July 10, 2024 • 32 mins
Chris and Rob explain why Jaylen Brown’s Team USA snub feels like it may have been orchestrated by the executives at Nike, discuss whether Kawhi Leonard should have ever agreed to join Team USA basketball knowing that he likely wouldn’t be healthy enough to play in the Olympics and take Kevin Durant to task for claiming that he, Steph Curry and LeBron James are still the current Big 3 of the NBA.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:22):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
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Speaker 3 (00:30):
Today and we'll get to him later.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
But Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers and Team USA decide is
not in their best interest or Kawhi is to have
him playing this summer, so he will not be on
Team USA. They promptly name Derek White the role player,
very good role player, All League defender type player.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
They name him to the team.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
And Jalen Brown, the Celtics star, their second best player,
but was the MVP of the Conference finals, MVP of
the finals in their first championship in sixteen years, and
he releases an emoji. Now, robb G, what what type
of emoji is? It's called you know, I'm not up
on some I just call it the side eye, Okay,
the side which which means you're puzzled or even bothered
(01:22):
by something.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Is that correct? That is correct?
Speaker 5 (01:24):
And then he did another tweet a couple of minutes
after that, directly at Nike, so you wouldn't see it
unless you click on the replies. He added Nike saying, Yo,
this is what we're doing. Question Mark all right?
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Rob Jalen Brown not on the team. His teammate Derek
White on the team.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Your thoughts.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
It is the ultimate disrespect. And they didn't slap him.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
They pimp slapped him. That's what they did. It was
a pimp slap. Oh stop it. I mean, like, isn't
he more like Kawhi?
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Why was he replacing Kawhi Leonard uh And And this
is no disrespect to Derek White.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
All they want him to do the dirty work and
all this stuff.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Well, he would have been on the team from Jump
Street then, because because that's not what Kawhi would have
been doing.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Wanted to dream you.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Know what I mean, Chris That that's why I don't
buy into that, because Kawhi wasn't doing any dirty work,
so you replaced It would be different if you had
a Derek White kind of dirty work player on the team. Yeah,
and then you were replacing that guy. I would buy that.
It's a it's a it's a disrespect for a guy
who just won the finals MVP and has played. Really,
(02:35):
it's an honor, I mean for a lot of guys
to represent your country. And I can understand why they
wanted to give Kawhi a chance. Chris, he had never
done it, and he, you know, before his injury, was
playing well. So I do get all why he was picked,
because it's still an honor even if you bow out.
I was picked for the team. You know what I mean,
It's an honor, but this is total disrespect, uh to Brown.
(02:59):
I just don't understand the thinking here by the Team USA.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
You know, look, first of all, let me say this,
Derek White. I do understand why they picked Derek White. Rob.
I think their thinking and you you make a great point.
I think it's right that Kawhi wasn't a role player.
Kawhi wasn't a dirty work guy, so don't you know
(03:26):
you didn't have to replace him with a role player.
But I do think that their thought process was we
only Drew's really our only role player, Drew Holliday. Let's
get a guy that you know is quote unquote glue guy.
We know he's a great defender, he wants to defend.
(03:46):
He can hit the three point shot. Now, he was
a better three point shooter this year than Jalen, but
their career averages are.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
The same from three point lands.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
But I think that was their thinking, Right, Let's get
a guy that doesn't need the ball, that's not used
to being a star, and so he won't be any problem.
But I just think I agree with you in that,
just out of respect for Jalen Brown, who again was
the Finals MVP. Now you've got three Celtics on their
(04:21):
rob and none of them is named Jalen Brown.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
That makes that That's what I'm talking about, Chris, like
like something's wrong here, Like that doesn't make any sense.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
It would be one thing.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
If you got the how in the world has three
Celtics and he's not one of them?
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Right, I mean it doesn't, And the thing is he
does it's not. First of all, he's a very good defender.
He might not be Derek White, but I think he
could be Derek White when he doesn't have to carry
the load of scoring twenty five points a night. So
I think there's that. Remember Kobe and Kobe obviously was
a great defender period, but when he got with the
(04:57):
Redeemed Team, Rob he was like, I'm just gonna Lebron
and d Wade and those guys can score. And then
when he needed to in the gold medal game against
Spain he did, But for the most part, he was like,
I'm just gonna lock people up.
Speaker 6 (05:10):
Jalen could do that. Jalen's a good three point shooter.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Jalen's obviously is a better all around player than Derek White.
So I'm a bit shocked. I mean, again, I get
why Derek White was added. We talked about the role
players and you need some guys that aren't stars. But
Jalen can do those things, and I think he would
(05:35):
have willingly do those things. So I'm surprised Rob now
and I don't think this was a factor. But Jalen
is a very outspoken guy. Jalen is a very thoughtful,
deep thinker. Is it possible that they wonder on the
on the world stage, would he bring up something political
(06:00):
or anything like that.
Speaker 6 (06:01):
I'm just I don't think that's the case.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
But knowing that he is a type of guy that
you know is very conscientious and all that I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Maybe here it is, you know, the speculation that this
was Nike's decision. And McCall Chris in twenty twenty, as
you're talking about, Brown right.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Tweeted out, since when did Nike.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Care about ethics in a response to their statement to
Kyrie Irving.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
So I didn't even see that. There it is.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
And so so there's your answer that Nike has a
handle on this team, whether people want to believe it
or not. And uh, and that is probably why Jalen Brown,
that's the only reason that you could come up with, Chris,
other than Nike said, well, remember what you said a
couple of years ago, and now when we have the
(06:55):
balls in our court, will take care of you.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
That's right. Yeah, yeah, that's uh.
Speaker 6 (07:01):
That that's bizarre that, like you said, that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
I didn't. I didn't know that was it when I
said that.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
But yeah, that's unfortunate because you know, hey, don't put
don't poke the bear.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
I'm just telling you.
Speaker 6 (07:16):
And now politics is always somewhere lurking.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Right everywhere, every but everywhere, Chris, even in the church.
You know that everywhere where there are people involved politics.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Yep, No, it's it's unfortunate.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Because I, like I said, Jalen Man, I mean we
got robbed twelve guys on the team. Right, then you
have how many other top NBA players aren't eligible?
Speaker 5 (07:45):
What?
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Six?
Speaker 6 (07:46):
Seven, eight?
Speaker 4 (07:48):
So you're gonna tell me there's twenty guys twenty twenty
of the top players in the league are playing in
the Olympics and he's not one of them.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Like that that that it's it's unfortunate.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
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Speaker 7 (08:11):
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Speaker 8 (08:19):
Piles of it.
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Speaker 4 (08:51):
Yeah, we talked Rob in the first hour about how
Jalen Brown was snubbed.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
There's really no other way to look at it.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
You don't put Jalen Brown on the Olympic team and
instead put his lesser teammate, with all due respect to
Derek White, but we know that Jalen Brown is a
star and Derek White is not. And they put Derek
White in on the team over Jalen Brown. But the reason,
(09:19):
of course that they had to do that was because
Kawhi Leonard after practicing for a week or so with
Team USA, the.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Clippers brass was their watching.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
Clippers coach ty Lewis on the coaching staff their watching obviously,
and it was determined by all of them that Kawhi
it's better for him and the Clippers if he continues
to rehab his knee instead of playing on Team USA.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
And Rob.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
If anybody was surprised, at this.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Decision or that this is the way things ended for
Kawhi this summer.
Speaker 6 (10:07):
I don't know where you've been. I don't know where
you've been.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
I look, Kawhi Leonard is a future Hall of Famer,
Kawhi Leonard is one of the best players of this era.
But I don't know how if they wanted to give him,
as you said earlier, the honor of being invited to
(10:33):
be on Team USA.
Speaker 6 (10:35):
Okay, I understand that, but.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
Outside of that, rob like for basketball reasons, for his
best interest, for the Clippers' best interest, for the NBA's
best interest, I don't know how in the world anybody
could have thought it was a good idea to have
Kawhi Leonard on this team.
Speaker 6 (10:57):
And I think it's darn near the same thing for
Joe LMBI.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
When guys can't stay healthy during the season and there
appears to be a wear and tear.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Issue with them.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Because Kawhi played sixty eight games this year is most
in like seven years, but when the real important games
came along the playoffs, he wasn't able to go. He's
only able to play two games. And it was essentially
the same thing last year, right, I mean he did
only play two in playoff games last year, so it
(11:31):
seems like they're Unfortunately, at this point in his career,
there may be only a certain number of games in
Kawhi Leonard's body. And when that's the case, I don't
think he needs to be playing in the Olympics. And
so I think it's the best move for the Clippers,
for Kawhi for the NBA. I think we can still
(11:53):
win with or without him. So I just think from
the get go, Rob, it didn't make any sense to
have kawhile on.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Yeah, I think it was an honor Chris.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I just I do I mean otherwise, I mean, the
most obvious thing would be I was hurt last year.
I couldn't even play barey played in the playoffs. It
doesn't make sense to rush myself back and playing this, Chris,
when you could take the rest of the time and
be ready for the NBA season. But because he was
never a member right of an Olympic team, I think
(12:23):
that that's why they pushed to say. Because remember, Kawhi
had a good year, Chris when he played the first
sixty eight, This game ain't an issue, right, But I'm
just saying, like and I think that's why. And again
he's gonna go down as being like a guy who
was picked for the team.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
And and and I don't know if he gets a
gold medal, you know what I mean, because he couldn't play,
that's a good question.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I'm gonna think he does know, But I'm I'm gonna
say yes, if you if you were injured, Chris, and
you were on the team and they feel like you
can't play, that you he's gonna get one.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
I would think that that might be the case. I
certainly believe that would be the case. If he got
injured during the games. The actual games are taking place,
but they haven't even played an exhibition game yet are tonight.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
He's on the team though he was officially on the team,
is what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
I would I would assume that once you're on the team.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
I don't see why he should I got I mean,
I'm not gonna raise, you know, Kames if he does.
But I don't know why he would get a ring
or whatever, a medal.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
I got no issues if he gets your he was.
Speaker 6 (13:37):
I'm not gonna raise.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
But he wasn't on the team for the games, but
he was on It's not a regular team.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
He was on the team. He just got hurt, Chris,
or he's not able to play.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
If he got hurt, he just isn't able to play.
They're determined that's not the best interest for him to play.
I mean, I'm not gonna care one way or the
other if he gets a gold medal. I'm just saying
I would definitely give a gold medal to a player
that got hurt during the.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
Games once we start starting exhibition games.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
So so let me ask you if he if if
there was if he twisted his leg in practice, would
you feel different, Like, you know, he got hurt in practice,
you still don't think he deserves.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
I mean, you don't play like. No, that might be
a little different, but I don't. I don't thankfully he didn't.
But I, like I said, I'm not gonna care if
he does. But I probably would feel a little differently
if that if that happened, But it did either way.
I mean, so if he doesn't get a gold medal,
(14:37):
you're not gonna be ticked off or you're not gonna
think it's a snub.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
If he doesn't. Yeah, yeah, my pantings will be in
a bunch.
Speaker 6 (14:46):
If you don't, Okay, so you're good.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
If you get Yeah, I mean, I'm more good either way.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
If he does, I'm fine.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
But I don't think they should feel any obligation to
give him one if he if they choose to do so,
that's and they might you know, and and but I
don't even know. I mean, I think he would take it.
I'm sure he would take it. But are you gonna
feel great about that gold medal? If you get it?
(15:15):
You didn't contribute. I mean, Kawhi is a competitor. You
didn't contribute to that gold medal?
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Well, and didn't because I couldn't contribute. I was hurt.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
I was, yeah, one of the best players who got picked. So, Chris,
if you're let me ask you this. So you're you're
you're picked for the Dream Team or the Olympic team,
and you played three minutes mop up.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
I think if you play, I think once the game start,
and I mean not getting hurt.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
You yeah, you're not getting hurt, but you don't play
at all.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
You're you're yeah, you're you're on the team. Everybody can't play,
but you're on the team, and you're what you did
in practice helped us get better the whole way through.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
So it just to me.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
I mean, maybe they did do it as an honor.
Maybe they knew Rob they were gonna do this. I
think if they only had him on the team because
they wanted to honor one of the greatest players of
this generation, then maybe they knew this was gonna be
the way it ended. You know what, he won't be
able to go, but we want to honor him. He's
(16:23):
been a great player, he's a champion. We'll put him
on the team. Now, obviously you don't announce that it's
not gonna last, but I don't That may have very
well been the case, Rob, and maybe he will get
a medal because of that.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
I really think.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
I really think, Chris, that that was the ultimate plan. Anyway,
you just said it, like like are you shocked that,
you know, considering like even when he was named you
questioned it at that time, Right, how was Kawhi on
this team?
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Well, think about it again.
Speaker 6 (16:59):
That might be you're right, maybe that is what happened.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
And if that's the case, I would imagine he definitely
gets a gold medal.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
But Rob, here's the thing.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Even if Kawhi were able to play throughout the Olympics
and they win gold or whatever they you know, finish.
If you're the Clippers, are you feeling good about that?
I mean, you're glad your player got to go ahead
and win an Olympic gold medal and compete in the
(17:29):
Olympics and all that, But clearly he needs to be
low managed. And you know, man, this so when's he
gonna go out now? January? He's got sixty games in him,
seventy games in him when so he's not gonna make.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
It for us. So I just like I said from
the get go, and what.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
Do you think about him? Bead?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Look, I'm not.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Gonna huff and puff because he's on the team. But
if I'm the Sixers, I'm I'm a little bit like.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
But nothing and they can't the teams can't do anything.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
But I think I think that Team USA should talk
to these teams. And ultimately it's gonna be the player's
decision if he wants to play and all that, but
I just think Rob that Team USA should take it
into consideration.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
You can't let a team keep.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Its guy out because they just don't want him to
risk getting hurt, right, I think that's the spirit of
the rule that we get. You know, these guys playing
in the Olympics, high level competition, anything could happen, a
guy could get hurt. We saw it with Paul George.
They don't want teams pulling guys out for those reasons.
(18:55):
And I get that, like he's healthy, he's fully healthy,
but you don't want to risk. But when a guy
has an injury history and it's unwavery like it won't
go away. I think you should take that into consideration
if you're USA basketball, because as important as these Olympics are,
(19:19):
and gosh, god forbid we lose, the NBA season is
more important. And whether you agree with that or not,
the NBA teams are the ones paying these guys hundreds
of millions of dollars, so they should take that into consideration.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
If I'm an owner or I'm a fan, Chris and
I have season tickets and you have a banged up
player who's going to play the Olympics, I'm sorry. Hey,
you know, great for America, but you're killing my pocket
and my team and my season. I'm just not interested.
What is the point of it. Let the college kids go.
(19:58):
Let's go back to when the college kids used to go.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Well, we would then we'd be getting stumped.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
Okay, I mean, I hear you, because even if there
aren't stars like I used to say, Rob, I mean,
now we just if we want to have a chance
to win, we have to send like our best guys.
But I used to say, and just a few years
ago that I thought what we should do is send
(20:22):
our best college age to players, like, say, our best
players twenty two even twenty three and under, because I
thought one of the reasons we stopped winning, or at
least our college kids couldn't win the Gold anymore or
beat the international teams was because many of our best
(20:42):
college players still college age, were in the NBA to
the late eighties, and so you know, guys were leaving
after a year, two years whatever. I said, if you
just keep the college age players, even if they're in
the NBA.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
On the team, we could still win. That's not the case. Now.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
We couldn't send a twenty three and under team, our
absolute best twenty three and under Americans and win goal.
So now I still think we should send the pros.
But I hear you, Rob, because even if you don't
send your best players, even if a role player gets hurt.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
That role player might be making ninety million dollars.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Right, It's a slippery slope. It's tough.
Speaker 4 (21:33):
Yeah, well, you wonder if we start losing like regularly.
I mean we won't know that obviously for years and
years and years, but if we start losing regularly, maybe
they should just go back to the guys.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
Yes, I'm serious.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
If we're gonna lose anyway, don't put the you know,
these teams in jeopardy that they might lose a player
that they're playing two hundred million dollars to.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Right, and that people have bought season tickets and all
the other stuff that goes with it.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Chris, Yeah, it affects a lot of people. Oh yeah, absolute,
You're right.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
And not just the teams, it's the fans too. I mean,
can you imagine Rob if you know who Anthony Edwards
gets hurt. I mean, obviously the front office, the coaching
staff with the Timberwolves will be ticked off, but the
fans too.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
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Speaker 3 (22:38):
Kevin Durant was talking.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
He was on the Logan Paul's podcast called Impulsive like
Impulsive Impulsive, and he was asked who was the Big
three in the NBA? And now I wonder if Logan
Paul asked the question. I don't know who did ask it,
but if it was Logan Paul, did he really it
(23:02):
was his called? Did they know what they were talking about?
They say, who's the Big three in the NBA?
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Roger the sound here happens, big three?
Speaker 5 (23:10):
Yeah, then the sound of the league. I believe you'll
hear the question in the sound here. However, full full
context in the conversation. It's Logan Paul, his co host,
and a social media influencer by the name of Speed
or something like that, and they're talking to the influencer
and he says, yeah, I'm part of kind of like
the big three when it comes to streaming. It's me
(23:33):
and these two other guys. And then that's when the
co says, hey, well, KD, who's the Big three of
the NBA right now?
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Here was his answer.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Take to listen, Okay, that's cool, who's the Who's the
Big three in the NBA right now?
Speaker 3 (23:44):
In your eyes? Don't just say it just big me.
Is that what you're doing?
Speaker 4 (23:50):
I mean, if you would look at it, you could
say Lebron Steph myself.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
I mean it's I mean the NBA is different, right,
Ain't no big threes. It's like a big thirty.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
So that that straightened, I mean, that's that's logical. Right,
You're talking about a big three of this or that.
And he says, who's a big three of the NBA? Okay,
that's cool.
Speaker 6 (24:08):
Kevin Durant.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
I agree that Lebron's Steph and then to a lesser degree,
but still, Kevin Durant, are the three giants of this generation?
Speaker 3 (24:24):
Lebron's just playing.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
So long that he's now in the Steph generation as well,
But they would be the three giants of this generation.
So from that perspective, I give it to Kevin Durant.
But if there was a big three, if you had
the name, I mean, just the three best players, I
(24:45):
think there is a clear big three in the NBA,
and right now it would be Nicole Jokic, Luka.
Speaker 6 (24:54):
Doncic and Gianni Sante de Koupo.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
I think that would be the big three if they're
it was such a thing rop.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
And this is a.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Total disregard of international players and acting like they haven't
done anything and they don't raid or whatever. It doesn't
make any sense. The Jokers won three of the last
four MVPs, Chris Hell, Well.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
Yeah, you're right, and the three guys we named and
Luke hadn't even won one, but they've won five of
the last six, right, I mean, like like the are
the one in mvps's twenty fourteen.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
I mean like, like what really and where is again
listening to these lame podcasts? Where can somebody just push
back on Kevin Durant and say, the Jokers won three
in the last four, he doesn't raid, he's not in
your top three of the big three? Can we get
a little bit of that? Can you work for five
(25:51):
seconds on a podcast? Can you work for the listener
and make you feel like you're listening and you're not
just head nodding every time? So somebody opens their pie
hole and just spouts anything out that's ridick, Chris, They
don't even flinch.
Speaker 6 (26:08):
We just talking about to forget about is a boxer?
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Like I don't even know about these.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Talking questions as if they're reporters and they're trying to
get information and knowledge.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
That's my point.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
If you're gonna ask questions, can you please have a
follow up? Can you please make him explain why he
believes what he believes? Can you please just throw them
a little bit and say, why are you disregarding and
disrespecting the international players who have won the last six
m vps Kevin Durant?
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Why? I do agree with that?
Speaker 4 (26:48):
And you know, I think these podcasts and I'm not
even gonna put Logan Paul, you know, the other Micah Parsons,
the you know, Draymond Greens and Paul George's and all
those guys, the Kelsey brothers who have their podcasts. You know,
I think they do have value rob in that they
(27:09):
get the player that typically players will really be themselves
with Kevin Garnett's certified podcasts things like that. So there,
that's a there's a value in that. But you're right,
I mean, imagine how much better it would have been
if if they have pushed back like wait a minute, yo.
Speaker 6 (27:29):
Kischen isn't in a Big three?
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (27:33):
They got where?
Speaker 1 (27:37):
You know?
Speaker 6 (27:37):
No, it would right? And then explain yourself.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
And then if you say, well this, that and the
other thing, I might be intrigued to say, right, wow, okay, right,
is that what you think?
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Okay, So now I understand why you feel the way
you feel.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
I said this all the time because it's people don't
have to agree with your opinion. The one thing that
people want is they want to feel like, can you
make the argument?
Speaker 3 (28:06):
So at least I know how you got there? Do
you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Hey, I value this over that When I look at it,
winning doesn't matter. Chuse you talk about all the time,
winning the finals, MVP isn't a big deal to you,
So it doesn't affect you, know the way you look
at people. I look at it a little different, right,
But you can both explain our advantage point right, what
you look for and what matters to you, and then
(28:31):
you could I've had people say I totally disagree with
you on your take, but I understand how you got there.
You know, you explained it to me, and I understand
why you think the way you do. I just don't
agree with it, and I think that's what you're looking for.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
It's not about a right or wrong opinion. Kevin Durant,
that's his opinion. But if it would just be better
for all of us if he could just explain it
a little bit more and dig and give me insight
why he's abandon all of the international players.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
Was he didn't even name I mean, and if you
listen to the you know, we only played a little
bit of it. But as he goes on, you know,
he says everybody, you know, he goes We heard him
say there's a big three. There's no big threes, it's
like a big thirty. Well no, it's not a big thirty.
There's not a big thirty, right, But everybody got their
(29:26):
own brands. But the three oldest that's still playing at
a high level is me, Lebron and Steph. Then he
throws in Kawhi and Paul George. There's a lot of guys, bro,
you can't just put three in it. Like he's basically
kind of nullifying. He gives an answer and then kind
of nullifies it, kind of backs up from it. And
(29:46):
so that's where, like you said, we do on this show,
especially you, Well, no, you gotta give us give us
a three, give us a three, right, and okay, that's
your three, why you know? And so I look, that's
why I agree when he said the guys that have
been playing for the longest, the three oldest guys that
(30:10):
are still at a high level. And he can be
in that group because he, Lebron, and step are all
putting up essentially the same numbers they've.
Speaker 6 (30:19):
Put up throughout their careers. So there's no question about that.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
But if you go if rob, if somebody wants to
say Lebron and Steph are still a part of the
quote unquote big three of the league, you can make
an argument for that because they're both you know, they're
still two of the biggest draws in the league.
Speaker 6 (30:46):
They're two of the most popular players in the league.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
I would not put KD in that group, in that
group with them if we're basing it on like kind
of relevance in the league. Now, Uh, people still are wondering,
will will Lebron find a way to get another one?
Will Steph find a way to get another one? They're
not most likely, but people are still wondering that. I
(31:12):
don't know that people are wondering that about KD. I mean,
you said it a while ago that he's kind of
NBA dead. He is, because just not as like those two.
They're just they're more relevant than KD at this point yep.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
And KD got had a having a great had a
great season last year.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
Well, I think it's because they were they they've won
more than him. I think that it just boils down
to that that those those two, if you know, in
addition to being synonymous with, you know, their individual brilliance
in this generation.
Speaker 6 (31:52):
They've won four rings each. That's that's great.
Speaker 4 (31:55):
Kd's got his two, which is great, but it's not
like those guys, and they're winning has spanned I mean,
Lebron's won from what twenty twelve to twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
That's eight years.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Staff's won from twenty fifteen to twenty twenty two, that's
seven years.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Kd's winning was two years back to back.
Speaker 4 (32:17):
So I think that's why they're more relevant than him.
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Odd Couple podcasts.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from seven
pm to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd
Couple at Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
Chris Brusa and Ron Harker.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Today and we'll get to him later.
Speaker 4 (00:32):
But Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers and Team USA decide is
not in their best interest or Kawhi is to have
him playing this summer, so he will not be on
Team USA. They promptly name Derek White the role player,
very good role player, All League defender type player.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
They name him to the team.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
And Jalen Brown, the Celtics star, their second best player,
but was the MVP of the Conference finals, MVP of
the finals in their first championship in sixteen years, and
he releases an emoji. Now, robb G, what what type
of emoji is? It's called you know, I'm not up
on some I just call it the side eye, Okay,
the side which which means you're puzzled or even bothered
(01:22):
by something.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Is that correct? That is correct?
Speaker 5 (01:24):
And then he did another tweet a couple of minutes
after that, directly at Nike, so you wouldn't see it
unless you click on the replies. He added Nike saying, Yo,
this is what we're doing. Question Mark all right?
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Rob Jalen Brown not on the team. His teammate Derek
White on the team.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Your thoughts.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
It is the ultimate disrespect. And they didn't slap him.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
They pimp slapped him. That's what they did. It was
a pimp slap. Oh stop it. I mean, like, isn't
he more like Kawhi?
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Why was he replacing Kawhi Leonard uh And And this
is no disrespect to Derek White.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
All they want him to do the dirty work and
all this stuff.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Well, he would have been on the team from Jump
Street then, because because that's not what Kawhi would have
been doing.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Wanted to dream you.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Know what I mean, Chris That that's why I don't
buy into that, because Kawhi wasn't doing any dirty work,
so you replaced It would be different if you had
a Derek White kind of dirty work player on the team. Yeah,
and then you were replacing that guy. I would buy that.
It's a it's a it's a disrespect for a guy
who just won the finals MVP and has played. Really,
(02:35):
it's an honor, I mean for a lot of guys
to represent your country. And I can understand why they
wanted to give Kawhi a chance. Chris, he had never
done it, and he, you know, before his injury, was
playing well. So I do get all why he was picked,
because it's still an honor even if you bow out.
I was picked for the team. You know what I mean,
It's an honor, but this is total disrespect, uh to Brown.
(02:59):
I just don't understand the thinking here by the Team USA.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
You know, look, first of all, let me say this,
Derek White. I do understand why they picked Derek White. Rob.
I think their thinking and you you make a great point.
I think it's right that Kawhi wasn't a role player.
Kawhi wasn't a dirty work guy, so don't you know
(03:26):
you didn't have to replace him with a role player.
But I do think that their thought process was we
only Drew's really our only role player, Drew Holliday. Let's
get a guy that you know is quote unquote glue guy.
We know he's a great defender, he wants to defend.
(03:46):
He can hit the three point shot. Now, he was
a better three point shooter this year than Jalen, but
their career averages are.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
The same from three point lands.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
But I think that was their thinking, Right, Let's get
a guy that doesn't need the ball, that's not used
to being a star, and so he won't be any problem.
But I just think I agree with you in that,
just out of respect for Jalen Brown, who again was
the Finals MVP. Now you've got three Celtics on their
(04:21):
rob and none of them is named Jalen Brown.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
That makes that That's what I'm talking about, Chris, like
like something's wrong here, Like that doesn't make any sense.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
It would be one thing.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
If you got the how in the world has three
Celtics and he's not one of them?
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Right, I mean it doesn't, And the thing is he
does it's not. First of all, he's a very good defender.
He might not be Derek White, but I think he
could be Derek White when he doesn't have to carry
the load of scoring twenty five points a night. So
I think there's that. Remember Kobe and Kobe obviously was
a great defender period, but when he got with the
(04:57):
Redeemed Team, Rob he was like, I'm just gonna Lebron
and d Wade and those guys can score. And then
when he needed to in the gold medal game against
Spain he did, But for the most part, he was like,
I'm just gonna lock people up.
Speaker 6 (05:10):
Jalen could do that. Jalen's a good three point shooter.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Jalen's obviously is a better all around player than Derek White.
So I'm a bit shocked. I mean, again, I get
why Derek White was added. We talked about the role
players and you need some guys that aren't stars. But
Jalen can do those things, and I think he would
(05:35):
have willingly do those things. So I'm surprised Rob now
and I don't think this was a factor. But Jalen
is a very outspoken guy. Jalen is a very thoughtful,
deep thinker. Is it possible that they wonder on the
on the world stage, would he bring up something political
(06:00):
or anything like that.
Speaker 6 (06:01):
I'm just I don't think that's the case.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
But knowing that he is a type of guy that
you know is very conscientious and all that I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Maybe here it is, you know, the speculation that this
was Nike's decision. And McCall Chris in twenty twenty, as
you're talking about, Brown right.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Tweeted out, since when did Nike.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Care about ethics in a response to their statement to
Kyrie Irving.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
So I didn't even see that. There it is.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
And so so there's your answer that Nike has a
handle on this team, whether people want to believe it
or not. And uh, and that is probably why Jalen Brown,
that's the only reason that you could come up with, Chris,
other than Nike said, well, remember what you said a
couple of years ago, and now when we have the
(06:55):
balls in our court, will take care of you.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
That's right. Yeah, yeah, that's uh.
Speaker 6 (07:01):
That that's bizarre that, like you said, that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
I didn't. I didn't know that was it when I
said that.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
But yeah, that's unfortunate because you know, hey, don't put
don't poke the bear.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
I'm just telling you.
Speaker 6 (07:16):
And now politics is always somewhere lurking.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Right everywhere, every but everywhere, Chris, even in the church.
You know that everywhere where there are people involved politics.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Yep, No, it's it's unfortunate.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Because I, like I said, Jalen Man, I mean we
got robbed twelve guys on the team. Right, then you
have how many other top NBA players aren't eligible?
Speaker 5 (07:45):
What?
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Six?
Speaker 6 (07:46):
Seven, eight?
Speaker 4 (07:48):
So you're gonna tell me there's twenty guys twenty twenty
of the top players in the league are playing in
the Olympics and he's not one of them.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Like that that that it's it's unfortunate.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 7 (08:11):
Paullie Fusco Here with Tony Fusco, you know, as the
host of the number one rated Paully and Toni Fusco Show.
We get tons and tons of fan mail every day.
Speaker 8 (08:19):
Piles of it.
Speaker 7 (08:20):
In fact, Tony, why don't you open up one of
those letters right now and read what's inside?
Speaker 8 (08:24):
Hey, listen to this, Dear Paulie and Tony, your sports
takes the dumbest and most terribly.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Not Wait, why open this other one?
Speaker 8 (08:32):
Dear Pauli and Toni, you suck more than anyone. Wait,
try this one. Dear Paulie and Tony, you guys are
the absolute best. There you go coming up with the
stupidest take.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Forget it.
Speaker 7 (08:45):
Just listen to the Polly and Tony Fusco Show on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Yeah, we talked Rob in the first hour about how
Jalen Brown was snubbed.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
There's really no other way to look at it.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
You don't put Jalen Brown on the Olympic team and
instead put his lesser teammate, with all due respect to
Derek White, but we know that Jalen Brown is a
star and Derek White is not. And they put Derek
White in on the team over Jalen Brown. But the reason,
(09:19):
of course that they had to do that was because
Kawhi Leonard after practicing for a week or so with
Team USA, the.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Clippers brass was their watching.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
Clippers coach ty Lewis on the coaching staff their watching obviously,
and it was determined by all of them that Kawhi
it's better for him and the Clippers if he continues
to rehab his knee instead of playing on Team USA.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
And Rob.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
If anybody was surprised, at this.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Decision or that this is the way things ended for
Kawhi this summer.
Speaker 6 (10:07):
I don't know where you've been. I don't know where
you've been.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
I look, Kawhi Leonard is a future Hall of Famer,
Kawhi Leonard is one of the best players of this era.
But I don't know how if they wanted to give him,
as you said earlier, the honor of being invited to
(10:33):
be on Team USA.
Speaker 6 (10:35):
Okay, I understand that, but.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
Outside of that, rob like for basketball reasons, for his
best interest, for the Clippers' best interest, for the NBA's
best interest, I don't know how in the world anybody
could have thought it was a good idea to have
Kawhi Leonard on this team.
Speaker 6 (10:57):
And I think it's darn near the same thing for
Joe LMBI.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
When guys can't stay healthy during the season and there
appears to be a wear and tear.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Issue with them.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Because Kawhi played sixty eight games this year is most
in like seven years, but when the real important games
came along the playoffs, he wasn't able to go. He's
only able to play two games. And it was essentially
the same thing last year, right, I mean he did
only play two in playoff games last year, so it
(11:31):
seems like they're Unfortunately, at this point in his career,
there may be only a certain number of games in
Kawhi Leonard's body. And when that's the case, I don't
think he needs to be playing in the Olympics. And
so I think it's the best move for the Clippers,
for Kawhi for the NBA. I think we can still
(11:53):
win with or without him. So I just think from
the get go, Rob, it didn't make any sense to
have kawhile on.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Yeah, I think it was an honor Chris.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I just I do I mean otherwise, I mean, the
most obvious thing would be I was hurt last year.
I couldn't even play barey played in the playoffs. It
doesn't make sense to rush myself back and playing this, Chris,
when you could take the rest of the time and
be ready for the NBA season. But because he was
never a member right of an Olympic team, I think
(12:23):
that that's why they pushed to say. Because remember, Kawhi
had a good year, Chris when he played the first
sixty eight, This game ain't an issue, right, But I'm
just saying, like and I think that's why. And again
he's gonna go down as being like a guy who
was picked for the team.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
And and and I don't know if he gets a
gold medal, you know what I mean, because he couldn't play,
that's a good question.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I'm gonna think he does know, But I'm I'm gonna
say yes, if you if you were injured, Chris, and
you were on the team and they feel like you
can't play, that you he's gonna get one.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
I would think that that might be the case. I
certainly believe that would be the case. If he got
injured during the games. The actual games are taking place,
but they haven't even played an exhibition game yet are tonight.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
He's on the team though he was officially on the team,
is what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
I would I would assume that once you're on the team.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
I don't see why he should I got I mean,
I'm not gonna raise, you know, Kames if he does.
But I don't know why he would get a ring
or whatever, a medal.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
I got no issues if he gets your he was.
Speaker 6 (13:37):
I'm not gonna raise.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
But he wasn't on the team for the games, but
he was on It's not a regular team.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
He was on the team. He just got hurt, Chris,
or he's not able to play.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
If he got hurt, he just isn't able to play.
They're determined that's not the best interest for him to play.
I mean, I'm not gonna care one way or the
other if he gets a gold medal. I'm just saying
I would definitely give a gold medal to a player
that got hurt during the.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
Games once we start starting exhibition games.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
So so let me ask you if he if if
there was if he twisted his leg in practice, would
you feel different, Like, you know, he got hurt in practice,
you still don't think he deserves.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
I mean, you don't play like. No, that might be
a little different, but I don't. I don't thankfully he didn't.
But I, like I said, I'm not gonna care if
he does. But I probably would feel a little differently
if that if that happened, But it did either way.
I mean, so if he doesn't get a gold medal,
(14:37):
you're not gonna be ticked off or you're not gonna
think it's a snub.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
If he doesn't. Yeah, yeah, my pantings will be in
a bunch.
Speaker 6 (14:46):
If you don't, Okay, so you're good.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
If you get Yeah, I mean, I'm more good either way.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
If he does, I'm fine.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
But I don't think they should feel any obligation to
give him one if he if they choose to do so,
that's and they might you know, and and but I
don't even know. I mean, I think he would take it.
I'm sure he would take it. But are you gonna
feel great about that gold medal? If you get it?
(15:15):
You didn't contribute. I mean, Kawhi is a competitor. You
didn't contribute to that gold medal?
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Well, and didn't because I couldn't contribute. I was hurt.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
I was, yeah, one of the best players who got picked. So, Chris,
if you're let me ask you this. So you're you're
you're picked for the Dream Team or the Olympic team,
and you played three minutes mop up.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
I think if you play, I think once the game start,
and I mean not getting hurt.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
You yeah, you're not getting hurt, but you don't play
at all.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
You're you're yeah, you're you're on the team. Everybody can't play,
but you're on the team, and you're what you did
in practice helped us get better the whole way through.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
So it just to me.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
I mean, maybe they did do it as an honor.
Maybe they knew Rob they were gonna do this. I
think if they only had him on the team because
they wanted to honor one of the greatest players of
this generation, then maybe they knew this was gonna be
the way it ended. You know what, he won't be
able to go, but we want to honor him. He's
(16:23):
been a great player, he's a champion. We'll put him
on the team. Now, obviously you don't announce that it's
not gonna last, but I don't That may have very
well been the case, Rob, and maybe he will get
a medal because of that.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
I really think.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
I really think, Chris, that that was the ultimate plan. Anyway,
you just said it, like like are you shocked that,
you know, considering like even when he was named you
questioned it at that time, Right, how was Kawhi on
this team?
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Well, think about it again.
Speaker 6 (16:59):
That might be you're right, maybe that is what happened.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
And if that's the case, I would imagine he definitely
gets a gold medal.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
But Rob, here's the thing.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Even if Kawhi were able to play throughout the Olympics
and they win gold or whatever they you know, finish.
If you're the Clippers, are you feeling good about that?
I mean, you're glad your player got to go ahead
and win an Olympic gold medal and compete in the
(17:29):
Olympics and all that, But clearly he needs to be
low managed. And you know, man, this so when's he
gonna go out now? January? He's got sixty games in him,
seventy games in him when so he's not gonna make.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
It for us. So I just like I said from
the get go, and what.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
Do you think about him? Bead?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Look, I'm not.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Gonna huff and puff because he's on the team. But
if I'm the Sixers, I'm I'm a little bit like.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
But nothing and they can't the teams can't do anything.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
But I think I think that Team USA should talk
to these teams. And ultimately it's gonna be the player's
decision if he wants to play and all that, but
I just think Rob that Team USA should take it
into consideration.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
You can't let a team keep.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Its guy out because they just don't want him to
risk getting hurt, right, I think that's the spirit of
the rule that we get. You know, these guys playing
in the Olympics, high level competition, anything could happen, a
guy could get hurt. We saw it with Paul George.
They don't want teams pulling guys out for those reasons.
(18:55):
And I get that, like he's healthy, he's fully healthy,
but you don't want to risk. But when a guy
has an injury history and it's unwavery like it won't
go away. I think you should take that into consideration
if you're USA basketball, because as important as these Olympics are,
(19:19):
and gosh, god forbid we lose, the NBA season is
more important. And whether you agree with that or not,
the NBA teams are the ones paying these guys hundreds
of millions of dollars, so they should take that into consideration.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
If I'm an owner or I'm a fan, Chris and
I have season tickets and you have a banged up
player who's going to play the Olympics, I'm sorry. Hey,
you know, great for America, but you're killing my pocket
and my team and my season. I'm just not interested.
What is the point of it. Let the college kids go.
(19:58):
Let's go back to when the college kids used to go.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Well, we would then we'd be getting stumped.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
Okay, I mean, I hear you, because even if there
aren't stars like I used to say, Rob, I mean,
now we just if we want to have a chance
to win, we have to send like our best guys.
But I used to say, and just a few years
ago that I thought what we should do is send
(20:22):
our best college age to players, like, say, our best
players twenty two even twenty three and under, because I
thought one of the reasons we stopped winning, or at
least our college kids couldn't win the Gold anymore or
beat the international teams was because many of our best
(20:42):
college players still college age, were in the NBA to
the late eighties, and so you know, guys were leaving
after a year, two years whatever. I said, if you
just keep the college age players, even if they're in
the NBA.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
On the team, we could still win. That's not the case. Now.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
We couldn't send a twenty three and under team, our
absolute best twenty three and under Americans and win goal.
So now I still think we should send the pros.
But I hear you, Rob, because even if you don't
send your best players, even if a role player gets hurt.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
That role player might be making ninety million dollars.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Right, It's a slippery slope. It's tough.
Speaker 4 (21:33):
Yeah, well, you wonder if we start losing like regularly.
I mean we won't know that obviously for years and
years and years, but if we start losing regularly, maybe
they should just go back to the guys.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
Yes, I'm serious.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
If we're gonna lose anyway, don't put the you know,
these teams in jeopardy that they might lose a player
that they're playing two hundred million dollars to.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Right, and that people have bought season tickets and all
the other stuff that goes with it.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Chris, Yeah, it affects a lot of people. Oh yeah, absolute,
You're right.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
And not just the teams, it's the fans too. I mean,
can you imagine Rob if you know who Anthony Edwards
gets hurt. I mean, obviously the front office, the coaching
staff with the Timberwolves will be ticked off, but the
fans too.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
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Speaker 3 (22:38):
Kevin Durant was talking.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
He was on the Logan Paul's podcast called Impulsive like
Impulsive Impulsive, and he was asked who was the Big
three in the NBA? And now I wonder if Logan
Paul asked the question. I don't know who did ask it,
but if it was Logan Paul, did he really it
(23:02):
was his called? Did they know what they were talking about?
They say, who's the Big three in the NBA?
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Roger the sound here happens, big three?
Speaker 5 (23:10):
Yeah, then the sound of the league. I believe you'll
hear the question in the sound here. However, full full
context in the conversation. It's Logan Paul, his co host,
and a social media influencer by the name of Speed
or something like that, and they're talking to the influencer
and he says, yeah, I'm part of kind of like
the big three when it comes to streaming. It's me
(23:33):
and these two other guys. And then that's when the
co says, hey, well, KD, who's the Big three of
the NBA right now?
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Here was his answer.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Take to listen, Okay, that's cool, who's the Who's the
Big three in the NBA right now?
Speaker 3 (23:44):
In your eyes? Don't just say it just big me.
Is that what you're doing?
Speaker 4 (23:50):
I mean, if you would look at it, you could
say Lebron Steph myself.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
I mean it's I mean the NBA is different, right,
Ain't no big threes. It's like a big thirty.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
So that that straightened, I mean, that's that's logical. Right,
You're talking about a big three of this or that.
And he says, who's a big three of the NBA? Okay,
that's cool.
Speaker 6 (24:08):
Kevin Durant.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
I agree that Lebron's Steph and then to a lesser degree,
but still, Kevin Durant, are the three giants of this generation?
Speaker 3 (24:24):
Lebron's just playing.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
So long that he's now in the Steph generation as well,
But they would be the three giants of this generation.
So from that perspective, I give it to Kevin Durant.
But if there was a big three, if you had
the name, I mean, just the three best players, I
(24:45):
think there is a clear big three in the NBA,
and right now it would be Nicole Jokic, Luka.
Speaker 6 (24:54):
Doncic and Gianni Sante de Koupo.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
I think that would be the big three if they're
it was such a thing rop.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
And this is a.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Total disregard of international players and acting like they haven't
done anything and they don't raid or whatever. It doesn't
make any sense. The Jokers won three of the last
four MVPs, Chris Hell, Well.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
Yeah, you're right, and the three guys we named and
Luke hadn't even won one, but they've won five of
the last six, right, I mean, like like the are
the one in mvps's twenty fourteen.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
I mean like, like what really and where is again
listening to these lame podcasts? Where can somebody just push
back on Kevin Durant and say, the Jokers won three
in the last four, he doesn't raid, he's not in
your top three of the big three? Can we get
a little bit of that? Can you work for five
(25:51):
seconds on a podcast? Can you work for the listener
and make you feel like you're listening and you're not
just head nodding every time? So somebody opens their pie
hole and just spouts anything out that's ridick, Chris, They
don't even flinch.
Speaker 6 (26:08):
We just talking about to forget about is a boxer?
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Like I don't even know about these.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
Talking questions as if they're reporters and they're trying to
get information and knowledge.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
That's my point.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
If you're gonna ask questions, can you please have a
follow up? Can you please make him explain why he
believes what he believes? Can you please just throw them
a little bit and say, why are you disregarding and
disrespecting the international players who have won the last six
m vps Kevin Durant?
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Why? I do agree with that?
Speaker 4 (26:48):
And you know, I think these podcasts and I'm not
even gonna put Logan Paul, you know, the other Micah Parsons,
the you know, Draymond Greens and Paul George's and all
those guys, the Kelsey brothers who have their podcasts. You know,
I think they do have value rob in that they
(27:09):
get the player that typically players will really be themselves
with Kevin Garnett's certified podcasts things like that. So there,
that's a there's a value in that. But you're right,
I mean, imagine how much better it would have been
if if they have pushed back like wait a minute, yo.
Speaker 6 (27:29):
Kischen isn't in a Big three?
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (27:33):
They got where?
Speaker 1 (27:37):
You know?
Speaker 6 (27:37):
No, it would right? And then explain yourself.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
And then if you say, well this, that and the
other thing, I might be intrigued to say, right, wow, okay, right,
is that what you think?
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Okay, So now I understand why you feel the way
you feel.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
I said this all the time because it's people don't
have to agree with your opinion. The one thing that
people want is they want to feel like, can you
make the argument?
Speaker 3 (28:06):
So at least I know how you got there? Do
you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Hey, I value this over that When I look at it,
winning doesn't matter. Chuse you talk about all the time,
winning the finals, MVP isn't a big deal to you,
So it doesn't affect you, know the way you look
at people. I look at it a little different, right,
But you can both explain our advantage point right, what
you look for and what matters to you, and then
(28:31):
you could I've had people say I totally disagree with
you on your take, but I understand how you got there.
You know, you explained it to me, and I understand
why you think the way you do. I just don't
agree with it, and I think that's what you're looking for.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
It's not about a right or wrong opinion. Kevin Durant,
that's his opinion. But if it would just be better
for all of us if he could just explain it
a little bit more and dig and give me insight
why he's abandon all of the international players.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
Was he didn't even name I mean, and if you
listen to the you know, we only played a little
bit of it. But as he goes on, you know,
he says everybody, you know, he goes We heard him
say there's a big three. There's no big threes, it's
like a big thirty. Well no, it's not a big thirty.
There's not a big thirty, right, But everybody got their
(29:26):
own brands. But the three oldest that's still playing at
a high level is me, Lebron and Steph. Then he
throws in Kawhi and Paul George. There's a lot of guys, bro,
you can't just put three in it. Like he's basically
kind of nullifying. He gives an answer and then kind
of nullifies it, kind of backs up from it. And
(29:46):
so that's where, like you said, we do on this show,
especially you, Well, no, you gotta give us give us
a three, give us a three, right, and okay, that's
your three, why you know? And so I look, that's
why I agree when he said the guys that have
been playing for the longest, the three oldest guys that
(30:10):
are still at a high level. And he can be
in that group because he, Lebron, and step are all
putting up essentially the same numbers they've.
Speaker 6 (30:19):
Put up throughout their careers. So there's no question about that.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
But if you go if rob, if somebody wants to
say Lebron and Steph are still a part of the
quote unquote big three of the league, you can make
an argument for that because they're both you know, they're
still two of the biggest draws in the league.
Speaker 6 (30:46):
They're two of the most popular players in the league.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
I would not put KD in that group, in that
group with them if we're basing it on like kind
of relevance in the league. Now, Uh, people still are wondering,
will will Lebron find a way to get another one?
Will Steph find a way to get another one? They're
not most likely, but people are still wondering that. I
(31:12):
don't know that people are wondering that about KD. I mean,
you said it a while ago that he's kind of
NBA dead. He is, because just not as like those two.
They're just they're more relevant than KD at this point yep.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
And KD got had a having a great had a
great season last year.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (31:34):
Well, I think it's because they were they they've won
more than him. I think that it just boils down
to that that those those two, if you know, in
addition to being synonymous with, you know, their individual brilliance
in this generation.
Speaker 6 (31:52):
They've won four rings each. That's that's great.
Speaker 4 (31:55):
Kd's got his two, which is great, but it's not
like those guys, and they're winning has spanned I mean,
Lebron's won from what twenty twelve to twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
That's eight years.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Staff's won from twenty fifteen to twenty twenty two, that's
seven years.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Kd's winning was two years back to back.
Speaker 4 (32:17):
So I think that's why they're more relevant than him.
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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