October 21, 2023 • 21 mins
The Iceman has a new book out co-written with Scoop Jackson and joins Marc Stein to talk about "Ice: Why I Was Born To Score." In this lively convo, Stein asks Gervin about his famed finger roll, what he likes about today's NBA and, of course, San Antonio's new darling: Victor Wembanyama.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to this League uncut. Can you rule of twenty
four hour NBA News. This's you, Chris Haynes. It's so time,
work's time, It's so time. This League Uncut is underway
and on fire.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
This should be a good one.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Hey, everyone, welcome in to a special solo edition of
this League Uncut. Mark Stein here with you with a
special treat While Chris Haynes is in transit to his
next glamorous assignment, I had the absolute tremendous privilege to
visit with true NBA royalty, the legendary George Gervin, the
(00:51):
Hall of Famer member of both the NBA's fiftieth and
seventy fifth Anniversary teams. Man year old Mark Stein is
pinching himself right now because George Gervin was one of
the true giants of the game when I began to
(01:11):
be seduced and mesmerized by the NBA. We're talking mid
to late nineteen seventies. George has a new book out
Ice Why I Was Born to Score. It's from Triumph Books.
He co wrote it with my former ESPN teammate Scoop Jackson,
So the iceman. He joined me to talk about his
(01:34):
motivation for doing the book. We got into the genesis
of his famed finger. Roll couldn't resist asking for his
take on Victor Webbinyama as Victor Webbin Yama's regular season
debut draws Near. Talked about how much of the modern
NBA he consumes and other important historical stuff. I really
(01:56):
think when you listen, you're going to be able to
pick up the app solute joy in my voice. I
can't help it. This is how I get when I
talk to players from the nineteen seventies. I'm a kid
again when I get to visit with these guys and
it's their basketball cards coming to life for me. And
it really does bother me so much that the history
(02:18):
of the game pre nineteen eighties has been so poorly preserved.
And that's another reason why I love talking to players
from this generation and telling their stories. I mean, we
talk about this in the interview as well. On the
last day of the nineteen seventy seven to seventy eight season,
which was really the first season that I was plugged
(02:41):
into as a young fan where I really understood what
was going on that season, George Gervin and David Thompson
engaged in the greatest scoring race duel this league has
ever seen. And for me, it's the first memory of
something special and massive and this big national story that
I actually remember following. Had to do it all on
(03:04):
radio at that time, but still I was tracking this,
and I talk to George about that as well and
kind of get the explanation from him which I'd never
heard before. There's no footage of this. You can't go
on YouTube and see anything of this incredible final day
of the regular season where David Thompson throws down seventy
three points and George Gervin answers with sixty three to
(03:27):
win the scoring title. So we get into all that,
you guys can tell I'm absolutely giddy here. It is
my visit with no further delay, my visit with the iceman,
George Gervin. This everyone is an absolute treat. Nine year
old me honestly cannot believe this is happening. The Mavericks.
(03:49):
They open the season Wednesday night at San Antonio. And
when you think of the Spurs, especially if you live
in this area, you think of Tim Duncan you think
of Greg Pots the bitch of David Robinson, of Timmy
and the Admiral together of Duncan, flanked by Tony Parker
and Monti Ginobili. And now, of course you think about
(04:10):
Victor Wembinyama. But before all of them, before all of that,
For someone like me who fell in love with the
NBA in the nineteen seventies, the man synonymous with the
San Antonio Spurs was number forty four, George Gervin, the
iceman right there with Doctor J and Bob McAdoo, as
(04:33):
the most feared scorer of his generation, and in no dispute,
one of the most impossibly cool players we have ever
seen in this league. He has a new book out
ice Why I Was Born to Score, co authored with
my palace Scoop Jackson via Triumph Books. And it is
a tremendous honor for me to say that the George
(04:56):
Gervin joins me right now, mister Irvin, the heartiest of
welcomes to you, sir ah.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
What a what an introduction? Hey, how you doing? Good?
Good to hear from you, mo man it is.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
It is so good to be with you. And I
just got the book the other day.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
And you know you last played in an NBA game
in nineteen eighty six. You played a few more seasons
in Europe after that. But we're talking nearly forty years
since NBA fans had a chance to watch you unleash
the finger roll. So what what made you want to
do a book now after all these years?
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Well, I was approached, you know, I mean I never
really considered doing one. But you know a couple of
my buddies, Mark Thomas Shaw, who's been with Nike for
for thirty forty years, and Charlie Roseen Fly, you know,
(05:57):
who worked with the NBA for thirty forty years. They
was helping me with my documentary. You know, I got
a documentary also coming out later this year, and they say, uh, I,
you know, let's think about doing a book also. So
I disagreed and sat down with Scoop and kind of
(06:19):
went over some old memoirs. Man. So kind of why
I just decided to do it.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
I have to ask about the finger roll because it's
it's rare when an NBA player becomes synonymous with a
single shot. Obviously Kareem and the Skyhook. Everyone here in
Dallas knows that Dirk Noavisky with the one legged fadeaway.
But when if someone says finger roll to me, that
(06:46):
is George Gervin's shot. Is that something you learned you're
born with? Like, how did that shot evolve? And what
age were you when that became like a trustable part
of your offensive game.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Well, I'm in the pros. I mean, I didn't really
do that in you know, high school or college. But
you know, it's like everything else, I didn't have to
reinvent the wheel. And if you think about it, Connie
Hawkins had his own version of the Fanker roll, who
was one of my guys. I looked up to Doctor
j who you know obviously had his own version of
(07:21):
the finger roll. And then wil Chamberlain, you know, had
his own version, you know, called the Dipper. So to
be able to study them three gentlemen, and I emulated them,
you know, that's when I started doing it. And you know,
I just created my own version, you know, of what
I saw with them three pros. And wow, like you say,
(07:46):
I mean it became part of my game. So again
when you say finger roll, yes, first thing, most people
I ain't gonna say everybody, they say, oh wow, George Gervin,
to be proud if fee you know, saw that gentleman,
you know person do a finger role. So I am
(08:08):
two shot tshnomenas like you say, a hook shot and
finger role. Now that's incredible to me because I never
created it for that type of fame that it game,
but it's a part of who I am and who
I was as a player.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Well.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
I love though that you paid homage to both Wilt
and Connie Hawkins, because obviously I was I didn't get
to see them in their prime, and it's just it's
a great reminder that you know, there is so much
history in this game that is forgotten. It's actually one
of my big complaints. We don't we don't do a
good job in basketball of recognizing our history. So that's
(08:52):
why that's why I'm so excited to talk to you today,
because you know, I'm a child of the seventies and
the eighties, so obviously I'm more familiar with you than
getting see those guys. But it's great that you reminded
the audience of what those two gentlemen were capable of
as well. Do you like watching today's NBA?
Speaker 1 (09:10):
I do? I mean think about it that I like
it because I know I'm a part of the foundation,
you know, the game or anything can't grow without a
solid foundation. And again you talk about history. You know,
I don't think that today's analysts talk enough about the
(09:32):
history and the foundation that make this game what it
is today. So yes, I enjoy watching it. I enjoy
watching evolution. I think when Golden State wanted their first
year from the outside, we saw the evolution of basketball change.
Because you think about it. When I played in the
(09:53):
seventies and eighties, the game was played inside out. Not
a game is being played outside in. So that aspect
of what I'm seeing with my eyes is fun for
me to be able to see the game change like that,
and people still enjoy it, and I still enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
When you watch today's NBA, how often do you think
to yourself, what would my career have been like had
the three point shot been so accepted the way it
is now. I mean, obviously you played five six years
with a three pointer, but in those days still it
was considered a bad shot and guys didn't shoot it.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
It was a very it was. It was just taken
a lot less than it is now.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Well, it's still a bad shot. I mean, probably one
of the worst percentage shots in the game. For me,
I like taking good shots. You know, if you do
any history on me, in my game, I shot fifty
one percent career, So that mean I took a lot
of shots that I knew I could make. So that's
(10:58):
how I looked at the game, you know. So I
didn't take a lot of three point shots. But see,
I'm from a league, the ABA that had the three
punt shot, and they ingraded it in the NBA. So
I'm going we talked about history. I'm still proud to
(11:19):
be a part of something that I'm a part of
the foundation. So you know, for me, the three point
shot is a good shot. I think they're gonna try
to come up with a four point shot one day.
These guys can shoot the ball so deep, but it's
still entertainment. You know, the game is still entertaining, you know,
to be able to see like Seth Curry shoot the
(11:42):
ball that deep, but Kevin Durant shoot the ball that deep. Lillard,
you know now with Milwaukee can shoot it that deep.
So you know, I'm excited to continue to watch the game,
and I'm really excited about what we have down here
this year to see the say five guy play.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
I'm glad you set me up now, because that's exactly
where I want to go next. Victor Wenbanyama, tell me
you're early impressive of him, because as you mentioned, you know,
you you have seen.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
All the greats. You saw Wilt in his prime.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
But I think it's safe to say with Victor webber Yama,
we have never seen a man of this size move
the way he does.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
And do some of the things that he's doing on
the floor.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
You know, we get ready to see another evolution. We're
getting ready to experience the game changing again with young
men coming in like Victor. You know, he's special For me.
I don't look at his size, but I do look
(12:49):
at his side. But he played not like a guy
that's steven five. I mean he played like a six
y nine or six eight guy where he can handle
the ball, he can pull up and shoot a jumper.
He stretched over you and dunk. This is an exciting
time for the NBA, see because you got that boy
(13:11):
in Oakland. I mean not Oakland, Okay, ce Chat right,
Chat holder, who's another seven foot that can handle that
can shoot it, that understand how to play. You got
some more chihids coming in in college right now. That's
seven foot that's starting to move like guards and and
(13:35):
three like forwards and stuff. So we're getting ready to
see another evolution of the game changing. So I'm so
proud that we have a Victor, and I'm real proud
of him because you know, under the pops tootli, you know,
Pop gonna help him understand his role, you know, not
just off the floor but on the floor, you know.
(13:59):
And I think that's gonna be a good advantage for Victor.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Luka Doncic and what you think about his game because
obviously Wednesday, that's kind of the feature matchup, even though
they're not going head to head positionally, two Europeans Victor
wenman Yama, the Spurs rookie, and Luka Doncic, the MAVs
superstar from Slovenia.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
What do you see when you watch Luca greatness?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Luca could play. You know, my son who lives over
in Stockholm Switeen, you know, had a chance to see
him when he was young. And I don't know where
Luca got drafted at, but my son kept saying, Dad,
he should have been drafted higher because he can flat
out play. So I already had an introduction to him,
(14:45):
you know, early on in his career, and he'd improved
everybody wrong that didn't pick him way up there, you know,
because he can he know how to play, he can score,
He tough, you know, he loved a game and he
want to win. And I think with Kyrie there, they're
(15:09):
gonna present problems with a lot of teams this year.
You know now that Kyrie then spent a year down
or a half a year down there with him, I
think that that them two guys man gonna really be special. Man.
So I'm a I'm a big fan of Luke. You know.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
I look at this book cover and it's you know,
it's the shot from you from the famed Nike poster.
Anyone my age, we all love this poster of you
sitting on the block of ice. And I mean, I
can still picture my first George Gervin basketball card. You're
dribbling with your left hand against Phil Shineer. I can
see it. I can see it in my head.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
You know.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
One of the revelations in your book, you talked about
how late in your career you had a chance to
go to the Showtime Lakers. The Spurs basically came to
you and said we can trade you to the Lakers,
and you told the Spurs you didn't want to be
traded to the Lakers. And you know how it is
now in the modern era, all we do is talk
about championships. If you don't have a championship, you know
(16:12):
that that gets thrown in the player's face. But why
did you resist that? And all these years later, how
do you feel about that decision?
Speaker 1 (16:21):
I feel great about it, you know. You know, I
didn't want to be with somebody that beat me. I
wanted to beat them back, you know. And I had
that opportunity to play with the Lakers. Jerry Bush called
Androlo drozers at that time. They would give up three
first round draft picks with Gerbin to play with Magic
(16:44):
and them guys. And I said, I don't want to
play with them. I want to beat them. You know.
So I'm from an era that I don't join somebody
to be strong. I felt what I had was good
enough to beat anybody. The team that was surrounded with me.
I really felt we could beat the Lakers with artists
(17:06):
and Mike Mitchell and you know, Johnny Moore than guys man.
I thought we had a real and still felt we
had a real good basketball team. On Stein. So I
didn't want to go and you know, and leave my
guys and and go and play with the Lakers just
to win a championship. You know, I wanted to compete
(17:27):
against the Lakers. I wanted to beat the best. Now
it never happened, but I still wanted to have that
opportunity to do it. And that's why I decided to
stay in San Antono. And I'm glad I did well.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
You did, And like I said, we can talk about
all those Spurs that I mentioned off the top, but
no one is as synonymous with the San Antonio Spurs
as you, George Gervin. It has been an absolute pleasure, sir,
to speak with you on this show. I wish you
all the success with your new book. Can't wait to
see the new doc. I did think of one last
(18:01):
thing I have to throw you if it's okay, because
the scoring race with David Thompson in nineteen seventy eight.
For me, that's something I remember vividly as a young fan.
It's one of my first NBA memories. You and David
Thompson with the scoring race that went down to the
final day of the season. Does it shock you like
there's no TV footage of that anywhere. How crazy is
(18:23):
that that, Like, you can't even you can't even watch
what happened that day when you and the two of
you just staged an absolute duo for the ages.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
You know, you think, but then you know, you really
wonder what happened, you know at that time. I mean
it was for the scoring race, and David took it
over early in that afternoon, So you know, it would
have been nice if we did have some footage to
show the opportunity that I had. I needed fifty nine
(18:55):
and I end up getting sixty three in thirty three minutes.
That it would have been nice to see. But as
I did research, I found out that I think that
was the same time have a Check was retiring. So
if that was the case, then I understand that because
you know, I always appreciated his game and what he
(19:17):
brought to the game, So you know, it was one
of them unfortunate situations. Man. But when we have people
like you that keep reminding folks that that was one
of the greatest scoring race in the history of basketball,
that's enough for me.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Well, you are absolutely right.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
I was a Buffalo Braves fan and hav the check
was finishing his career against the Buffalo Braves, so I
guess that soaked up whatever attention there was. But it
truly is a shame that you cannot even see a
single bucket. David Thompson scores seventy three points to take
the scoring lead. George Gervin answers with sixty three points
to snatch it back. An incredible end to the seventy
(19:59):
seven seventy eighteen and George, thanks again so much for
joining me. This really means a lot to me.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Hey, I appreciate you, man, and I appreciate your love man,
as you showed me all these years.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Okay, all right, everyone greatly appreciate you tuning in for
this special solo interview edition of This League Uncut. Do
not worry. Chris Haynes and I will be back together
again very soon for an episode that sets the table
for the season ahead, season number seventy eight for the NBA.
(20:32):
Please remember, if you haven't already, please remember to rate, review,
and subscribe to This League Uncut via Apple Podcasts or
Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Thanks again for
joining us. We will be back with you with a
fresh helping of this League Uncut very very soon.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
And that'll do it for us. See you next time.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
This League UNCUTTA is an iHeartRadio production.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Circle locket Chris Hanes and Mark Stein
Welcome to this League uncut. Can you rule of twenty
four hour NBA News. This's you, Chris Haynes. It's so time,
work's time, It's so time. This League Uncut is underway
and on fire.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
This should be a good one.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Hey, everyone, welcome in to a special solo edition of
this League Uncut. Mark Stein here with you with a
special treat While Chris Haynes is in transit to his
next glamorous assignment, I had the absolute tremendous privilege to
visit with true NBA royalty, the legendary George Gervin, the
(00:51):
Hall of Famer member of both the NBA's fiftieth and
seventy fifth Anniversary teams. Man year old Mark Stein is
pinching himself right now because George Gervin was one of
the true giants of the game when I began to
(01:11):
be seduced and mesmerized by the NBA. We're talking mid
to late nineteen seventies. George has a new book out
Ice Why I Was Born to Score. It's from Triumph Books.
He co wrote it with my former ESPN teammate Scoop Jackson,
So the iceman. He joined me to talk about his
(01:34):
motivation for doing the book. We got into the genesis
of his famed finger. Roll couldn't resist asking for his
take on Victor Webbinyama as Victor Webbin Yama's regular season
debut draws Near. Talked about how much of the modern
NBA he consumes and other important historical stuff. I really
(01:56):
think when you listen, you're going to be able to
pick up the app solute joy in my voice. I
can't help it. This is how I get when I
talk to players from the nineteen seventies. I'm a kid
again when I get to visit with these guys and
it's their basketball cards coming to life for me. And
it really does bother me so much that the history
(02:18):
of the game pre nineteen eighties has been so poorly preserved.
And that's another reason why I love talking to players
from this generation and telling their stories. I mean, we
talk about this in the interview as well. On the
last day of the nineteen seventy seven to seventy eight season,
which was really the first season that I was plugged
(02:41):
into as a young fan where I really understood what
was going on that season, George Gervin and David Thompson
engaged in the greatest scoring race duel this league has
ever seen. And for me, it's the first memory of
something special and massive and this big national story that
I actually remember following. Had to do it all on
(03:04):
radio at that time, but still I was tracking this,
and I talk to George about that as well and
kind of get the explanation from him which I'd never
heard before. There's no footage of this. You can't go
on YouTube and see anything of this incredible final day
of the regular season where David Thompson throws down seventy
three points and George Gervin answers with sixty three to
(03:27):
win the scoring title. So we get into all that,
you guys can tell I'm absolutely giddy here. It is
my visit with no further delay, my visit with the iceman,
George Gervin. This everyone is an absolute treat. Nine year
old me honestly cannot believe this is happening. The Mavericks.
(03:49):
They open the season Wednesday night at San Antonio. And
when you think of the Spurs, especially if you live
in this area, you think of Tim Duncan you think
of Greg Pots the bitch of David Robinson, of Timmy
and the Admiral together of Duncan, flanked by Tony Parker
and Monti Ginobili. And now, of course you think about
(04:10):
Victor Wembinyama. But before all of them, before all of that,
For someone like me who fell in love with the
NBA in the nineteen seventies, the man synonymous with the
San Antonio Spurs was number forty four, George Gervin, the
iceman right there with Doctor J and Bob McAdoo, as
(04:33):
the most feared scorer of his generation, and in no dispute,
one of the most impossibly cool players we have ever
seen in this league. He has a new book out
ice Why I Was Born to Score, co authored with
my palace Scoop Jackson via Triumph Books. And it is
a tremendous honor for me to say that the George
(04:56):
Gervin joins me right now, mister Irvin, the heartiest of
welcomes to you, sir ah.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
What a what an introduction? Hey, how you doing? Good?
Good to hear from you, mo man it is.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
It is so good to be with you. And I
just got the book the other day.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
And you know you last played in an NBA game
in nineteen eighty six. You played a few more seasons
in Europe after that. But we're talking nearly forty years
since NBA fans had a chance to watch you unleash
the finger roll. So what what made you want to
do a book now after all these years?
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Well, I was approached, you know, I mean I never
really considered doing one. But you know a couple of
my buddies, Mark Thomas Shaw, who's been with Nike for
for thirty forty years, and Charlie Roseen Fly, you know,
(05:57):
who worked with the NBA for thirty forty years. They
was helping me with my documentary. You know, I got
a documentary also coming out later this year, and they say, uh, I,
you know, let's think about doing a book also. So
I disagreed and sat down with Scoop and kind of
(06:19):
went over some old memoirs. Man. So kind of why
I just decided to do it.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
I have to ask about the finger roll because it's
it's rare when an NBA player becomes synonymous with a
single shot. Obviously Kareem and the Skyhook. Everyone here in
Dallas knows that Dirk Noavisky with the one legged fadeaway.
But when if someone says finger roll to me, that
(06:46):
is George Gervin's shot. Is that something you learned you're
born with? Like, how did that shot evolve? And what
age were you when that became like a trustable part
of your offensive game.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Well, I'm in the pros. I mean, I didn't really
do that in you know, high school or college. But
you know, it's like everything else, I didn't have to
reinvent the wheel. And if you think about it, Connie
Hawkins had his own version of the Fanker roll, who
was one of my guys. I looked up to Doctor
j who you know obviously had his own version of
(07:21):
the finger roll. And then wil Chamberlain, you know, had
his own version, you know, called the Dipper. So to
be able to study them three gentlemen, and I emulated them,
you know, that's when I started doing it. And you know,
I just created my own version, you know, of what
I saw with them three pros. And wow, like you say,
(07:46):
I mean it became part of my game. So again
when you say finger roll, yes, first thing, most people
I ain't gonna say everybody, they say, oh wow, George Gervin,
to be proud if fee you know, saw that gentleman,
you know person do a finger role. So I am
(08:08):
two shot tshnomenas like you say, a hook shot and
finger role. Now that's incredible to me because I never
created it for that type of fame that it game,
but it's a part of who I am and who
I was as a player.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Well.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
I love though that you paid homage to both Wilt
and Connie Hawkins, because obviously I was I didn't get
to see them in their prime, and it's just it's
a great reminder that you know, there is so much
history in this game that is forgotten. It's actually one
of my big complaints. We don't we don't do a
good job in basketball of recognizing our history. So that's
(08:52):
why that's why I'm so excited to talk to you today,
because you know, I'm a child of the seventies and
the eighties, so obviously I'm more familiar with you than
getting see those guys. But it's great that you reminded
the audience of what those two gentlemen were capable of
as well. Do you like watching today's NBA?
Speaker 1 (09:10):
I do? I mean think about it that I like
it because I know I'm a part of the foundation,
you know, the game or anything can't grow without a
solid foundation. And again you talk about history. You know,
I don't think that today's analysts talk enough about the
(09:32):
history and the foundation that make this game what it
is today. So yes, I enjoy watching it. I enjoy
watching evolution. I think when Golden State wanted their first
year from the outside, we saw the evolution of basketball change.
Because you think about it. When I played in the
(09:53):
seventies and eighties, the game was played inside out. Not
a game is being played outside in. So that aspect
of what I'm seeing with my eyes is fun for
me to be able to see the game change like that,
and people still enjoy it, and I still enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
When you watch today's NBA, how often do you think
to yourself, what would my career have been like had
the three point shot been so accepted the way it
is now. I mean, obviously you played five six years
with a three pointer, but in those days still it
was considered a bad shot and guys didn't shoot it.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
It was a very it was. It was just taken
a lot less than it is now.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Well, it's still a bad shot. I mean, probably one
of the worst percentage shots in the game. For me,
I like taking good shots. You know, if you do
any history on me, in my game, I shot fifty
one percent career, So that mean I took a lot
of shots that I knew I could make. So that's
(10:58):
how I looked at the game, you know. So I
didn't take a lot of three point shots. But see,
I'm from a league, the ABA that had the three
punt shot, and they ingraded it in the NBA. So
I'm going we talked about history. I'm still proud to
(11:19):
be a part of something that I'm a part of
the foundation. So you know, for me, the three point
shot is a good shot. I think they're gonna try
to come up with a four point shot one day.
These guys can shoot the ball so deep, but it's
still entertainment. You know, the game is still entertaining, you know,
to be able to see like Seth Curry shoot the
(11:42):
ball that deep, but Kevin Durant shoot the ball that deep. Lillard,
you know now with Milwaukee can shoot it that deep.
So you know, I'm excited to continue to watch the game,
and I'm really excited about what we have down here
this year to see the say five guy play.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
I'm glad you set me up now, because that's exactly
where I want to go next. Victor Wenbanyama, tell me
you're early impressive of him, because as you mentioned, you know,
you you have seen.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
All the greats. You saw Wilt in his prime.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
But I think it's safe to say with Victor webber Yama,
we have never seen a man of this size move
the way he does.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
And do some of the things that he's doing on
the floor.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
You know, we get ready to see another evolution. We're
getting ready to experience the game changing again with young
men coming in like Victor. You know, he's special For me.
I don't look at his size, but I do look
(12:49):
at his side. But he played not like a guy
that's steven five. I mean he played like a six
y nine or six eight guy where he can handle
the ball, he can pull up and shoot a jumper.
He stretched over you and dunk. This is an exciting
time for the NBA, see because you got that boy
(13:11):
in Oakland. I mean not Oakland, Okay, ce Chat right,
Chat holder, who's another seven foot that can handle that
can shoot it, that understand how to play. You got
some more chihids coming in in college right now. That's
seven foot that's starting to move like guards and and
(13:35):
three like forwards and stuff. So we're getting ready to
see another evolution of the game changing. So I'm so
proud that we have a Victor, and I'm real proud
of him because you know, under the pops tootli, you know,
Pop gonna help him understand his role, you know, not
just off the floor but on the floor, you know.
(13:59):
And I think that's gonna be a good advantage for Victor.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Luka Doncic and what you think about his game because
obviously Wednesday, that's kind of the feature matchup, even though
they're not going head to head positionally, two Europeans Victor
wenman Yama, the Spurs rookie, and Luka Doncic, the MAVs
superstar from Slovenia.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
What do you see when you watch Luca greatness?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Luca could play. You know, my son who lives over
in Stockholm Switeen, you know, had a chance to see
him when he was young. And I don't know where
Luca got drafted at, but my son kept saying, Dad,
he should have been drafted higher because he can flat
out play. So I already had an introduction to him,
(14:45):
you know, early on in his career, and he'd improved
everybody wrong that didn't pick him way up there, you know,
because he can he know how to play, he can score,
He tough, you know, he loved a game and he
want to win. And I think with Kyrie there, they're
(15:09):
gonna present problems with a lot of teams this year.
You know now that Kyrie then spent a year down
or a half a year down there with him, I
think that that them two guys man gonna really be special. Man.
So I'm a I'm a big fan of Luke. You know.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
I look at this book cover and it's you know,
it's the shot from you from the famed Nike poster.
Anyone my age, we all love this poster of you
sitting on the block of ice. And I mean, I
can still picture my first George Gervin basketball card. You're
dribbling with your left hand against Phil Shineer. I can
see it. I can see it in my head.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
You know.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
One of the revelations in your book, you talked about
how late in your career you had a chance to
go to the Showtime Lakers. The Spurs basically came to
you and said we can trade you to the Lakers,
and you told the Spurs you didn't want to be
traded to the Lakers. And you know how it is
now in the modern era, all we do is talk
about championships. If you don't have a championship, you know
(16:12):
that that gets thrown in the player's face. But why
did you resist that? And all these years later, how
do you feel about that decision?
Speaker 1 (16:21):
I feel great about it, you know. You know, I
didn't want to be with somebody that beat me. I
wanted to beat them back, you know. And I had
that opportunity to play with the Lakers. Jerry Bush called
Androlo drozers at that time. They would give up three
first round draft picks with Gerbin to play with Magic
(16:44):
and them guys. And I said, I don't want to
play with them. I want to beat them. You know.
So I'm from an era that I don't join somebody
to be strong. I felt what I had was good
enough to beat anybody. The team that was surrounded with me.
I really felt we could beat the Lakers with artists
(17:06):
and Mike Mitchell and you know, Johnny Moore than guys man.
I thought we had a real and still felt we
had a real good basketball team. On Stein. So I
didn't want to go and you know, and leave my
guys and and go and play with the Lakers just
to win a championship. You know, I wanted to compete
(17:27):
against the Lakers. I wanted to beat the best. Now
it never happened, but I still wanted to have that
opportunity to do it. And that's why I decided to
stay in San Antono. And I'm glad I did well.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
You did, And like I said, we can talk about
all those Spurs that I mentioned off the top, but
no one is as synonymous with the San Antonio Spurs
as you, George Gervin. It has been an absolute pleasure, sir,
to speak with you on this show. I wish you
all the success with your new book. Can't wait to
see the new doc. I did think of one last
(18:01):
thing I have to throw you if it's okay, because
the scoring race with David Thompson in nineteen seventy eight.
For me, that's something I remember vividly as a young fan.
It's one of my first NBA memories. You and David
Thompson with the scoring race that went down to the
final day of the season. Does it shock you like
there's no TV footage of that anywhere. How crazy is
(18:23):
that that, Like, you can't even you can't even watch
what happened that day when you and the two of
you just staged an absolute duo for the ages.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
You know, you think, but then you know, you really
wonder what happened, you know at that time. I mean
it was for the scoring race, and David took it
over early in that afternoon, So you know, it would
have been nice if we did have some footage to
show the opportunity that I had. I needed fifty nine
(18:55):
and I end up getting sixty three in thirty three minutes.
That it would have been nice to see. But as
I did research, I found out that I think that
was the same time have a Check was retiring. So
if that was the case, then I understand that because
you know, I always appreciated his game and what he
(19:17):
brought to the game, So you know, it was one
of them unfortunate situations. Man. But when we have people
like you that keep reminding folks that that was one
of the greatest scoring race in the history of basketball,
that's enough for me.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Well, you are absolutely right.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
I was a Buffalo Braves fan and hav the check
was finishing his career against the Buffalo Braves, so I
guess that soaked up whatever attention there was. But it
truly is a shame that you cannot even see a
single bucket. David Thompson scores seventy three points to take
the scoring lead. George Gervin answers with sixty three points
to snatch it back. An incredible end to the seventy
(19:59):
seven seventy eighteen and George, thanks again so much for
joining me. This really means a lot to me.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Hey, I appreciate you, man, and I appreciate your love man,
as you showed me all these years.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Okay, all right, everyone greatly appreciate you tuning in for
this special solo interview edition of This League Uncut. Do
not worry. Chris Haynes and I will be back together
again very soon for an episode that sets the table
for the season ahead, season number seventy eight for the NBA.
(20:32):
Please remember, if you haven't already, please remember to rate, review,
and subscribe to This League Uncut via Apple Podcasts or
Spotify or wherever you get your pods. Thanks again for
joining us. We will be back with you with a
fresh helping of this League Uncut very very soon.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
And that'll do it for us. See you next time.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
This League UNCUTTA is an iHeartRadio production.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Circle locket Chris Hanes and Mark Stein
Fox Sports Radio News
Host
Jonas Knox
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