whatever it is. Whenever you run into
someone who spent time in the bubble, reflexively, instantly they can tell you
how many days they spent there.For me, I'm always referencing fifty four
days. I ran into a leagueofficial and once we started reminiscing, immediately
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the answer was one hundred and onedays. My podcast partner, Chris Haynes,
we do it twice a week.iHeart produce podcast called This League Uncut.
When I asked Chris, I don'teven have to ask Chris. He
hears me talking about the days andhe will immediately blurt out one hundred and
seven days. So lots of thingswere rumbling in my head, lots of
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reminiscing on the flight over when Iwas working the event. You know,
that was just such a unique experienceto be on an NBA planet with twenty
two teams. The outside world islocked out, we were still in the
early throes of a pandemic. Youcouldn't leave the premises, a lot of
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rules, a lot of games practicesgoing on all over the place. Just
we'll never forget it. Something I'mdefinitely glad that is on my resume and
can't be taken away. I'm notsure I would want to do it again.
Actually, I'm quite sure I wouldn'twant to do it again. But
it was a historic, hopefully oncein a lifetime situation for the league,
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and again something that I can't helpbut be nostalgic about. I've always loved
covering Showcase because it attracts front officeexecutives from every team in the league,
again not open to the public likeSummer League. Is that really enhances the
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ability of a muckraker like me tolurk and stalk and try to get FaceTime
with all kinds of power brokers fromall over the NBA map. And I
also appreciate the g League. Showcasehas taken me to some places I'm pretty
sure I never would have visited otherwise. I mean, I've covered the showcase
in Boise, Idaho, or inUtah, South Padre Island, Texas,
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Reno, Nevada, Santa Cruz,California, and Mississauga, Ontario. And
I love the latter because Mississauga youcan stay in Toronto. It's close enough.
And I'm sure some of you haveheard me, and some of you
are probably sick of me saying howmuch I love to be in Toronto.
One of my favorite stops on theNBA map, and of course the last
few years it was in Las Vegas. And I never tried to hide the
(21:11):
fact that I am there not reallyto watch the basketball. I am there
to gather intel before the trade deadline. But you can't lose sight of the
fact that there are thirty one teamsin the same place playing games from noon
well into the night, between threehundred and four hundred players watched closely by
every front office in the league.This is a fascinating environment to me for
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players to be thrust into because thereare again, there are no fans.
It's just the business of basketball machineand again, executives, agents, players
from other teams, media intruders,the various broadcasters on the scene. But
that's it. It is very atypicalin terms of a setting an environment for
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mostly younger players at such an importantstate age of their career trying to get
noticed. And that's one of thetopics I touched on in this visit with
our next guest, Theo Pinson.He's playing with the Texas Legends in the
G League this season, trying toplay his way back into the NBA.
Spent the last two seasons with theMavericks. He's also had stints in Brooklyn
(22:17):
with the Nets, in New Yorkwith the Knicks, and so I wanted
to talk to Theo about Luca,about Kyrie, about Theo Pinson amassing twenty
three points, thirteen rebounds, andtwelve assists in the final regular season game
last season against the same San AntonioSpurs that the Mavericks will host tonight.
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Also got to talk to Theo abouthis blossoming career as a podcaster. But
first I asked him to kind ofget into that pressure. What does it
feel like, that pressure to impressand deliver on this one of a kind
stage like we see every December inthe showcase. So when you come to
the G League Showcase, you seethe whole league is here. It's hundreds
(23:03):
of guys that are scrapping trying toget back to the NBA. You've been
in the NBA with multiple teams,and now you're trying to get backtball.
What is it like to play gamesin that environment. It's tough. It's
tough. It's a tough situation,but at the same time, you got
to embrace it. I think it'sa different type of basketball because you just
coming here and you got to understandplaying the right way is what's going to
(23:26):
get you too back to the NBA. I think a lot of guys come
and to think I need to score. I need a score, and everybody
wants to play. Well, ofcourse you need to put a ball in
the basket, but they're looking forguys who know how to play the game,
who can play the right way andknows how to cut forty five,
cut when it's supposed to stay inthe corner, hit corner shots and stuff
like that. So it's a uniquedynamic. I come to this event every
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year and I think what people don'tunderstand. There's no fans in here,
and that has to be really hardas a player with no noise, Like,
how do you create energy. Whenyou're on the court and there's no
energy in the stands, you reallyjust got to feed off each other.
You gotta feed off your teammates,You got to feed off just understanding.
You try to prestrate your team,Like, listen, we got to do
(24:11):
this together. If everybody, likemy biggest message has always been, if
we play well and play together asa team and we win, we're all
gonna benefit from this thing. Noteveryone's not gonna go to the NBA,
but in some sort of fashion someone'swe're gonna get paid and we're gonna play
at a high level in a goodleague or in the NBA. So I
think that's what everybody's trying to do. I mean, obviously, you were
(24:33):
with the MAVs the last couple ofseasons, so I think we could still
classify you as a Mavericks expert.In Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Luca's
turning a lot of heads. Tellme, when you watch the MAVs now
and you see Luca playing this season, what do you see and how do
you analyze this game? Just seeinga guy who's comfortable Gids getting more comfortable
playing with Kay getting more comfortable withhis teammates. I mean, had a
(24:56):
lot of close losses last year,and those those losses in the wins now
and they're doing a really good jobof just finishing games. They're starting to
figure it out that getting a rhythm. Kyrie's injury was unfortunate, but they
have something. I think Kyrie wasone of the best superstars for Luca because
he's so good off the ball,and having Kyrie Irvin on the second side
(25:18):
of a play is dangerous and luxuryto have. And that's the thing.
You obviously played with Kyrie in Brooklynand in Dallas, and he's mentioned more
than once about the comfort level hefeels in Dallas. Why do you think
getting traded to the Mavericks and playingin this organization, why has it been
so comfortable for him? Just treathim like a human. I mean,
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he's just they talked to him,not just about basketball, about life,
how his family's doing, and they'vebrought him in with open arms, letting
him be yourself and just just alllove. Really, it's just been all
love, and I think he justenjoyed the people around with Nico and Finn
and Jay Kid, I mean,Sham all those type of guys and k
(26:04):
T last year like it just itfelt like home to him, and I
think you could just tell the happinesshim playing with it. He's playing free
and playing happy, and that's allhe can really ask for. Theo Pinson
from the Texas Legends joining us hereon ninety seven won the Freak on the
Saturday Steinline presented by Panini Trading Cardsand Collectibles. Last season, How hard
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was it? Obviously we know thatwhen LUKEA and Kyrie were both in uniform
the record was only five and eleven. Why do you think it was so
hard last season? Trying to figureout Lake game execution? I think that
was the biggest thing. A lotof these games come down to the last
five minutes, and personally, Ithink one was trying not to step on
the other's toes because they know howtalented they broth are. They trust each
(26:48):
other so much because they've seen himdo it at a high level, and
it's like, okay, you go, no, you can go. You
got it, like it's one ofthose dynamics and now they're just figuring it
out. Let's just use each otheras far as Okay, let's just get
the best shot between us two.Let's run a pick and roll with me
and you and to see who they'regonna let take the shot, and then
you trust each other. The lasttime you were on an NBA court,
(27:11):
you had a triple double. Howmuch do you think about that? How
often does that come up? It'sa great feeling, it really is.
I mean, I never got atriple double in college, and I've been
so close so many times, andI got it in the NBA and it
was just like, of course,you know what I'm saying. So it
was a great feeling just to doit at that level. I can't think
(27:33):
of anything better. I mean,just doing everything on the court. And
that's just the way I play.And you've become quite the podcaster while you're
still playing. Recently you had nasreed Donovan Mitchell to run your race podcast.
Talk to me about why you podcast, what you like about it,
whire you know, how did youhow did you end up in that lane?
Shout out some own capers. She'sbeen telling me to do it for
(27:55):
the longest, so I finally didit. Beginning the last year. It's
just been so just giving a differentplatform, Like I think a lot of
guys gravitate towards mind my podcast alittle bit because I'm not asking you all
the drama field questions. Yeah likeme, yeah, like, I mean,
that's just that's your job. ButI'm just coming. My biggest thing
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is to show people there are differentraces that you can run to get to
where you want to get to,and you don't have to do exactly what
this other person does. They dowhat they need to do, uh,
and just stay the course, andthey got to where they want to be
in the NBA, and you canthey can do the same thing, and
so you want to keep doing it. Is this something you see yourself doing
even after you're done? Plan Listen, they paying me now, so probably
(28:38):
Yeah? All right man, Wellgood luck to you. I know you
want to get back to the NBAtoo. I know that this is a
big, big week, So Iappreciate you spending time with us, and
good luck to you. Thank you. I appreciate There he goes Theo Pinson
and yeah, off Air, Ireally need to get with him and just
get some uh some tips on bookingguests because he and he gets an array
(29:00):
of big names. Would love touh, would love to convince Donovan Mitchell
to come on the show, givenhow his name is in the news.
But actually, you know what,Donovan Mitchell should be in town this coming
week with the Cavaliers. So hopefullyI'll be able to visit with Donovan myself
a little bit. Who knows,who knows If I can talk him into
a few minutes of guesting on theshow, We'll see. I'll try,
(29:25):
all right. As I said,we have another interview to come with Mac
McClung, the reigning Slam dunk championin the NBA. And remember I should
have said this in the first segment. You can always get me on the
steinline text line two one four seven, eight seven one nine seven to one
or two to one four. No, I already said two one four or
(29:47):
eight one seven, seven, eightseven one nine seven one again two one
four, seven, eight seven onenine seven one or eight one seven,
seven, eight seven one nine sevenone. And please, if you don't
want to give me your fo name, throw me your first name and initial.
What city you're texting me from.Someone here is texted asking me.
Has Detroit broken the record yet forconsecutive losses? No, the Pistons are
(30:11):
at twenty five. The record istwenty six The Pistons are in Brooklyn tonight.
They are home against the Nets onTuesday. They got to win one
of those two games to keep themselvesout of their record books as the sole
holder of the single season longest losingstreak. But if they lose tonight,
they match the twenty ten eleven Calvesand the twenty thirteen to fourteen process Sixers.
(30:34):
The Pistons will tie the record ifthey lose in Brooklyn tonight. Mac
McClung, the reigning NBA Slam DunkChampion. He joins me next here on
ninety seven won the Freak. Thisis Durt Lwitzky and you're listening to the
Saturday Steinline with my guys. Steinyon ninety seven won the Freak. Thanks
(30:56):
to everyone for sticking with us hereon the Saturday Steinline, presented as always
by my pals at Panini Trading Cardsand Collectibles. Hope everyone is having a
great holiday season. This is atopic I don't think we've discussed before on
the show, but have to discussit now. I absolutely love the Dunk
(31:25):
Contest, still love it after allof the travails and all of its struggles
in the modern day which all goesback to my high school days. I'm
only five nine on a good day, I have never dunked a ball myself,
but I have to say, amongmy circle of high school friends,
(31:45):
there was really no day more significanton the school year calendar than All Star
Saturday in February. Saturday Night inFebruary nineteen eighty four, nineteen eighty five,
eighty, nineteen eighty seven, Massive, our world's all stopped for All
(32:06):
Stars Saturday Night, Huge, gettogether with my pals. Nothing could get
in the way of it, typicallypreceded by some sort of game in the
daylight hours on lower rims that wecould we all could dunk on. And
so it pains me whenever the modernduncan contest is bad. It truly hurts
(32:31):
when the field is weak, orwe get miss dunk after miss dunk after
miss dunk, and social media eruptsinto just another round of the dunk contest.
Is dead put this thing away,cancel the contest. So I have
to say it was really fun andinspiring last February to watch Mac McClung,
(32:53):
a high flyer out of the GLeague stan only A only listed at six
to two two to do what hedid. And I think before we go
to the interview with Mac, Ithink we have do we have an array
(33:15):
of his highlight clips? Ready?We might? I might not have.
That's my fault. I didn't getthat ready, I have the dunk contest.
It's like just a thirty second summaryof what he did. Yeah,
let's let let's take a quick listento to how that sounded. How the
Mac McClung dunk Fest sounded last February. I'm worried about the guy who was
(33:35):
another guy somebo everyone's standing, includingus. He was so kidding. Ela.
There comes mcclungs Eddy putting on ahandle now and that clip you can
(34:05):
only hear the sound. Obviously thatworks better on TV when you can actually
see the dunks. But you couldhear the TNT creuz absolute giddiness at the
throwdowns. And what made the array? What made that array of four dunks
so great? Besides the fact,besides the fact that McClung is only listed
(34:28):
six to two, it's he didthem all on the first try. A
sensational show in Salt Lake City,and to no one surprise, McClung has
been invited by the NBA to returnto the Dunk Contest stage this February in
Indianapolis. Even though McClung as wespeak, he is not on an NBA
roster. He's in the G Leaguelighting it up for the Ocela Magic.
(34:52):
Now, to my legit surprise,when I had the chance to sit down
with McClung, we did this onThursday afternoon. He told he's still thinking
about whether to accept. His focusis clearly to get himself back to the
NBA, getting to the NBA andmaking it stick. We talked about that
too. We talked about fame,and my dear friend Howard Beck described it
(35:15):
well on this April piece he wrotefor GQ quote from McClung, The line
separating fantasy and reality began to erodeon February eighteenth, the night he shocked
the world and seized the dunk titleat All Star Weekend in Salt Lake City.
His feet placed the anonymous minor leaguecooper with a six foot two frame,
(35:36):
on a hallowed list, on ahallowed roster with luminaries like Vince Carter,
Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, andDominique Wilkins. We're going to dive
into all that now my visit withthe Texas Tech alum. Don't forget that
Texas Tech guy. Here's that chatwith Mac mcclunk. So we know that
(35:58):
you've been extended in an invitation togo to All Star Weekend for the Dunk
Contest. Are we safe to assumethat you are accepting that invitation and that
you're you're gonna be back to defendyour title. I'm totally flattered. I'm
still definitely considering it and thinking aboutit. Just still thinking about it at
the moment, though, But I'msuper appreciative and excited and we'll see,
(36:20):
We'll see where it goes. What'sthe kind of pros and cons of it?
From where you're sitting, I thinkjust where my body's at, you
know, playing the game and see. I think that's the only thing I'm
really evaluating. I think, youknow, people, everybody has a different
opinion. But I love just doingwhat I enjoy doing. I enjoy dunking,
I enjoy the atmosphere, and tobe a part of it it would
be really cool. The show youput on was one of the most impressive
(36:44):
Dunk Contest displays we've ever seen.How did it change your life? Just
doing something on that big of astage, and I have to imagine that
it wasn't the same the day afterthat. Yeah, it's funny. I
mean just nothing, nothing was reallythe same for that day. And I
kind of see it like as thetime goes by, different each day something
(37:05):
new surprises me, or you know, you almost forget it happened, and
then you know when somebody comes upto you, or you know, just
dealing with a whole bunch of stuffI never thought i'd have to deal with,
but most all great things, andI'm super happy and and just that
was an incredible moment. I'm supersuper happy it happened. I mean,
this week's not about that. Let'sfocus on what's going on here this week
because the whole NBA is here andobviously you are auditioning for you know,
(37:30):
thirty front offices are watching. What'sthat like as a player to know that
doesn't happen every day like this,that you got so many eyes on whatever
you're doing on the court. Yeah, I mean, it's great for the
tier league to host this. AndI think for me, the way I
look at it is like I knowwho I am every day. I'm a
certain person every day. That's whyI try to tell my teammates, the
younger guys that don't know, I'mlike, it's my third showcase. I
(37:51):
mean, just be who you areevery day and that'll be enough if you're
doing it the right way. SoI'm just trying to stay consistent and I
know who I am as a player, and you know, I think these
teams have seen me a lot throughoutthe years, but I'm just trying to
show I'm ready when the opportunity isthere, and I'm ready to make the
most of it. Mac McClung,the NBA's reigning Slam Dunk Champion, joining
us here on ninety seven, wonthe Freak on the Saturday Steinline presented by
(38:15):
Panini Training Cards and Collectibles. Asyou mentioned, this is the third time
you've been at this event. Youwere Player of the Month in the G
League in November, so the leagueis quite familiar with you at this point
when you kind of do your ownresearch, and I'm sure you're asking this
question, what do you think teamswant to see from you in these games?
(38:36):
Yeah? Really, I'm not toosure. I think that's why I'm
trying to show everything. Like yesterday, I tried to show how good of
a defender I was. I feltlike I was a great defender. You
Actually, I think throughout the years, I've showed I can space the four
with my shooting, I can playthe point guard, and had eight assists
my first year, like leading likeone of the leaders in assists, just
showing them like wherever you want toplug me in, I'm ready. And
you know, I know that's allin God's time and a lot of its
(38:58):
opportunity and situations happening and injuries,and it's really just opportunity and I'm just
trying to show I'm ready for itwhen it comes. And I love asking
anyone who participates in this this questionbecause I don't think the general public realizes
there's no fans here. It's frontoffice executives, it's agents, it's media
pests like me. But like thereis very little noise out there. Got
(39:19):
to kind of soak up the greatestenergy in the world in Salt Lake City
and obviously there's none of that here. So when you're playing a game in
that kind of quiet, like,how does that impact you? And where
do you how do you create energyfor yourself? Yeah, I think that
that's what's so good about our team. We all get along so well.
We created for each other, andour teammates are like, we have such
an entertaining team. I think youknow, our bench and whoever's on the
(39:40):
bench time is just like always thehype man to our team on the floor.
So we really just create our ownenergy and we play the game we
love like we have competitors. Soit's all about the game. Like obviously
there's scouts there. We know it'simportant to play well, but just being
there with an exciting team like that, we know we just want to win.
That's number one for us always.In the off season, what was
your main emphasis in terms of workingon your game? What did you really
(40:01):
try to improve to help you getwhere you want to go? Yeah,
I mean I got back into myregular offseason with paw metrics and lifting and
getting in shape. But also Istarted looking at angles, like you know,
how can I attack this guy fromthis angle? How can I play
defense from this angle? Like itwas a big year of measurements and angles
on like where I should turn mybody, Just like little things with PJAF
(40:22):
that I never would have thought ofbefore. Always try to add a new
thing to get better at, Like, how can I just take it a
little bit of it? How canI slow down a little bit so once
I get old, I know howto attack angles and people. But yeah,
no, I just try to picksomething new every off season, kind
of have fun with it. IfI've got my math right. I think
you've played in four NBA games tothis point. How do you approach that
and how do you look at thatas far as what it means for the
(40:45):
future. Yeah, no, it'sit's tough. You know, some of
my years, I've been the jiliguwho year I get one or two games,
and you know some of those gamesare you know, ninety seconds.
You know I've been in the game. But you know it was really helpful
for me. Last year I hada full game with the Philadelphi Senties.
A last game, I got alot of minutes and I had twenty nine
to nine. I was like,man, I know who I am.
I can I can really figure outthis game given the opportunity, and I
(41:07):
know what I'm capable of, AndI just want to help a team win
and be a part of an NBAteam. But I'm also enjoying my time
now and since we're a Dallas radiostation, I got to ask you about
your time at Texas Tech. Whatwas life like in Lubboock? Nothing but
love? I mean goodness, thatwas one of my favorite years of my
life. I just I enjoyed thatculture so much. I mean, I'm
(41:28):
from a long ways away, butlike I was saying, it felt like
home. I just felt so comfortablethere and like to the students, to
the people, like everything gets feltright. I'm kind of country from where
I'm from anyway, So I justI can't tell you how much I loved
that area and just love that year. He said it, you know,
playing on a two way in Phillylast game of the season last year,
(41:50):
Mac McClung had twenty points, ninerebounds, nine assists. He has a
lot of fans really hope he getsa chance to get back to the league.
He's averaging twenty five, six assists, four rebounds for his g LE
team, the Orlando Magic's G Leagueaffiliate, and has a lot of people
rooting for him, and I countmyself as one of them. All right,
(42:14):
everyone, I think that's going todo it. For this edition of
the Saturday Steinline presented by Panini.Thanks much to ninety seven to one The
Freaks, Glue Guy Groubs forgetting thoseinterviews all set up for me. Thank
you to Rinaldo for keeping me fromcrashing the ship this afternoon. He does
a lot more work than you guysrealize, because that's harder than it sounds.
(42:37):
Next week will be our year endshow. Hope to connect with MAVs
analysts supreme Istac Franco, who spotstrends and stats and developments involving the Mavericks
from faraway Slovenia really better than mostof us who try to do it from
close range. We'll have much moreinfo on the MAVs sale. Next week.
(42:57):
We'll be able to reflect on thefive day Christmas the five game Christmas
Day schedule. Of course, MAVsat Phoenix on Christmas Wednesday. They've got
a home game against Cleveland, solots going on tonight seven pm. Right
here on ninety seven to one TheFreak. It'll be the MAVs pregame Show
with Kevin Gray, Chuck Cooperstein andBrad Davis. They will have the call
(43:21):
for Victor web Minyama's first game inDallas against the Mavericks that's tonight at seven
point forty. Also got the ArmedForces Bowl on the station later this afternoon,
and right after me first, wegot a dose of vsin Live Bet
(43:42):
Radio. Everyone, Merry Christmas.Hopefully this is the continuation of a warm
and family and friends filled holiday seasonfor you. Greatly appreciate you listening.
This show is almost six months oldand it has been an absolute joy for
me to meet with you guys overthe radio every Saturday
Welcome to the Saturday Steinline with MarkStein, presented by Panini Trading Cards and
Collectibles on ninety seven to one TheFreak, the official homes all Dallas Nevericks
games, hosted by legendary NBA reporterand publisher of his substack, the Steinline.
Here's Mark Stein. Welcome in everyone, Happy Holidays, Welcome in to
(00:32):
another edition of the Saturday Steinline presentedby Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles. Second
to last show of this calendar year, just two days before the annual five
(00:52):
game NBA Bonanza on Chris Christmas Day. It's always been a standout day on
the regular season calendar for the NBA. Much more challenging now though past few
years the NFL they've got their ownChristmas Day doubleheader that does crazy ratings,
(01:15):
so much more competition for viewers.And if you're listening to this show,
I suspect you already know the battingorder for Christmas Day Monday for the NBA,
but just in case, we'll runthrough it. It starts with Bucks
(01:36):
at Nicks at fabled Madison Square Gardens, still my favorite place to watch a
game, even though I don't getthere too often. Proceeding to Warriors at
Nuggets Denver. The defending champs meansthey have the honor of hosting a game
in one of the marquee Christmas Dayslots on ABC. Then it's Celtics at
(02:00):
Lakers, the league's oldest rivalry renewedand crazy. The Lakers are suddenly in
an absolute funk. The Lakers areone in six since the n Season Tournament.
Of course, it was just Mondaythat they hung the in season tournament
banner to much derision, much discussion, much debate, a lot of people,
(02:23):
a lot of former Lakers not happywith that decision. I always thought
they were going to hang a bannerbecause Jenie Buss has a great relationship with
Adam Silver, and the inn SeasonTournament means so much to the league.
I knew the Lakers were going todo something to commemorate it, but they
are a mess lately. Sixers atHeat Next up. Hopefully it'll be a
(02:53):
Joe l Embiid reunion with his goodfriend Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler's had a
calf issue here this week, andso we'll see if Butler can get back
for the big Christmas Day game andthen in the nightcap, let's face it,
a game that needs no introduction.Two teams that are not fond of
each other, two teams that donot send each other Christmas cards. Mavericks
(03:17):
at Suns in the Desert. TheMavericks, of course, have been extremely
banged up lately. They're dealing witha long, long list of injury.
Tonight against San Antonio at home,it's going to be the ninth game and
counting that Kyrie Irving misses with aright heel contusion. Kyrie played in aid
(03:40):
of Dallas' first ten games, andthat's a ratio that the Mavericks would gladly
welcome for the season. Unfortunately,they have only seen him in nine of
the last eighteen games after that injuryhe sustained earlier this month's very unfortunate injury
when Pow landed on him, andthe MAVs have gone eight and ten in
(04:04):
those eighteen games, so that eightand two start a bit of a distant
memory. As we dribbled towards Christmaslast week of twenty twenty three, it
is a big one for the DallasMavericks on a lot of fronts, especially
if we can wedge tonight into ifwe can cheat a little bit and treat
(04:26):
that as part of the final weekbecause tonight, of course, first time
that Victor wembin Yama will play inDallas as a spur rematch of Opening night.
Disappointment, of course, that DerekLively is expected to miss his fourth
straight game with a left ankle sprainalso suffered in Portland, also via misfortune
(04:53):
under the basket, under the samebasket that Kyrie Irving took that hard hit
from Dwight Palace fall in Portland.The Mavericks are zero to five this season
when Lively does not play. AndI'm sure you haven't forgotten what we saw
on opening nights almost two months ago, exactly now, October twenty fifth.
(05:17):
Derek Lively that night, he reallywas the most effective nineteen year old seven
footer on the floor. With thewhole basketball world watching tuned in to see
Victor Webb Minyama's NBA debut, Iwas there, Lively with sensational that night.
The Mavericks didn't start him, remember, because they wanted to ease the
(05:40):
burden they've played. They were replacingon Derek Lively. And we've since seen
Lively become already an indispensable part ofthis team who is missed hugely when he's
not out there. Dallas then hasa Christmas Eve flight to Phoeni after tonight's
game. Gotta get ready, gotto get in place for the Christmas Day
(06:03):
matchup with the Suns. Should mentiontoo, the Sons are struggling big time.
The Suns are fourteen and fourteen now, and Bradley Beal sustained his own
bad luck ankle twists. He hadjust come back from a long standing back
problem. It was Beal was onlyin the second game in which we've actually
(06:29):
gotten gotten a look at the DevinBooker, Kevin Durant Bradley Beal super team
trio were almost thirty games into theseason. Now we've only seen these guys
play together for a game and ahalf, and we will not see it
on Christmas Day either. As BradleyBeal tries to recover now from an ankle
injury. Sons also look like theycould really use a point guard. This
(06:54):
plan of trying to play with eitherDevin Booker or Bradley Beal as the initiator,
I mean you start to hear somegrumbling my podcast pal Chris Haynes as
a story out today Eric Gordon sayinghe wants more touches. Kevin Durant talked
about it a little bit earlier thisweek, about the offensive flow issue that
the Suns are having. So that'ssomething to keep an eye on. As
far as tonight I can pass alongto you, I've been told that Luka
(07:18):
Doncic is on course to return.He didn't play last night in Houston with
what the team termed a quad injury. Doncic is averaging forty minutes a game
this month, so you have tothink that even one night off it's been
a you know, with that kindof monster load that he has to carry
(07:40):
offensively without Kyrie irving there beside him, even one night off has to help
hugely. And you know, Doncicwants to be ultra fresh, as fresh
as possible, not only for ashowdown with Victor wemin Yama, which is
a game that beyond Texas, beyondDallas, beyond San Antonio. He's going
(08:05):
to have great interests worldwide with twointernational stars, but also Luca wants to
be ultra ready for his Christmas Dayreunion with Devin Booker. He's also closing
in on a very nice little milestone. Luca is at nine thousand, nine
(08:28):
hundred and fifty career points. Fiftymore gets them to ten thousand, and
sources say I may or may nothave a fun little video piece cooked up
for Bally's Sports Southwest once Luca officiallydoes cross the ten thousand point threshold,
(08:50):
likely to happen in Phoenix on Christmas. But let's be honest, who would
be shocked? Who would be stunnedif Luca didn't deliver a fifty ball tonight
against the Spurs at home against Wembyto get to ten k this evening.
I wouldn't completely rule it out.Something else we have to track this week
(09:13):
mark Cuban sale of a majority stakein the Dallas Mavericks, which remains stunning
to say every time I have toutter the words that should be official this
coming week. The process for thesale to be ratified at league level,
it began Wednesday. A league committeethat deals with ownership transfers convened from there
(09:41):
a unspecified The league doesn't tell usexactly how long the window is, but
a window opened for the other twentynine teams to vote on this. They
are not required to immediately cast thevotes, but it's The expectation is that
that vote total will be settled andrevealed this coming week before the end of
(10:03):
twenty twenty three, and the salerequires approval from twenty two of the league's
other twenty nine teams. And areally interesting aspect of this whole thing,
I reported this on my substack afew days ago. League sources tell me
that Mark Cuban will retain a twentyseven percent stake in the team, and
(10:28):
that's more, just to name oneexample, that is more than Joe Lacob's
share of the Warriors, and JoeLacob gets to operate as the owner with
the controlling interest of the Golden StateWarriors the Las Vegas SANS Corp. With
President and COO Patrick Dumont. Heis poised to take over as Mavericks governor
(10:54):
when that vote goes through. SANSCorp would own seventy three percent of the
franchise because they are buying out allof Mark Cuban's previous minority ownership partners,
and then Cuban would suddenly shift toalternate governor just days shy of his twenty
(11:18):
fourth anniversary of buying the team.Even with my declining and fading memory that
just lets me down way more thanI wish it would, which pains me
because my memory used to be good, used to be a strength. Superpower
is probably stretching it, but usedto be a strength frustrates me. But
even with my even with my memoryissues, don't think I'll ever forget the
(11:48):
date January fourth, two thousand,I was the Mavericks s beeat writer for
the Dallas Morry News. Cuban strikesa deal to buy the Mavericks from ross
Pero Junior for two hundred year wellshy of what we think is the estimates
I've been hearing is the franchise willbe sold in the four billion with a
(12:09):
B range when this thing gets done. And like I said, it still
sounds crazy to say any of thesewords. I'm still processing it, still
getting used to it. All right. I think that gets up. I
think that gets us up to speedon all matters Mavericks that have been happening
this week, stuff that's looming inthe immediate future. I actually spent the
(12:33):
whole week away from the team.I was at the G League Showcase in
Orlando. Just got back from thatyesterday, and the G League Showcase the
way it's evolved, it really hasbecome the NBA's answer to Baseball's Winter Meetings.
Now, you can't really make thatclaim in terms of deal volume.
Teams aren't going there to sign freeagents and make trades. But while watching
(12:58):
the whole G League. The wholeG League comes to this event and each
team plays at least two games.While watching all these games and scouting three
hundred plus players, there's front officeexecutives from every team their meeting, the
trade talks get a little bit moreserious. Its scouts, it's agents,
it's media intruders like myself who arestalking all these front office guys and agents
(13:24):
and trying to get intel. Becausethe February eighth trade deadline, it is
now within view. And I wouldalso have to say and happily, so
this G League showcase was great forour humble little show. I was able
to get an interview with former MaverickTheo Pinson, who was at the showcase
(13:46):
playing for the local Texas Legends.Theo trying to work his way back into
the league, but also still intown, still keeping a close eye on
the Mavericks. So we're going tovisit with Theo in the next segment and
get some of his views on whathe sees with the team now and also
just what it's like to be inthat environment playing with the whole league watching
(14:07):
you. I also have an interview. We'll save this one for the last
segment. I've got a chat withMack McClung, the former Texas tech Star,
but better known, of course forstunningly emerging as the NBA's Slam Dunk
(14:28):
champion last February. As a Gleaguer, he was the G League's Player
of the Month for November with theOsiola Magic that's Orlando's affiliate, And one
of the things we talk about withMac McClung. He's been invited, He's
(14:50):
been invited to defend his slam dunkcrown in Indianapolis in February, but he
tells me he's still deliberating, stillthinking about it. He has not gone,
he has not formally taken the stepof accepting that invitation. And one
last thing I'm gonna say about theshowcase. You know, it's not open
(15:13):
to the public, so the dresscode there is much more casual than an
NBA game. I'm old school.I still wear a suit or at minimum
a blazer to every NBA game Icover. That's what's required in my own
personal NBA Operations manual. But Iam a huge hat guy. I have
been obsessed with ball caps of alltypes since I was I don't know six
(15:37):
or seven. And let me tellyou something, I wore my ninety seven
to one the free Cat to thegym three days in a row. Orlando
did not anticipate what an absolute conversationpiece it is. I mean, you
would not believe how many different anydifferent front office executives from various teams around
(16:03):
the league had questions about the hator made comments about the hat. Had
I known that, I would haveset up to have a photographer travel with
me to take pictures, because Iknow Ben Rogers especially he loves people seeing
freak gear and freak merch. I'mtold there's a website you can actually get
the hat, freakdfw dot com.I believe there's even a T shirt of
(16:29):
this show, the Saturday Steinline,available for purchase on the site. I'm
a little too close to the subjectto try to judge the quality of the
shirt design, since it has thelogo of this show and my giant head
on it, but my free catI love it. Ninety seven won the
Freak. It's become This cap hasbecome a go to part of my wardrobe,
(16:52):
wearing it as we speak, asI'm doing this show with Rinaldo carrying
me from behind the glass. Allright, Lots more of the Saturday steinline
to come. As mentioned, We'vegot a chat with Theo Pinson, a
chat later with Mac McClung. Lotsmore hoop talk on the way here on
ninety seven to one The Freak.It's the Saturday Steynline with Mark Stein,
(17:15):
presented by Panini Trading Cards and Collectibleson your official home to Dallas Mavericks Games
nine A Freak. The Saturday Steinlinedribbles on, presented as always by my
friends at Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles. One quick note, there was a
pre recorded update during the break rulingLuka Doncic out tonight. That again was
(17:37):
pre recorded and I think outdated information. As I reported both on Twitter before
the show and in the first segment, all of my information says that Luca
is indeed on course to return tothe lineup tonight against San Antonio. I've
heard optimism as well that Dante exemwill be back, So that is actually
(18:00):
the latest there. Had a reallygood week at the G League showcase in
Orlando. It was my return toCentral Florida for the first time since being
in the Walt Disney World Bubble inthe summer of twenty twenty. And it's
funny whenever you run into someone whowas in the bubble with the team,
(18:22):
with the league, media member,whatever it is. Whenever you run into
someone who spent time in the bubble, reflexively, instantly they can tell you
how many days they spent there.For me, I'm always referencing fifty four
days. I ran into a leagueofficial and once we started reminiscing, immediately
(18:52):
the answer was one hundred and onedays. My podcast partner, Chris Haynes,
we do it twice a week.iHeart produce podcast called This League Uncut.
When I asked Chris, I don'teven have to ask Chris. He
hears me talking about the days andhe will immediately blurt out one hundred and
seven days. So lots of thingswere rumbling in my head, lots of
(19:15):
reminiscing on the flight over when Iwas working the event. You know,
that was just such a unique experienceto be on an NBA planet with twenty
two teams. The outside world islocked out, we were still in the
early throes of a pandemic. Youcouldn't leave the premises, a lot of
(19:36):
rules, a lot of games practicesgoing on all over the place. Just
we'll never forget it. Something I'mdefinitely glad that is on my resume and
can't be taken away. I'm notsure I would want to do it again.
Actually, I'm quite sure I wouldn'twant to do it again. But
it was a historic, hopefully oncein a lifetime situation for the league,
(20:00):
and again something that I can't helpbut be nostalgic about. I've always loved
covering Showcase because it attracts front officeexecutives from every team in the league,
again not open to the public likeSummer League. Is that really enhances the
(20:21):
ability of a muckraker like me tolurk and stalk and try to get FaceTime
with all kinds of power brokers fromall over the NBA map. And I
also appreciate the g League. Showcasehas taken me to some places I'm pretty
sure I never would have visited otherwise. I mean, I've covered the showcase
in Boise, Idaho, or inUtah, South Padre Island, Texas,
(20:45):
Reno, Nevada, Santa Cruz,California, and Mississauga, Ontario. And
I love the latter because Mississauga youcan stay in Toronto. It's close enough.
And I'm sure some of you haveheard me, and some of you
are probably sick of me saying howmuch I love to be in Toronto.
One of my favorite stops on theNBA map, and of course the last
few years it was in Las Vegas. And I never tried to hide the
(21:11):
fact that I am there not reallyto watch the basketball. I am there
to gather intel before the trade deadline. But you can't lose sight of the
fact that there are thirty one teamsin the same place playing games from noon
well into the night, between threehundred and four hundred players watched closely by
every front office in the league.This is a fascinating environment to me for
(21:34):
players to be thrust into because thereare again, there are no fans.
It's just the business of basketball machineand again, executives, agents, players
from other teams, media intruders,the various broadcasters on the scene. But
that's it. It is very atypicalin terms of a setting an environment for
(21:56):
mostly younger players at such an importantstate age of their career trying to get
noticed. And that's one of thetopics I touched on in this visit with
our next guest, Theo Pinson.He's playing with the Texas Legends in the
G League this season, trying toplay his way back into the NBA.
Spent the last two seasons with theMavericks. He's also had stints in Brooklyn
(22:17):
with the Nets, in New Yorkwith the Knicks, and so I wanted
to talk to Theo about Luca,about Kyrie, about Theo Pinson amassing twenty
three points, thirteen rebounds, andtwelve assists in the final regular season game
last season against the same San AntonioSpurs that the Mavericks will host tonight.
(22:40):
Also got to talk to Theo abouthis blossoming career as a podcaster. But
first I asked him to kind ofget into that pressure. What does it
feel like, that pressure to impressand deliver on this one of a kind
stage like we see every December inthe showcase. So when you come to
the G League Showcase, you seethe whole league is here. It's hundreds
(23:03):
of guys that are scrapping trying toget back to the NBA. You've been
in the NBA with multiple teams,and now you're trying to get backtball.
What is it like to play gamesin that environment. It's tough. It's
tough. It's a tough situation,but at the same time, you got
to embrace it. I think it'sa different type of basketball because you just
coming here and you got to understandplaying the right way is what's going to
(23:26):
get you too back to the NBA. I think a lot of guys come
and to think I need to score. I need a score, and everybody
wants to play. Well, ofcourse you need to put a ball in
the basket, but they're looking forguys who know how to play the game,
who can play the right way andknows how to cut forty five,
cut when it's supposed to stay inthe corner, hit corner shots and stuff
like that. So it's a uniquedynamic. I come to this event every
(23:49):
year and I think what people don'tunderstand. There's no fans in here,
and that has to be really hardas a player with no noise, Like,
how do you create energy. Whenyou're on the court and there's no
energy in the stands, you reallyjust got to feed off each other.
You gotta feed off your teammates,You got to feed off just understanding.
You try to prestrate your team,Like, listen, we got to do
(24:11):
this together. If everybody, likemy biggest message has always been, if
we play well and play together asa team and we win, we're all
gonna benefit from this thing. Noteveryone's not gonna go to the NBA,
but in some sort of fashion someone'swe're gonna get paid and we're gonna play
at a high level in a goodleague or in the NBA. So I
think that's what everybody's trying to do. I mean, obviously, you were
(24:33):
with the MAVs the last couple ofseasons, so I think we could still
classify you as a Mavericks expert.In Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Luca's
turning a lot of heads. Tellme, when you watch the MAVs now
and you see Luca playing this season, what do you see and how do
you analyze this game? Just seeinga guy who's comfortable Gids getting more comfortable
playing with Kay getting more comfortable withhis teammates. I mean, had a
(24:56):
lot of close losses last year,and those those losses in the wins now
and they're doing a really good jobof just finishing games. They're starting to
figure it out that getting a rhythm. Kyrie's injury was unfortunate, but they
have something. I think Kyrie wasone of the best superstars for Luca because
he's so good off the ball,and having Kyrie Irvin on the second side
(25:18):
of a play is dangerous and luxuryto have. And that's the thing.
You obviously played with Kyrie in Brooklynand in Dallas, and he's mentioned more
than once about the comfort level hefeels in Dallas. Why do you think
getting traded to the Mavericks and playingin this organization, why has it been
so comfortable for him? Just treathim like a human. I mean,
(25:42):
he's just they talked to him,not just about basketball, about life,
how his family's doing, and they'vebrought him in with open arms, letting
him be yourself and just just alllove. Really, it's just been all
love, and I think he justenjoyed the people around with Nico and Finn
and Jay Kid, I mean,Sham all those type of guys and k
(26:04):
T last year like it just itfelt like home to him, and I
think you could just tell the happinesshim playing with it. He's playing free
and playing happy, and that's allhe can really ask for. Theo Pinson
from the Texas Legends joining us hereon ninety seven won the Freak on the
Saturday Steinline presented by Panini Trading Cardsand Collectibles. Last season, How hard
(26:26):
was it? Obviously we know thatwhen LUKEA and Kyrie were both in uniform
the record was only five and eleven. Why do you think it was so
hard last season? Trying to figureout Lake game execution? I think that
was the biggest thing. A lotof these games come down to the last
five minutes, and personally, Ithink one was trying not to step on
the other's toes because they know howtalented they broth are. They trust each
(26:48):
other so much because they've seen himdo it at a high level, and
it's like, okay, you go, no, you can go. You
got it, like it's one ofthose dynamics and now they're just figuring it
out. Let's just use each otheras far as Okay, let's just get
the best shot between us two.Let's run a pick and roll with me
and you and to see who they'regonna let take the shot, and then
you trust each other. The lasttime you were on an NBA court,
(27:11):
you had a triple double. Howmuch do you think about that? How
often does that come up? It'sa great feeling, it really is.
I mean, I never got atriple double in college, and I've been
so close so many times, andI got it in the NBA and it
was just like, of course,you know what I'm saying. So it
was a great feeling just to doit at that level. I can't think
(27:33):
of anything better. I mean,just doing everything on the court. And
that's just the way I play.And you've become quite the podcaster while you're
still playing. Recently you had nasreed Donovan Mitchell to run your race podcast.
Talk to me about why you podcast, what you like about it,
whire you know, how did youhow did you end up in that lane?
Shout out some own capers. She'sbeen telling me to do it for
(27:55):
the longest, so I finally didit. Beginning the last year. It's
just been so just giving a differentplatform, Like I think a lot of
guys gravitate towards mind my podcast alittle bit because I'm not asking you all
the drama field questions. Yeah likeme, yeah, like, I mean,
that's just that's your job. ButI'm just coming. My biggest thing
(28:15):
is to show people there are differentraces that you can run to get to
where you want to get to,and you don't have to do exactly what
this other person does. They dowhat they need to do, uh,
and just stay the course, andthey got to where they want to be
in the NBA, and you canthey can do the same thing, and
so you want to keep doing it. Is this something you see yourself doing
even after you're done? Plan Listen, they paying me now, so probably
(28:38):
Yeah? All right man, Wellgood luck to you. I know you
want to get back to the NBAtoo. I know that this is a
big, big week, So Iappreciate you spending time with us, and
good luck to you. Thank you. I appreciate There he goes Theo Pinson
and yeah, off Air, Ireally need to get with him and just
get some uh some tips on bookingguests because he and he gets an array
(29:00):
of big names. Would love touh, would love to convince Donovan Mitchell
to come on the show, givenhow his name is in the news.
But actually, you know what,Donovan Mitchell should be in town this coming
week with the Cavaliers. So hopefullyI'll be able to visit with Donovan myself
a little bit. Who knows,who knows If I can talk him into
a few minutes of guesting on theshow, We'll see. I'll try,
(29:25):
all right. As I said,we have another interview to come with Mac
McClung, the reigning Slam dunk championin the NBA. And remember I should
have said this in the first segment. You can always get me on the
steinline text line two one four seven, eight seven one nine seven to one
or two to one four. No, I already said two one four or
(29:47):
eight one seven, seven, eightseven one nine seven one again two one
four, seven, eight seven onenine seven one or eight one seven,
seven, eight seven one nine sevenone. And please, if you don't
want to give me your fo name, throw me your first name and initial.
What city you're texting me from.Someone here is texted asking me.
Has Detroit broken the record yet forconsecutive losses? No, the Pistons are
(30:11):
at twenty five. The record istwenty six The Pistons are in Brooklyn tonight.
They are home against the Nets onTuesday. They got to win one
of those two games to keep themselvesout of their record books as the sole
holder of the single season longest losingstreak. But if they lose tonight,
they match the twenty ten eleven Calvesand the twenty thirteen to fourteen process Sixers.
(30:34):
The Pistons will tie the record ifthey lose in Brooklyn tonight. Mac
McClung, the reigning NBA Slam DunkChampion. He joins me next here on
ninety seven won the Freak. Thisis Durt Lwitzky and you're listening to the
Saturday Steinline with my guys. Steinyon ninety seven won the Freak. Thanks
(30:56):
to everyone for sticking with us hereon the Saturday Steinline, presented as always
by my pals at Panini Trading Cardsand Collectibles. Hope everyone is having a
great holiday season. This is atopic I don't think we've discussed before on
the show, but have to discussit now. I absolutely love the Dunk
(31:25):
Contest, still love it after allof the travails and all of its struggles
in the modern day which all goesback to my high school days. I'm
only five nine on a good day, I have never dunked a ball myself,
but I have to say, amongmy circle of high school friends,
(31:45):
there was really no day more significanton the school year calendar than All Star
Saturday in February. Saturday Night inFebruary nineteen eighty four, nineteen eighty five,
eighty, nineteen eighty seven, Massive, our world's all stopped for All
(32:06):
Stars Saturday Night, Huge, gettogether with my pals. Nothing could get
in the way of it, typicallypreceded by some sort of game in the
daylight hours on lower rims that wecould we all could dunk on. And
so it pains me whenever the modernduncan contest is bad. It truly hurts
(32:31):
when the field is weak, orwe get miss dunk after miss dunk after
miss dunk, and social media eruptsinto just another round of the dunk contest.
Is dead put this thing away,cancel the contest. So I have
to say it was really fun andinspiring last February to watch Mac McClung,
(32:53):
a high flyer out of the GLeague stan only A only listed at six
to two two to do what hedid. And I think before we go
to the interview with Mac, Ithink we have do we have an array
(33:15):
of his highlight clips? Ready?We might? I might not have.
That's my fault. I didn't getthat ready, I have the dunk contest.
It's like just a thirty second summaryof what he did. Yeah,
let's let let's take a quick listento to how that sounded. How the
Mac McClung dunk Fest sounded last February. I'm worried about the guy who was
(33:35):
another guy somebo everyone's standing, includingus. He was so kidding. Ela.
There comes mcclungs Eddy putting on ahandle now and that clip you can
(34:05):
only hear the sound. Obviously thatworks better on TV when you can actually
see the dunks. But you couldhear the TNT creuz absolute giddiness at the
throwdowns. And what made the array? What made that array of four dunks
so great? Besides the fact,besides the fact that McClung is only listed
(34:28):
six to two, it's he didthem all on the first try. A
sensational show in Salt Lake City,and to no one surprise, McClung has
been invited by the NBA to returnto the Dunk Contest stage this February in
Indianapolis. Even though McClung as wespeak, he is not on an NBA
roster. He's in the G Leaguelighting it up for the Ocela Magic.
(34:52):
Now, to my legit surprise,when I had the chance to sit down
with McClung, we did this onThursday afternoon. He told he's still thinking
about whether to accept. His focusis clearly to get himself back to the
NBA, getting to the NBA andmaking it stick. We talked about that
too. We talked about fame,and my dear friend Howard Beck described it
(35:15):
well on this April piece he wrotefor GQ quote from McClung, The line
separating fantasy and reality began to erodeon February eighteenth, the night he shocked
the world and seized the dunk titleat All Star Weekend in Salt Lake City.
His feet placed the anonymous minor leaguecooper with a six foot two frame,
(35:36):
on a hallowed list, on ahallowed roster with luminaries like Vince Carter,
Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, andDominique Wilkins. We're going to dive
into all that now my visit withthe Texas Tech alum. Don't forget that
Texas Tech guy. Here's that chatwith Mac mcclunk. So we know that
(35:58):
you've been extended in an invitation togo to All Star Weekend for the Dunk
Contest. Are we safe to assumethat you are accepting that invitation and that
you're you're gonna be back to defendyour title. I'm totally flattered. I'm
still definitely considering it and thinking aboutit. Just still thinking about it at
the moment, though, But I'msuper appreciative and excited and we'll see,
(36:20):
We'll see where it goes. What'sthe kind of pros and cons of it?
From where you're sitting, I thinkjust where my body's at, you
know, playing the game and see. I think that's the only thing I'm
really evaluating. I think, youknow, people, everybody has a different
opinion. But I love just doingwhat I enjoy doing. I enjoy dunking,
I enjoy the atmosphere, and tobe a part of it it would
be really cool. The show youput on was one of the most impressive
(36:44):
Dunk Contest displays we've ever seen.How did it change your life? Just
doing something on that big of astage, and I have to imagine that
it wasn't the same the day afterthat. Yeah, it's funny. I
mean just nothing, nothing was reallythe same for that day. And I
kind of see it like as thetime goes by, different each day something
(37:05):
new surprises me, or you know, you almost forget it happened, and
then you know when somebody comes upto you, or you know, just
dealing with a whole bunch of stuffI never thought i'd have to deal with,
but most all great things, andI'm super happy and and just that
was an incredible moment. I'm supersuper happy it happened. I mean,
this week's not about that. Let'sfocus on what's going on here this week
because the whole NBA is here andobviously you are auditioning for you know,
(37:30):
thirty front offices are watching. What'sthat like as a player to know that
doesn't happen every day like this,that you got so many eyes on whatever
you're doing on the court. Yeah, I mean, it's great for the
tier league to host this. AndI think for me, the way I
look at it is like I knowwho I am every day. I'm a
certain person every day. That's whyI try to tell my teammates, the
younger guys that don't know, I'mlike, it's my third showcase. I
(37:51):
mean, just be who you areevery day and that'll be enough if you're
doing it the right way. SoI'm just trying to stay consistent and I
know who I am as a player, and you know, I think these
teams have seen me a lot throughoutthe years, but I'm just trying to
show I'm ready when the opportunity isthere, and I'm ready to make the
most of it. Mac McClung,the NBA's reigning Slam Dunk Champion, joining
us here on ninety seven, wonthe Freak on the Saturday Steinline presented by
(38:15):
Panini Training Cards and Collectibles. Asyou mentioned, this is the third time
you've been at this event. Youwere Player of the Month in the G
League in November, so the leagueis quite familiar with you at this point
when you kind of do your ownresearch, and I'm sure you're asking this
question, what do you think teamswant to see from you in these games?
(38:36):
Yeah? Really, I'm not toosure. I think that's why I'm
trying to show everything. Like yesterday, I tried to show how good of
a defender I was. I feltlike I was a great defender. You
Actually, I think throughout the years, I've showed I can space the four
with my shooting, I can playthe point guard, and had eight assists
my first year, like leading likeone of the leaders in assists, just
showing them like wherever you want toplug me in, I'm ready. And
you know, I know that's allin God's time and a lot of its
(38:58):
opportunity and situations happening and injuries,and it's really just opportunity and I'm just
trying to show I'm ready for itwhen it comes. And I love asking
anyone who participates in this this questionbecause I don't think the general public realizes
there's no fans here. It's frontoffice executives, it's agents, it's media
pests like me. But like thereis very little noise out there. Got
(39:19):
to kind of soak up the greatestenergy in the world in Salt Lake City
and obviously there's none of that here. So when you're playing a game in
that kind of quiet, like,how does that impact you? And where
do you how do you create energyfor yourself? Yeah, I think that
that's what's so good about our team. We all get along so well.
We created for each other, andour teammates are like, we have such
an entertaining team. I think youknow, our bench and whoever's on the
(39:40):
bench time is just like always thehype man to our team on the floor.
So we really just create our ownenergy and we play the game we
love like we have competitors. Soit's all about the game. Like obviously
there's scouts there. We know it'simportant to play well, but just being
there with an exciting team like that, we know we just want to win.
That's number one for us always.In the off season, what was
your main emphasis in terms of workingon your game? What did you really
(40:01):
try to improve to help you getwhere you want to go? Yeah,
I mean I got back into myregular offseason with paw metrics and lifting and
getting in shape. But also Istarted looking at angles, like you know,
how can I attack this guy fromthis angle? How can I play
defense from this angle? Like itwas a big year of measurements and angles
on like where I should turn mybody, Just like little things with PJAF
(40:22):
that I never would have thought ofbefore. Always try to add a new
thing to get better at, Like, how can I just take it a
little bit of it? How canI slow down a little bit so once
I get old, I know howto attack angles and people. But yeah,
no, I just try to picksomething new every off season, kind
of have fun with it. IfI've got my math right. I think
you've played in four NBA games tothis point. How do you approach that
and how do you look at thatas far as what it means for the
(40:45):
future. Yeah, no, it'sit's tough. You know, some of
my years, I've been the jiliguwho year I get one or two games,
and you know some of those gamesare you know, ninety seconds.
You know I've been in the game. But you know it was really helpful
for me. Last year I hada full game with the Philadelphi Senties.
A last game, I got alot of minutes and I had twenty nine
to nine. I was like,man, I know who I am.
I can I can really figure outthis game given the opportunity, and I
(41:07):
know what I'm capable of, AndI just want to help a team win
and be a part of an NBAteam. But I'm also enjoying my time
now and since we're a Dallas radiostation, I got to ask you about
your time at Texas Tech. Whatwas life like in Lubboock? Nothing but
love? I mean goodness, thatwas one of my favorite years of my
life. I just I enjoyed thatculture so much. I mean, I'm
(41:28):
from a long ways away, butlike I was saying, it felt like
home. I just felt so comfortablethere and like to the students, to
the people, like everything gets feltright. I'm kind of country from where
I'm from anyway, So I justI can't tell you how much I loved
that area and just love that year. He said it, you know,
playing on a two way in Phillylast game of the season last year,
(41:50):
Mac McClung had twenty points, ninerebounds, nine assists. He has a
lot of fans really hope he getsa chance to get back to the league.
He's averaging twenty five, six assists, four rebounds for his g LE
team, the Orlando Magic's G Leagueaffiliate, and has a lot of people
rooting for him, and I countmyself as one of them. All right,
(42:14):
everyone, I think that's going todo it. For this edition of
the Saturday Steinline presented by Panini.Thanks much to ninety seven to one The
Freaks, Glue Guy Groubs forgetting thoseinterviews all set up for me. Thank
you to Rinaldo for keeping me fromcrashing the ship this afternoon. He does
a lot more work than you guysrealize, because that's harder than it sounds.
(42:37):
Next week will be our year endshow. Hope to connect with MAVs
analysts supreme Istac Franco, who spotstrends and stats and developments involving the Mavericks
from faraway Slovenia really better than mostof us who try to do it from
close range. We'll have much moreinfo on the MAVs sale. Next week.
(42:57):
We'll be able to reflect on thefive day Christmas the five game Christmas
Day schedule. Of course, MAVsat Phoenix on Christmas Wednesday. They've got
a home game against Cleveland, solots going on tonight seven pm. Right
here on ninety seven to one TheFreak. It'll be the MAVs pregame Show
with Kevin Gray, Chuck Cooperstein andBrad Davis. They will have the call
(43:21):
for Victor web Minyama's first game inDallas against the Mavericks that's tonight at seven
point forty. Also got the ArmedForces Bowl on the station later this afternoon,
and right after me first, wegot a dose of vsin Live Bet
(43:42):
Radio. Everyone, Merry Christmas.Hopefully this is the continuation of a warm
and family and friends filled holiday seasonfor you. Greatly appreciate you listening.
This show is almost six months oldand it has been an absolute joy for
me to meet with you guys overthe radio every Saturday
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