May 23, 2019 • 23 mins
It's the Best of the Odd Couple with Chris Broussard and Rob Parker! Chris and Rob debate whether or not Steph Curry's performance in the Western Conference Finals was good enough to re-insert him into the Best Player in the World conversation, and how much the upcoming NBA Finals will affect Curry's legacy. Plus, Chris unveils the 6 Best Celebrity fans in the NBA in Broussard's Big Six.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
to check us out 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 Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching f s R.
(00:25):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. The real news that
we want to get to is Charles Barkley, who gave
mad praise after saying that the Golden State Warriors had
no chance of not only winning the championship, not only
winning the Western Conference, but that they wouldn't beat Houston
(00:48):
without Kevin Durant. He has changes to Rob g What
did Charles Barkley say? Yeah, Charles was on PTI with
Mike will Bonnotony Kornheiser. They asked them, has this last
round against the Blazer has changed the way you feel
about Steph Curry? Now? Recall back in April, he left
Steph out of his top five NBA players, and Charles
responded today, I was one hundred percent wrong. Steph Curry
(01:10):
has put his name back in that conversation. I agree,
best players in the world. KD Yannis Kawhi Lebron. Steph
Curry is proving to us why he's a two time MVP.
I agree. I think Steph Curry has to be in
that conversation for best player in the world. Let me
give you my explanation, Rob and then I know you're
(01:32):
gonna try. I'm not gonna try. I'm I'm gonna spit
fast because yeah, because it's always first. This is the
typical prisoner of the moment. He hadn't been anybody Portland.
Portland wasn't even best Houston, Houston. They suck. They're terrible
my world, Mike Dan, Tony, Chris Paul. None of those
(01:55):
guys can win, Harden. I think they can't win. Now
you thank you win now you did. No, they can't
win whatever. As a group, they can't win. He's a
great he was, he was for a stretch. But I'm
telling you, I'm telling you, Mike Dan, to go back
to when he was with Phoenix. They had the Suns
won sixty games every year, couldn't even get to the finals.
(02:17):
Let Loan have any playoffs success, all right? Let me
so beat in Houston didn't do anything for me, and
beating the also ran Portland trail Blazes didn't do anything.
When when when Steph loses the NBA Finals, I want
you to come back and tell me the top five player,
because then his whole thing will be marred and you'll
look at him totally different. Really, yes, losing the finals
(02:39):
because he's not the top that just means that'll be
he's the author of losing three to one. But first
time in NBA. It's never happened in the NBA finals.
Stop it. It has never happened unless win, until Steph
did it. At least that's the only times he was
up three to one on the seventy three win team
(03:01):
and they showed. Let me tell me about damn Dymond Green.
I want to hear about drey Draymond Green. They had
two other games after that and they lost two or
the three at home. How in the world that's the
best player and the one championship he did win. Kevin
Love was hurt, Kyrie was hurt. They were both hurt.
(03:23):
And he didn't even win the MVP that year of
the finals. Stopping with making this guy greater than he's
a great player, but he ain't no damn top ten.
He's not a top ten player in the world. No, right,
I'm talking about the NBA. I'm talking about a round stever,
We're not talking about im. I'm talking about him stay
(03:44):
on top. No, I'm not. I'm talking about That's not
the question. He Charles Barkley did not say he's the
best player ever, did not say he's top ten player ever.
He said he's in the conversation for top player in
the world right now. He's better. And Kevin Duran, we'll
see what you mean. We'll see Kevin Duran. It's still
(04:04):
better than championship championship. They did it twice without Steph
Curry and Clayson I agree, do that? What do you
mean do that? And without them they wouldn't have won
those championionships. And you know it, go ahead, And that's
why step That's why Steph Curry and them out on
their hands and knees and beg Kad to come join
because they just choked down a championship to look bron
(04:27):
James up three to one, Please come join this. We
need you. You know it's true. Uh, Draymond Green, They're
all begging Katie to come stop. You are you done? No?
Go ahead? Go ahead? No, you think the volume of
your voice is gonna help you argue. Yes, the louder
(04:48):
I am, the more right I am. It's ridiculous. All right,
let me give you some realective NBA analysis. Here we go.
He's objective. Now. This morning, I was talking to good
friend of both of ours, the legendary Isaiah Thomas Zeke
from Detroit, the first Isaiah, and he was telling me, real, well,
(05:11):
we typically talk about best player in the world and
best player of all time. We're typically talking about players
six foot six and over. We don't even give guards,
point guards, small point guards a chance to be in
that conversation. Historically, that has been legitimate because the game
has been based on height, and only two small players
(05:34):
in history have led their teams and championships, Isaiah Thomas
and Steph Curry. But now the game has changed to
a point guard, wing player dominated league, a jump shot
dominated league, a three point dominated league. So there is
no legitimate reason that being the case to keep Steph
(05:57):
Curry out of the conversation for best in the world.
There's nothing he can't do offensively. He's a tremendous passer,
ball handler obviously, shooter, can finish at the rim, can
do it in the mid range. He's not a great defender,
but he's a smart defender who gives effort, and so
that shouldn't keep him out of the conversation. The best
(06:20):
way to determine who's the better player, because some guys
are so many different sizes, different skill sets, is impact
on the game. If you have superstar statistics and you
have a huge impact on winning, that's how you determine
the best player. For example, you can't how you compare
a Shock and Kobe. You really can't based on any
(06:44):
type of skill set or anything like that. You just
have to say who impacted the game more. And when
you define best player by who impacts the game more.
If Steph If, I'm not saying he's definitely a best
player in the world right now, but I'm saying, if
he leads the Golden State Warriors to the NBA Championship
(07:06):
without Kevin Durant, there is no reason whatsoever to say
he is not the best player in the world. No reason.
He impact. He's changed the freaking game all over the league,
and he has a tremendous impact on winning, and he's
got superstar numbers. Why in the world can he be
(07:28):
the best player in the world, because whenever you talk
about this, this is that whole thing. If that he
changed the game, all leagues of copycat leagues, whatever works,
so they see a little guy just hit me out,
you got your time, All leagues of copycat leagues or
something's working, that's what they go and do. If there's
a mobile quarterback who helps the team win, okay, they
(07:49):
go do go get a mobile cart. I get it,
all right. And even in STEP's case, who is it though,
that's the that's the main man who's been able to
help them win championships. It's the seventh footer. It ain't
no little midget who's running around throwing up three points.
I'm saying you're talking about. I'm talking about who's the
seven footer? Is that Kevin Durant. Kevin Durand they won
(08:09):
the championship without Kevin duran No, I mean, I'm talking
about when this team turned the corner after choking, they
turned the corner, they choke. Sit here and say they
didn't turn it. And I'm telling when Kevin Durant, so nobody.
When you show me that other teams win championships, they
don't win them. Golden Stay tugging up on the titles,
(08:31):
just like the impact. I'll give you the perfect example,
Tiger Woods. Everybody bust through the scene, Oh wait and
see what's gonna happen, and all these other golfers coming
behind him. No, there's not one black golfer on the
go on the tour. He didn't have the impact that
everybody thirty was that was gonna change the game. What's
that got to do. I'm just telling you because I
don't believe stay on topics. Steph Curry is a unique situation.
(08:55):
They're not gonna be other guys. When I see small
guys his side winning championship as we go forward, then
maybe I'll give him about changing the game. What about
point shooting? That's fine? What about telling three footers that
are coming places now? That's not due to Steph Curry? No,
that's not. I never really because this is a European
style of basketball and they've been playing I'm just talking
(09:17):
about shooting threes, playing from the perimeter. This is your
own basketball, I know, but this is from where Europe.
This is what's been going on. All I'm telling you
is when I see other smaller Okay, so when other
guys start winning, then I'll take a look and go wild.
The next four or five championships all came from small guards.
(09:40):
Who's putting up threes until I see that he ain't changed,
though he ain't changed the game eight seven, seven ninety
nine on Fox Gosh, I'll be glad to hear from
some of our listeners because that dribble was read whatever.
That wasn't even dribble, because you were yelling at the
top of your life. No, I wasn't. I was making
a point passionately. Be sure to catch live editions of
Odd Couple with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at
(10:03):
seven pm Eastern, four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and the iHeart Radio app. Are you ready the heat?
Like lepron We're going big? It's got own, It's brus
Sard's Big six, all right. Watching Drake do his thing
in the Eastern Conference Finals. Got a brother to thinking.
(10:25):
Who are the sixth greatest celebrity fans in NBA history?
Number six? Kevin Hart. That might shock you, guys. He's
a Philadelphia seventy six ers fan of Philadelphia native. He
has really made his noise in the NBA All Star
Celebrity Game. He's the four time MVP. Deserved it maybe once,
(10:46):
but one four and I give him credit for this.
He tied Draymond Green in a three point shootout at
the twenty sixteen NBA All Star Game, So I'm gonna
give him some props for that. Kevin Hard at number six.
Number five, Donnie Wahberg. That's right from the New Kids
on the Block. He is a Boston Celtics fan, a
(11:09):
huge fan. You might remember he narrated along with ice Cube,
who was doing it for the Lakers side the Great
thirty for thirty documentary on the Lakers and the Celtics
rivalry in the nineteen eighties. Number four, my man e forty.
That's a shocker, but he gets in there at number four.
(11:31):
He has been a staple at Oracle Arena for the
Golden State Warriors during this dynastic run that they've had.
But he was not a Johnny come Lately growing up
in Oakland. He's been a Warriors fan from day one.
Number three Drake, Yeah, Drake is rising up the charts.
(11:51):
I'm telling you, look, I do think the league needs
to put a little bit I don't want to say
a leash but they need to brain him in a
little You can't put You can't be massaging the coach.
You can't be walking around fifteen twenty feet on the sideline.
Stay in front of your your seat for the most part.
(12:12):
But I love the antics, I love the energy. I
love the excitement he's bringing to the game. Next to
you know, he'll be popping towels into the locker room.
You might be the team, all right, Draking number three,
number two, the legendary Jack Nicholson. That's right with the
showtime Lakers alling up through Kobe and Shock for thirty years.
(12:34):
A staple at the Well, the Forum and then the
Staples Center, Jack Nicholson is a anonymous with Laker fans.
You gotta give the old man his props. Number one.
Any care to guess Rob This one seems obvious to me.
Spike Leading, I don't know it is Spike Lead. I mean,
(12:56):
that's what I'm saying. Going back to the nineteen ninety
four nineteen ninety five playoff series between the Knicks and
the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks verse thing Nicks and Spike
Lee and Reggie Miller's interaction was tremendous and give Reggie
credit because he was not the least bit distracted by Spike.
(13:17):
In fact, he was motivated by a Spike and obviously
shut Spike up. But Spike Lee the greatest celebrity fan
in NBA history. Can I give you this. In the
early days when I covered the Knicks, I took the
train down, a train ride from New York to Philadelphia.
Remember when Mark Jackson and the Rod Strickland and them swept.
(13:40):
This was Rick Pattino when they swept the seventy sixers
in the playoffs. I took the whole train ride down
with Spike. I used to be in McDonald's across the
street from Madison Square Garden getting something before we went
into the building when he sat upstairs, so we'd always
been there. Be sure to catch live editions of The
Odd Couple with Chris Broussard and Rob Parker week days
(14:00):
at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific. I don't want
to hear you trying to up your your NBA. I've
got na it is. I'm trying to tell you it's
a bad League. And Steph Curry, we were talking about
steff On Colins shoulder herd Well, of course he's arguably
the best player in the world. And this is just
you know what, I really really your narrative that you're
(14:23):
trying to push out, not tying Barkley said it today,
It shouldn't Barkley, one of the greatest players ever, said
it today. Yeah, but he Charles also said that they
couldn't beat Houston. Rob tell me what Charles said. Charles
Barkley said he made a mistake leaving Steph Curry out
of his top five players in the NBA conversations. That
(14:45):
absolutely Steph is in the conversation among the best in
the world right now. So when he loses the NBA Finals,
where would he be. He's still in the top five.
I'm just curious, yes, because the narrative will all happen.
How does losing in the finals mean you're not in
the top of bron James didn't even make the playoffs.
He's in the top five. I'm talking to rant may
not play again for the rest of it it. I'm talking
(15:05):
about the top When you start looking at either Kawhi
learns a Gubo, he's going home after this series, and
they're still in the top five. What are you talking
about talking about? When you start to look at. Was
he not first Team All NBA When you start looking
at Steph Curry's uh legacy and what happens, this is
the big Finals for him? It really is because of
the narrative that we talk about when we talk about
(15:28):
Katie and we talk about other players. He has to
win this championships, as simple as that, Chris, and if
he doesn't, people will look at him totally different because then, yeah,
as far as like this revolutionary change in the NBA
because he's a small guy, if he loses again, it'll
(15:48):
all of a sudden be Steph has lost two when
he was the main guy. He choked down the first
time ever, three one leading the NBA Finals and the
one championship they did win. Uh, the other team had
two stars hurt. I don't think that. Is that the
narrative for Isaiah Thomas his first title, that Magic Johnson
and Byron Scott were hurt? No? Okay, then then it's
(16:08):
not the narrative for Steph Curry's first finals championship? Is
it the narrative? I'm just telling Lebrin and Kyrie that
Draymond was suspended. Is that the narrative? No, the narrative
is they made a great run and come back from
three one, Draymond Green miss one game, Chris Straight and
they choked? Is the narrative for you saying what they choked? Yes?
(16:30):
So no? Did they No? I'm asking let me answer
the question, Russell No of a yes or to give
the Cleveland Cavaliers credit. I'm not for a heroic comeback. Secondly, yes,
anytime you're up three one, you ought to win the series.
(16:51):
If you don't, you choke. Okay, so I'll give you that.
This should be fair. Who hasn't choked other than Michael Jordans.
That's why he's the Because we can go down the
line Magic Johnson, Tragic Johnson in nineteen You keep bringing
up point. No, I'm gonna go on. Since you want
to bring it up like Steph Curry and and Draymond
(17:14):
Green and Clay Times and only people to choke. How
about our love, our dude, we love Isaiah Thomas. Game
five in the Eastern Conference Finals with the Boston Celtics,
Game is one, he throws it away, Larry Burner, Lamb
Beard didn't go to the basketball. He made a mistake,
right right right. I'm just saying this is why Jordan's
the goal. We can't point to a choke moment for MJ.
(17:36):
We saw Lebron melted out again, we can point to
that for every other great player. Kareem won six titles,
only two times was either finals MVP. Karee got swept
NBA finals are doesn't matter that. No, I'm just saying
for you. You you can bring up the NBA finals
like that's like finals MVP is the end all be all. No,
(17:58):
it's a big part like the I think Steph Curry's
average twenty six points a game in the finals not
matter because he hasn't had a finals MVP. Why not.
I'm just look he it would help him and he
should get a finals MVP on his resume. But you
act like because a player doesn't have a finals MVP,
it's almost like he didn't win the championship. That's ridiculous.
(18:21):
If they win the championship this year and he doesn't
get it, and wouldn't it would that be surprising to you?
I wouldn't say surprising. Drays played great like this last series.
I do think Steph, like say, you know they had
a fine an MVP for the Western Conference finals. I
do think step would have won it because he put
(18:42):
because some people were saying My point is that it
could have been co MVPs Steff's numbers. He scored the
most points in a sweep in NBA history. So because
of that, averaging thirty five thirty six points a game,
you he probably would have got it. But Draymond was
pivotal without question in that series. So Rob, you cannot
(19:07):
tell me you okay, I'm gonna ask you because you
keep painting it this way. When he loses the finals.
When he said is the finals, I said, okay, I
don't say that. I said, if he love the final,
what's going to be the narrative? All right, That's what
I said. Ask you. If he wins, I already told you.
If he wins, it'll change everything. People will look at
(19:29):
him totally different. Say if he won and got the MVP,
I think people would say, Okay, he took that step.
He's uh. He maybe is better than authority was. But
I'll wait and see. People think he's fantastic. Not everybody,
it's not it's not everybody that everybody know. There are
a lot of people agree with that. Don't think he's great,
don't think he's at the love in All Time. Great. No,
(19:50):
he's not at the level that you put him at.
What level do I put him? Like I said, you
think he's better than Isaiah Thomas, I don't believe that.
I don't. I don't know. I don't believe he's better
than Isaiah T not at this point. I really don't.
But everybody doesn't believe he's better. I'm just I didn't
say everybody. Lot of people do. It's it be interesting
to see what the breakdown is. But a lot of
people if he lost, would you still think that he's
(20:11):
better than Isaiah? I was talking Isaiah times this morning
about this or your name dropping on No, I'm just
I'm just saying we're gonna get him on the show
next week. Good. But I was talking, well, I mentioned
you and oh yeah Rob, Rob Parker, Yeah yeah, I'm
gonna do me like that. Yeah, T. I said, you
(20:31):
go talk dude six ft Oh yeah yeah. I think
he worked in the choice for a hot minute, right,
But um, I and and and you know he was like, yeah,
I heard you saying Steff's better than me and all that,
And I said, it is fluid with Steph. I mean,
obviously Isaiah's career is done. Look, if he loses this finals,
(20:53):
I'll give it to you, Rob. If he loses this finals,
I will reevaluate. But if he wins it, you know
what I mean, If like I think, obviously he's not
quite in the middle of his career, but he's still
got many years left at least, you would think, I mean,
obviously he's a slender guy, and you know he's had
(21:16):
some injury, so but you would, right, But it remains
to be written, and you're right. Look, if he doesn't
win another championship from this point going forward, then I
probably would reevaluate. So you know what I can't put. So,
say they lose and then Kadi leaves and they never
win again, he would go like, Okay, if he doesn't, right,
(21:38):
if he loses his finals and Katie leaves and they
don't win, yeah, I would probably I would leave towards
Isaiah because, as we've talked before, Isaiah Thomas is the
only star who was the leader of the team, had
his own team. Who can say he beat Larry Bird,
Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson in their prime and he
(21:59):
didn't have an other top fifty. Joe Dumar is a
great player, but when you listen to Top fifty, he's
not in there. No, No, Dennis Robin is not in there. Nope.
So that's what You've never had a top fifty teammate,
which is unbelievable. Right, and Magic had Kareem Worthy, Jamal
Wilkes was a Hall of famer. Uh Byrus Scott was great,
and Bird of course had Parish and mcale and Dennis
(22:21):
Johnson's a Hall of famer. So yeah, it was a
good player. Yeah he was gayer, So yeah, it's interesting.
Uh So I would reevaluate that. But we talked today
on Undisputed. We just in the midst of our conversation
about this Steph and I said, Steph is better than
Alan Iverson? Is that controversial? Is that? I don't think
(22:44):
that's touch controversial. Alan Iverson was a very unique and
a great player as well in his own right. Well,
I don't think that's I'm not I wouldn't fight you
over that. So would you say Steph is in your
book the second best small player of all time? I
don't have to think about that. You got John Stocked
and Bob Kuzy, Steve Nash, Nate, Archibald Nate, Archibald was
(23:07):
an MVP, right, Yeah, his his the problem with Nate
not a problem. He's a Hall of Famer, but his
career was cut short because of the injuries. He really,
when you look at his his resume, if you will,
he really had four healthy seasons where he was at
his best. Then he did go to Boston, didn't won
the championship, but first ring. He was a point guard
(23:29):
on that team. But he wasn't himself. You know, he
was so all right. So you give Steph number two
on your all times small Lebron. I've always said Lebron
was number two. I just said he's not. Michael Jordan
is not as good.
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
to check us out 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 Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching f s R.
(00:25):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. The real news that
we want to get to is Charles Barkley, who gave
mad praise after saying that the Golden State Warriors had
no chance of not only winning the championship, not only
winning the Western Conference, but that they wouldn't beat Houston
(00:48):
without Kevin Durant. He has changes to Rob g What
did Charles Barkley say? Yeah, Charles was on PTI with
Mike will Bonnotony Kornheiser. They asked them, has this last
round against the Blazer has changed the way you feel
about Steph Curry? Now? Recall back in April, he left
Steph out of his top five NBA players, and Charles
responded today, I was one hundred percent wrong. Steph Curry
(01:10):
has put his name back in that conversation. I agree,
best players in the world. KD Yannis Kawhi Lebron. Steph
Curry is proving to us why he's a two time MVP.
I agree. I think Steph Curry has to be in
that conversation for best player in the world. Let me
give you my explanation, Rob and then I know you're
(01:32):
gonna try. I'm not gonna try. I'm I'm gonna spit
fast because yeah, because it's always first. This is the
typical prisoner of the moment. He hadn't been anybody Portland.
Portland wasn't even best Houston, Houston. They suck. They're terrible
my world, Mike Dan, Tony, Chris Paul. None of those
(01:55):
guys can win, Harden. I think they can't win. Now
you thank you win now you did. No, they can't
win whatever. As a group, they can't win. He's a
great he was, he was for a stretch. But I'm
telling you, I'm telling you, Mike Dan, to go back
to when he was with Phoenix. They had the Suns
won sixty games every year, couldn't even get to the finals.
(02:17):
Let Loan have any playoffs success, all right? Let me
so beat in Houston didn't do anything for me, and
beating the also ran Portland trail Blazes didn't do anything.
When when when Steph loses the NBA Finals, I want
you to come back and tell me the top five player,
because then his whole thing will be marred and you'll
look at him totally different. Really, yes, losing the finals
(02:39):
because he's not the top that just means that'll be
he's the author of losing three to one. But first
time in NBA. It's never happened in the NBA finals.
Stop it. It has never happened unless win, until Steph
did it. At least that's the only times he was
up three to one on the seventy three win team
(03:01):
and they showed. Let me tell me about damn Dymond Green.
I want to hear about drey Draymond Green. They had
two other games after that and they lost two or
the three at home. How in the world that's the
best player and the one championship he did win. Kevin
Love was hurt, Kyrie was hurt. They were both hurt.
(03:23):
And he didn't even win the MVP that year of
the finals. Stopping with making this guy greater than he's
a great player, but he ain't no damn top ten.
He's not a top ten player in the world. No, right,
I'm talking about the NBA. I'm talking about a round stever,
We're not talking about im. I'm talking about him stay
(03:44):
on top. No, I'm not. I'm talking about That's not
the question. He Charles Barkley did not say he's the
best player ever, did not say he's top ten player ever.
He said he's in the conversation for top player in
the world right now. He's better. And Kevin Duran, we'll
see what you mean. We'll see Kevin Duran. It's still
(04:04):
better than championship championship. They did it twice without Steph
Curry and Clayson I agree, do that? What do you
mean do that? And without them they wouldn't have won
those championionships. And you know it, go ahead, And that's
why step That's why Steph Curry and them out on
their hands and knees and beg Kad to come join
because they just choked down a championship to look bron
(04:27):
James up three to one, Please come join this. We
need you. You know it's true. Uh, Draymond Green, They're
all begging Katie to come stop. You are you done? No?
Go ahead? Go ahead? No, you think the volume of
your voice is gonna help you argue. Yes, the louder
(04:48):
I am, the more right I am. It's ridiculous. All right,
let me give you some realective NBA analysis. Here we go.
He's objective. Now. This morning, I was talking to good
friend of both of ours, the legendary Isaiah Thomas Zeke
from Detroit, the first Isaiah, and he was telling me, real, well,
(05:11):
we typically talk about best player in the world and
best player of all time. We're typically talking about players
six foot six and over. We don't even give guards,
point guards, small point guards a chance to be in
that conversation. Historically, that has been legitimate because the game
has been based on height, and only two small players
(05:34):
in history have led their teams and championships, Isaiah Thomas
and Steph Curry. But now the game has changed to
a point guard, wing player dominated league, a jump shot
dominated league, a three point dominated league. So there is
no legitimate reason that being the case to keep Steph
(05:57):
Curry out of the conversation for best in the world.
There's nothing he can't do offensively. He's a tremendous passer,
ball handler obviously, shooter, can finish at the rim, can
do it in the mid range. He's not a great defender,
but he's a smart defender who gives effort, and so
that shouldn't keep him out of the conversation. The best
(06:20):
way to determine who's the better player, because some guys
are so many different sizes, different skill sets, is impact
on the game. If you have superstar statistics and you
have a huge impact on winning, that's how you determine
the best player. For example, you can't how you compare
a Shock and Kobe. You really can't based on any
(06:44):
type of skill set or anything like that. You just
have to say who impacted the game more. And when
you define best player by who impacts the game more.
If Steph If, I'm not saying he's definitely a best
player in the world right now, but I'm saying, if
he leads the Golden State Warriors to the NBA Championship
(07:06):
without Kevin Durant, there is no reason whatsoever to say
he is not the best player in the world. No reason.
He impact. He's changed the freaking game all over the league,
and he has a tremendous impact on winning, and he's
got superstar numbers. Why in the world can he be
(07:28):
the best player in the world, because whenever you talk
about this, this is that whole thing. If that he
changed the game, all leagues of copycat leagues, whatever works,
so they see a little guy just hit me out,
you got your time, All leagues of copycat leagues or
something's working, that's what they go and do. If there's
a mobile quarterback who helps the team win, okay, they
(07:49):
go do go get a mobile cart. I get it,
all right. And even in STEP's case, who is it though,
that's the that's the main man who's been able to
help them win championships. It's the seventh footer. It ain't
no little midget who's running around throwing up three points.
I'm saying you're talking about. I'm talking about who's the
seven footer? Is that Kevin Durant. Kevin Durand they won
(08:09):
the championship without Kevin duran No, I mean, I'm talking
about when this team turned the corner after choking, they
turned the corner, they choke. Sit here and say they
didn't turn it. And I'm telling when Kevin Durant, so nobody.
When you show me that other teams win championships, they
don't win them. Golden Stay tugging up on the titles,
(08:31):
just like the impact. I'll give you the perfect example,
Tiger Woods. Everybody bust through the scene, Oh wait and
see what's gonna happen, and all these other golfers coming
behind him. No, there's not one black golfer on the
go on the tour. He didn't have the impact that
everybody thirty was that was gonna change the game. What's
that got to do. I'm just telling you because I
don't believe stay on topics. Steph Curry is a unique situation.
(08:55):
They're not gonna be other guys. When I see small
guys his side winning championship as we go forward, then
maybe I'll give him about changing the game. What about
point shooting? That's fine? What about telling three footers that
are coming places now? That's not due to Steph Curry? No,
that's not. I never really because this is a European
style of basketball and they've been playing I'm just talking
(09:17):
about shooting threes, playing from the perimeter. This is your
own basketball, I know, but this is from where Europe.
This is what's been going on. All I'm telling you
is when I see other smaller Okay, so when other
guys start winning, then I'll take a look and go wild.
The next four or five championships all came from small guards.
(09:40):
Who's putting up threes until I see that he ain't changed,
though he ain't changed the game eight seven, seven ninety
nine on Fox Gosh, I'll be glad to hear from
some of our listeners because that dribble was read whatever.
That wasn't even dribble, because you were yelling at the
top of your life. No, I wasn't. I was making
a point passionately. Be sure to catch live editions of
Odd Couple with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at
(10:03):
seven pm Eastern, four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and the iHeart Radio app. Are you ready the heat?
Like lepron We're going big? It's got own, It's brus
Sard's Big six, all right. Watching Drake do his thing
in the Eastern Conference Finals. Got a brother to thinking.
(10:25):
Who are the sixth greatest celebrity fans in NBA history?
Number six? Kevin Hart. That might shock you, guys. He's
a Philadelphia seventy six ers fan of Philadelphia native. He
has really made his noise in the NBA All Star
Celebrity Game. He's the four time MVP. Deserved it maybe once,
(10:46):
but one four and I give him credit for this.
He tied Draymond Green in a three point shootout at
the twenty sixteen NBA All Star Game, So I'm gonna
give him some props for that. Kevin Hard at number six.
Number five, Donnie Wahberg. That's right from the New Kids
on the Block. He is a Boston Celtics fan, a
(11:09):
huge fan. You might remember he narrated along with ice Cube,
who was doing it for the Lakers side the Great
thirty for thirty documentary on the Lakers and the Celtics
rivalry in the nineteen eighties. Number four, my man e forty.
That's a shocker, but he gets in there at number four.
(11:31):
He has been a staple at Oracle Arena for the
Golden State Warriors during this dynastic run that they've had.
But he was not a Johnny come Lately growing up
in Oakland. He's been a Warriors fan from day one.
Number three Drake, Yeah, Drake is rising up the charts.
(11:51):
I'm telling you, look, I do think the league needs
to put a little bit I don't want to say
a leash but they need to brain him in a
little You can't put You can't be massaging the coach.
You can't be walking around fifteen twenty feet on the sideline.
Stay in front of your your seat for the most part.
(12:12):
But I love the antics, I love the energy. I
love the excitement he's bringing to the game. Next to
you know, he'll be popping towels into the locker room.
You might be the team, all right, Draking number three,
number two, the legendary Jack Nicholson. That's right with the
showtime Lakers alling up through Kobe and Shock for thirty years.
(12:34):
A staple at the Well, the Forum and then the
Staples Center, Jack Nicholson is a anonymous with Laker fans.
You gotta give the old man his props. Number one.
Any care to guess Rob This one seems obvious to me.
Spike Leading, I don't know it is Spike Lead. I mean,
(12:56):
that's what I'm saying. Going back to the nineteen ninety
four nineteen ninety five playoff series between the Knicks and
the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks verse thing Nicks and Spike
Lee and Reggie Miller's interaction was tremendous and give Reggie
credit because he was not the least bit distracted by Spike.
(13:17):
In fact, he was motivated by a Spike and obviously
shut Spike up. But Spike Lee the greatest celebrity fan
in NBA history. Can I give you this. In the
early days when I covered the Knicks, I took the
train down, a train ride from New York to Philadelphia.
Remember when Mark Jackson and the Rod Strickland and them swept.
(13:40):
This was Rick Pattino when they swept the seventy sixers
in the playoffs. I took the whole train ride down
with Spike. I used to be in McDonald's across the
street from Madison Square Garden getting something before we went
into the building when he sat upstairs, so we'd always
been there. Be sure to catch live editions of The
Odd Couple with Chris Broussard and Rob Parker week days
(14:00):
at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific. I don't want
to hear you trying to up your your NBA. I've
got na it is. I'm trying to tell you it's
a bad League. And Steph Curry, we were talking about
steff On Colins shoulder herd Well, of course he's arguably
the best player in the world. And this is just
you know what, I really really your narrative that you're
(14:23):
trying to push out, not tying Barkley said it today,
It shouldn't Barkley, one of the greatest players ever, said
it today. Yeah, but he Charles also said that they
couldn't beat Houston. Rob tell me what Charles said. Charles
Barkley said he made a mistake leaving Steph Curry out
of his top five players in the NBA conversations. That
(14:45):
absolutely Steph is in the conversation among the best in
the world right now. So when he loses the NBA Finals,
where would he be. He's still in the top five.
I'm just curious, yes, because the narrative will all happen.
How does losing in the finals mean you're not in
the top of bron James didn't even make the playoffs.
He's in the top five. I'm talking to rant may
not play again for the rest of it it. I'm talking
(15:05):
about the top When you start looking at either Kawhi
learns a Gubo, he's going home after this series, and
they're still in the top five. What are you talking
about talking about? When you start to look at. Was
he not first Team All NBA When you start looking
at Steph Curry's uh legacy and what happens, this is
the big Finals for him? It really is because of
the narrative that we talk about when we talk about
(15:28):
Katie and we talk about other players. He has to
win this championships, as simple as that, Chris, and if
he doesn't, people will look at him totally different because then, yeah,
as far as like this revolutionary change in the NBA
because he's a small guy, if he loses again, it'll
(15:48):
all of a sudden be Steph has lost two when
he was the main guy. He choked down the first
time ever, three one leading the NBA Finals and the
one championship they did win. Uh, the other team had
two stars hurt. I don't think that. Is that the
narrative for Isaiah Thomas his first title, that Magic Johnson
and Byron Scott were hurt? No? Okay, then then it's
(16:08):
not the narrative for Steph Curry's first finals championship? Is
it the narrative? I'm just telling Lebrin and Kyrie that
Draymond was suspended. Is that the narrative? No, the narrative
is they made a great run and come back from
three one, Draymond Green miss one game, Chris Straight and
they choked? Is the narrative for you saying what they choked? Yes?
(16:30):
So no? Did they No? I'm asking let me answer
the question, Russell No of a yes or to give
the Cleveland Cavaliers credit. I'm not for a heroic comeback. Secondly, yes,
anytime you're up three one, you ought to win the series.
(16:51):
If you don't, you choke. Okay, so I'll give you that.
This should be fair. Who hasn't choked other than Michael Jordans.
That's why he's the Because we can go down the
line Magic Johnson, Tragic Johnson in nineteen You keep bringing
up point. No, I'm gonna go on. Since you want
to bring it up like Steph Curry and and Draymond
(17:14):
Green and Clay Times and only people to choke. How
about our love, our dude, we love Isaiah Thomas. Game
five in the Eastern Conference Finals with the Boston Celtics,
Game is one, he throws it away, Larry Burner, Lamb
Beard didn't go to the basketball. He made a mistake,
right right right. I'm just saying this is why Jordan's
the goal. We can't point to a choke moment for MJ.
(17:36):
We saw Lebron melted out again, we can point to
that for every other great player. Kareem won six titles,
only two times was either finals MVP. Karee got swept
NBA finals are doesn't matter that. No, I'm just saying
for you. You you can bring up the NBA finals
like that's like finals MVP is the end all be all. No,
(17:58):
it's a big part like the I think Steph Curry's
average twenty six points a game in the finals not
matter because he hasn't had a finals MVP. Why not.
I'm just look he it would help him and he
should get a finals MVP on his resume. But you
act like because a player doesn't have a finals MVP,
it's almost like he didn't win the championship. That's ridiculous.
(18:21):
If they win the championship this year and he doesn't
get it, and wouldn't it would that be surprising to you?
I wouldn't say surprising. Drays played great like this last series.
I do think Steph, like say, you know they had
a fine an MVP for the Western Conference finals. I
do think step would have won it because he put
(18:42):
because some people were saying My point is that it
could have been co MVPs Steff's numbers. He scored the
most points in a sweep in NBA history. So because
of that, averaging thirty five thirty six points a game,
you he probably would have got it. But Draymond was
pivotal without question in that series. So Rob, you cannot
(19:07):
tell me you okay, I'm gonna ask you because you
keep painting it this way. When he loses the finals.
When he said is the finals, I said, okay, I
don't say that. I said, if he love the final,
what's going to be the narrative? All right, That's what
I said. Ask you. If he wins, I already told you.
If he wins, it'll change everything. People will look at
(19:29):
him totally different. Say if he won and got the MVP,
I think people would say, Okay, he took that step.
He's uh. He maybe is better than authority was. But
I'll wait and see. People think he's fantastic. Not everybody,
it's not it's not everybody that everybody know. There are
a lot of people agree with that. Don't think he's great,
don't think he's at the love in All Time. Great. No,
(19:50):
he's not at the level that you put him at.
What level do I put him? Like I said, you
think he's better than Isaiah Thomas, I don't believe that.
I don't. I don't know. I don't believe he's better
than Isaiah T not at this point. I really don't.
But everybody doesn't believe he's better. I'm just I didn't
say everybody. Lot of people do. It's it be interesting
to see what the breakdown is. But a lot of
people if he lost, would you still think that he's
(20:11):
better than Isaiah? I was talking Isaiah times this morning
about this or your name dropping on No, I'm just
I'm just saying we're gonna get him on the show
next week. Good. But I was talking, well, I mentioned
you and oh yeah Rob, Rob Parker, Yeah yeah, I'm
gonna do me like that. Yeah, T. I said, you
(20:31):
go talk dude six ft Oh yeah yeah. I think
he worked in the choice for a hot minute, right,
But um, I and and and you know he was like, yeah,
I heard you saying Steff's better than me and all that,
And I said, it is fluid with Steph. I mean,
obviously Isaiah's career is done. Look, if he loses this finals,
(20:53):
I'll give it to you, Rob. If he loses this finals,
I will reevaluate. But if he wins it, you know
what I mean, If like I think, obviously he's not
quite in the middle of his career, but he's still
got many years left at least, you would think, I mean,
obviously he's a slender guy, and you know he's had
(21:16):
some injury, so but you would, right, But it remains
to be written, and you're right. Look, if he doesn't
win another championship from this point going forward, then I
probably would reevaluate. So you know what I can't put. So,
say they lose and then Kadi leaves and they never
win again, he would go like, Okay, if he doesn't, right,
(21:38):
if he loses his finals and Katie leaves and they
don't win, yeah, I would probably I would leave towards
Isaiah because, as we've talked before, Isaiah Thomas is the
only star who was the leader of the team, had
his own team. Who can say he beat Larry Bird,
Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson in their prime and he
(21:59):
didn't have an other top fifty. Joe Dumar is a
great player, but when you listen to Top fifty, he's
not in there. No, No, Dennis Robin is not in there. Nope.
So that's what You've never had a top fifty teammate,
which is unbelievable. Right, and Magic had Kareem Worthy, Jamal
Wilkes was a Hall of famer. Uh Byrus Scott was great,
and Bird of course had Parish and mcale and Dennis
(22:21):
Johnson's a Hall of famer. So yeah, it was a
good player. Yeah he was gayer, So yeah, it's interesting.
Uh So I would reevaluate that. But we talked today
on Undisputed. We just in the midst of our conversation
about this Steph and I said, Steph is better than
Alan Iverson? Is that controversial? Is that? I don't think
(22:44):
that's touch controversial. Alan Iverson was a very unique and
a great player as well in his own right. Well,
I don't think that's I'm not I wouldn't fight you
over that. So would you say Steph is in your
book the second best small player of all time? I
don't have to think about that. You got John Stocked
and Bob Kuzy, Steve Nash, Nate, Archibald Nate, Archibald was
(23:07):
an MVP, right, Yeah, his his the problem with Nate
not a problem. He's a Hall of Famer, but his
career was cut short because of the injuries. He really,
when you look at his his resume, if you will,
he really had four healthy seasons where he was at
his best. Then he did go to Boston, didn't won
the championship, but first ring. He was a point guard
(23:29):
on that team. But he wasn't himself. You know, he
was so all right. So you give Steph number two
on your all times small Lebron. I've always said Lebron
was number two. I just said he's not. Michael Jordan
is not as good.
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kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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