Brian Windhorst (2:09)

Twitter 2 minutes and 20 seconds because that was the limit on Twitter. And Slater reminded me today I couldn't remember. This began because he, Marcus Thompson and I would sit on press row at Oracle and argue about whether Javale McGee was actually any good.

Brian McMahon (2:23)

I know what you're.

Brian Windhorst (2:24)

Marcus was like. Marcus was like, you guys should just do a video on this so we did and came the became the stock report.

Brian McMahon (2:31)

Javale McGee dominated in Australia.

Brian Windhorst (2:33)

That was the irony. This week at coming back javale I saw a clip of people doing doing NBL TV coverage saying that Java looked like Wilt. I was like, well here we go. Time is a flat circle right there we go like 32 and 16.

Wendy Rieger (2:49)

And I think he like he wasn't even there for their most some all their training camp. So. All right, well training camp proceeds across the globe. Yeah. Speaking of Australia, the Pelicans are in Australia. The Net are the Warrior who's going to China. The.

Brian Windhorst (3:04)

The Nets. The Nets. Josiah's Nets and the Phoenix Suns.

Wendy Rieger (3:09)

Phoenix Suns, Macau. Right.

Brian Windhorst (3:12)

And you've obviously got the teams from my neck of the woods normally the Knicks and Sixers in Abu Dhabi with you.

Wendy Rieger (3:18)

Yes, Abu Dhabi is very welcoming and the. I went to the practices for the Sixers and Knicks yesterday. I will be seeing their game my today.

Brian Windhorst (3:29)

I think it'll be friends of the pod there.

Wendy Rieger (3:31)

Oh yes, Nick Nurse is here. Nick Nurse. Mike Brown was very, you know, enraptured by the desert experience that the Knicks had while they were here a couple days ago, including getting some players to ride on camels. I'm not sure if Mike actually wrote on any camels.

Brian McMahon (3:50)

You've been riding camels?

Wendy Rieger (3:52)

I. I have not been riding camels. But Adam Silver is here. Mark Tatum is here. There's a lot of NBA business happening here in Abu Dhabi and so we'll have more to talk about that later. Also. I don't want to talk too much about it before I see it play, but just we're in weird timing. But I got, you know, Mike Brown is allowing the media to watch. He's allowed the media to watch more of practice in the last three days than than Tom Thibodeau did in five years. Just fine.

Brian McMahon (4:22)

Let him watch what free throw shooting.

Wendy Rieger (4:25)

Most of the time. And so we've gotten an opportunity to see the Knicks offense in action a little bit. So I'm a little bit out of you know, the game will have taken place by the time this is posted. We'll see. But we'll timestamp it a little bit here that what the Knicks are doing in practicing looks very, very different from the way that they've played in recent years. Now look, I am from, you know, obviously I am not going to evaluate the Knicks on what they're doing in the first day of September, first day of October. Do I believe that they're going to break the old habits and that the ball will leave Jalen Brunson's hand. Like I'm seeing it where I'm seeing, I really, I'm kind of watching a Spurs 2010 style offense from the Knicks where the old Greg Popovich 0.5 rule, which is you get the ball and you have half a second to decide to pass or shoot. That's what the Knicks are doing in practice right now. Does that actually going to translate? I mean, Jalen Brunson, I'd like to point out, missed like seven or eight games last year and he led the league in dribbles. So I think, and I don't think it was close. So I mean that's going to be an old habit to break, but we'll see.

Brian McMahon (5:43)

Well, but Brunson also has played off the most ball dominant player in league. Like Brunson came up playing off of Luka Doncic. It's not like he's always had the ball his entire career, so he can play different styles.

Wendy Rieger (5:57)

He also has become a superstar since dominating the ball. Yes, we'll see. And the story on the Sixers and this will be real quick. And then we're going to move on to the Warriors. They're going to be missing like five or six players just for these two games here.

Brian Windhorst (6:12)

Cody Quentin Grimes, who just signed his.

Wendy Rieger (6:14)

Qualifying offer Wednesday, yes, he is not here, but I did see. So Joel Embiid was not participating in the part of practice that I saw. Paul George was doing some, some practicing. He's not going to play here.

Brian Windhorst (6:28)

Have they said if Joel's going to play or not?

Wendy Rieger (6:30)

I mean, it is my understanding again, this will be dated. It is my understanding he is not going to play.

Brian Windhorst (6:35)

Yeah, I just didn't know. I didn't know if they'd said either way at all.

Wendy Rieger (6:38)

The way it was said to me is a very high ranking Sixers person said to me we're going to be missing five or six guys, so we'll see.

Brian Windhorst (6:46)

Sounds like a normal day for the Sixers.

Wendy Rieger (6:47)

I will tell you this though, for Sixer fans, as I talked to some of the veterans that I know there's a lot of excitement about Vijay Edgecombe. We all know that athletically he is extremely gifted and there has been a pleasant surprise so far in training camp and in the workouts leading up to it about how his shooting has looked, that his shooting has shown good improvement. Now again, we're talking about the earliest of early days here, but you know, Tyrese Maxey is fully healthy and fully energized. He was bouncing around. He was his total typical self. And so if you, if you've got anything to lean on, you can lean on that. The excitement of that young backcourt also. And I'm, I don't know why I'm saying this, but the Sixers are optimistic that they're going to have their team. I mean, I'm just reporting, I'm just reporting. I'm just reporting what they're saying.

Brian McMahon (7:47)

Okay, that's enough.

Wendy Rieger (7:49)

All right, let's go out. Let's go out to the Bay Area, which is approaching 10,000 miles away from me. That's there. Bon Temps. Two interesting pieces of information, one we kind of expected and one that I didn't fully expect. What we expected was that Jonathan Kaminga was going to be back with the warriors before this. The midnight struck on October 1st because that was when his, his, his qualifying offer was expiring and that made it complicated. So he signs a two year, forty something million dollar deal. I've seen a bunch of different numbers.

Brian Windhorst (8:26)

Yet I haven't seen 46, I believe is the official number. Plus a trade.

Wendy Rieger (8:31)

Right. Which he seems to think there's a good chance he'll get traded. And Aaron Turner, his agent, when he came on the pod a couple weeks ago, pretty much admitted this contract was being signed to be traded.

Brian McMahon (8:41)

But yes, he's a trade exception. Who's going to get some minutes?

Wendy Rieger (8:45)

Yeah, he's going to get some minutes. So, Bon Temps, what was the demeanor out in Golden State now that that had been cleared?

Brian Windhorst (8:53)

Well, John of the Kaminga, this pod is going to post Friday. It's right now, Wednesday night. So Wednesday afternoon, Al Horford had his introductory presser, as did the Anthony Melton. And then Steve Kerr spoke. And actually in backwards order, those guys spoke last. And then Steve Kerr and Mike Dunleavy, general manager of the warriors, spoke for the first time since the Kaminga signing was announced earlier Wednesday and was agreed to on Tuesday. And look, I think the John of the Kaminga camp has made a whole lot of noise for the past few months and said a whole lot of things. I made a whole lot of threats, including on this pod, about going to take the qualifying offer. We got to get a trade, a player option. We got to get this, we got to get that. The end of the day they caved and they totally caved. They gave up everything they said they weren't going to do. They waived their no trade clause in this contract. So the warriors can trade them anywhere they want. They got a team option on the second year. I Personally would have advised Jonathan Kaminga to sign the two year deal with a third year team option and guaranteed himself $48 million personally. But he has chosen to take the shorter deal to get himself two free agency in theory, sooner or when he gets to a new team, a new long term deal with them sooner we will see if that winds up being wise business. But look, I would say for Mike Dunleavy and the warriors, you know, Mike got up there and said all the right things today, that Jonathan's had a good summer, they've seen him working out, they're, you know, he's going to show up, they expect him to show up and do his job. Steve Kerr, our buddy Nick Friedle was good to see him today. There's a bit of a callback. I don't know if you guys Remember back in 2015, 16, the Chicago Bulls had Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo on the team. Remember what those guys were called? The Three Alphas. The Three Alphas. Well today Steve Kerr very, I don't believe he meant to do this but he was asked about, well, what is, you know, how are you going to, I think Nick might have even asked him, how are you going to manage kind of an uncomfortable situation in the locker room with this guy who you know, spent all summer talking about wanting to leave. Now he's here, it seems like a tradable contract, like kind of, how's this going to go? And Steve goes, well, you know, Jimmy Butler's an Alpha, Steph Curry's an Alpha, Draymond Green's an Alpha. Those guys are going to run the locker room. It's all going to be fine. Which Nick and I had a laugh because Mike Dunleavy was on that Bulls team with the Three Alphas and those Three Alphas didn't go so hot when they were together. Now we'll see how this warriors team is.

Brian McMahon (11:21)

Those Three Alphas were going at each.

Brian Windhorst (11:22)

Other that well, that is also true. There was a lot of that too. So that was a funny line. But look, I, I, to me, I thought the most interesting thing said today in general was when Mike sat down and started his presser. The first thing he talked about, I think Slater asked him initially, you know, it's basically a tradable deal. What do you think about it? And Mike said, look, a year ago I would have sat here and said we have to get better from where we are to start a camp. Right now I'm not sure I like, I don't believe that right now doesn't mean we're not going to maybe make moves later, but I really like our team. And that was the message he kept delivering throughout his presser, is that he believes the warriors are good enough to be a real factor in the west and to make a run. Now they have a bunch of guys north of 35. We've talked about how old the Clippers are. The warriors are that on steroids with Steph and Jimmy and Draymond and Al Horford, and we'll see what happens with the Kaminga thing between now and February 5th. But they feel pretty confident that if they can get to the playoffs and those four guys are healthy, plus whatever they add over the course of the year, and they can maybe have some of these young guys, Brandon Pajemski and Trace Jackson, Dave, some of these guys get better that they can be as good as anybody in the west, especially this side of okc. And it's going to be interesting to see if they're right.

Brian McMahon (12:44)

I mean, I understand them feeling that way. You look at the record with Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry in the lineup together, you know, that's a contender caliber record.

Brian Windhorst (12:54)

It's a 22 and 5, right?

Brian McMahon (12:56)

Yeah. What is that? It's like a third of a season sample size. You know, the health with guys that age obviously, is a huge, huge if. But the Kaminga thing, this is a fine, temporary solution, and I don't think it's not in Comminga's best interest to be raising hell early in the season. Look, does he want to be there? He would have preferred to have gone elsewhere. Everybody understands that. They would have preferred to get good value for him and move on, too. It's a temporary situation. This isn't like, oh, say, his teammate Jimmy Butler last year in Miami, where he's going to burn the place down so he can get the hell out. They want him out. He wants to get out. Now, if he's still there after the trade deadline, could that get toxic? I could certainly see that. And then I think the biggest question is, is he. Is he going to be bought in? Is he going to be really doing the kind of things that Steve Kerr and the vets in the locker room want him to do to help a team, you know, to help the team win, you know, as opposed. Like, is he going to do stuff that doesn't involve him putting the ball in the basket? And if he's not doing that stuff, then it might not be him raising hell, but they're, you know, it could get Uncomfortable.

Brian Windhorst (14:11)

The thing I thought that was interesting, Steve Kerr said, was that to go back to how old this team is, he was like, look, we're going to have days where Jimmy isn't playing or Steph isn't playing. Maybe they're both not playing. And we're going to need this guy to put up shots in those games and to play a big role in those games. And, like, we're going to need him to do stuff. So, to your point, I do think some of the way that they might be able to massage this over the first couple months of the season is that there will be games where it's like, hey, Jonathan, you're going to get 22 shots today because Steph isn't playing or Jimmy isn't playing, or maybe, again, maybe they're both not playing. And I think they'll find places where they can sort of strategically do that to let him eat some. But, yeah, I think for the other thing we're going to get into in a bit about the warriors this week, you know, Steve has shown he's not going to have any problem not playing Jonathan Kaminga if he doesn't think it's going to help this team win games. And again, he's now under contract, which is good. But there's really not a lot of incentive for them to jam a square peg in a round hole if he's not playing the way they need him to. And they can go to a guy Santos or somebody else who can do the things Steve wants to do and he could find himself back out of the rotation like he was at times the last couple of years.

Wendy Rieger (15:25)

So I'm just smiling about the idea of Gi Santos playing over Jonathan Kumingo.

Brian Windhorst (15:30)

It's. That's what happened. It's what happened at the end of last season. And if you look at the advanced numbers, there's arguments for that at times.

Wendy Rieger (15:38)

I'd like to make a resolution on this podcast, and that is that after this one, we're not going to talk about Jonathan Kaminga for a while. Obviously we can all think we can.

Brian Windhorst (15:47)

All sign up for that one.

Brian McMahon (15:48)

Hey, I think Kaminga is going to put up 50 in the opener. We're going to be talking about, hey.

Wendy Rieger (15:52)

Listen, if he does that, then he will have earned it. Like I think most seasoned people in the NBA knew this was going to get done. And obviously it was because the warriors are such a huge fan base and because there's so much focus on them.

Brian Windhorst (16:11)

It became only because he's a piece that they could turn into something else. That's the other thing. It's not just like he's on the team. It's that, like McMahon said, this was a. Essentially turning this into a trade exception to use in January to try to make them better.

Wendy Rieger (16:26)

And when they do that, we'll talk about it.

Brian Windhorst (16:28)

That's right.

Wendy Rieger (16:29)

I will say one thing to point out, just for procedural reasons, any players who sign this off season, they can't be traded until December 15th. But if a player earns a certain threshold of a raise, they can't be traded until January 15th. So that's why you're going to hear some players are going to be able to be traded in December, but in Kaminga's case, because I don't remember what the percentage is. Bon temps. But he.

Brian Windhorst (17:04)

I don't remember either, but he exceeded it.

Wendy Rieger (17:07)

So if Kuminga is traded, it will be between January 15th, which is when he can be moved, and February 5th, which is the trade deadline.

Brian McMahon (17:13)

So you can't be traded until January 15th.

Wendy Rieger (17:16)

Then neither can you.

Brian McMahon (17:19)

I might still be December.

Wendy Rieger (17:21)

So the.

Brian Windhorst (17:21)

You're over the percentage.

Wendy Rieger (17:24)

The. That's the thing. So we can retire, trade, talk about Kaminga for a while. Even if that will be a thing later on and we talk about the warriors, we can focus on, you know, the future hall of Famers.

Brian McMahon (17:38)

Well, listen, if you talk, if you have Aaron Turner back at the podcast, he'll tell you that includes, listen, I.

Wendy Rieger (17:43)

Appreciate Aaron coming on and if, if Jonathan Kaminga runs together five or six all star seasons, then we can talk about him as a future hall of Famer and, you know, maybe he will. But, but the Warriors, I think, is important to point out that they finished very strongly last year after Jimmy Butler was traded. And, you know, there's a couple of teams that can, in the Western Conference that can look you with a clear eye and say the way we play at the end of last season means that we're going to be in great shape. That would be the warriors who believe that. And that's. Steph talked about that, you know, this week already. The Timberwolves.

Brian McMahon (18:18)

Yeah.

Wendy Rieger (18:19)

Can say that.

Brian Windhorst (18:19)

Well, in the warriors and the Warriors, I mean, if you ask the warriors, especially if you give them some truth serum, I think they'll tell you they, if Steph hadn't got hurt in game one, you know, Game two of that series against the Wolves, I mean, they thought they were going to be playing Oklahoma City in the conference finals. And I will say we've all talked about how great we think the Thunder are This is certainly not backing away from that. But if there's anybody that's given them trouble over the years, it's been Steph Curry. And the way Steph plays, they consistently had trouble guarding him. And so, yeah, everybody else, by the way. No, I know, but I'm just saying, like, for as great as their defense is, he has really given them fits. And if they were, if they walk into a series with the Thunder, they're going to think they can go at them. So, you know, and I'm look, I'm still picking the Thunder to win the title. As I repeatedly said all summer, I think they're the heavy favorites to beat everybody for a reason. But you know, Golden State had a lot of reason to leave last season thinking if we make improvements, we can, we got a puncher's chance. And you know, I think they've overall had a good summer. They got a chance to get better in January and all the numbers with, you know, their stars together looked very good. More Hoop Collective podcast after this Go.

Brian McMahon (19:32)

Further with the American Express Business Gold Card.

Brian Windhorst (19:35)

Earn 3 times Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels when you book through amextravel.com whether your destination is a business conference or a client meeting. Your purchases will help you earn more points for future trips. Experience more on your travels with AMEX Business Gold. Terms apply. Learn more@americanexpress.com Business Gold AmEx Business Gold.

Brian McMahon (19:57)

Card billed for business by American Express.

Wendy Rieger (20:02)

It'S the Smucker's Uncrustables podcast with your host Uncrustables. Okay, today's guest is rough around the edges. Please welcome crust. Thanks for having me.

Brian Windhorst (20:13)

Today's topic he's round with soft pillowy bread.

Brian McMahon (20:16)

Hey.

Wendy Rieger (20:16)

Filled with delicious PB and J.

Brian Windhorst (20:18)

Are you talking about yourself? And you can take them anywhere.

Wendy Rieger (20:22)

Why'd you invite and we are out of time.

Brian Windhorst (20:25)

Are you really cutting me off?

Brian McMahon (20:27)

Uncrustables are the best part of the sandwich.

Brian Windhorst (20:30)

Sorry.

Brian McMahon (20:30)

Crust.

Brian Windhorst (20:32)

Imagine fast hydration combined with balanced energy. Perfectly flavored with zero artificial sweeteners. Introducing Liquid Ivy's new energy multiplier. Sugar free. Unlike other energy drinks. You know, the ones that make you feel like you're glitching. It's made with natural caffeine and electrolytes so you get the boost without the burnout. Liquid IVs. No new energy multiplier. Sugar free hydrating energy. Tap the banner to learn more.

Wendy Rieger (21:06)

I would just say about the Thunder, I don't want to divert win for the warriors too much. Last year, one of the big themes was that nobody feared them. Nobody. You know, that was the thing. I don't care if they win 75 games. They obviously sent that message loud and clear by raising the banner. But they did have two seven game series.

Brian Windhorst (21:25)

So look, this, this feels so much. This feels so much like the warriors in 2015-16. I'm. I'm almost tempted to say I think they're going to win 70 games because like, it's the same exact. Last year, that team. Well, that's. That in 14, 15, the warriors won 66 games. They were the heavy. They dominated the whole season. They then went through the playoffs. They won the title. They. That whole summer all we heard was that they. It was a fluky title.

Brian McMahon (21:53)

Jump shooting.

Brian Windhorst (21:54)

Cavs got hurt.

Brian McMahon (21:55)

Yeah, jump shooting.

Brian Windhorst (21:56)

No, not that it was. The Cavs got hurt. They weren't. They wouldn't have beat them. I'm just saying. I'm not, I'm not saying you. We, we don't need to relitigate all that. I'm just saying that whole summer was just a litany of, ah. This team wasn't actually as good as the record. They actually weren't that good. They're. I don't really believe it. And then they came back and I think they started the next season 25. 0, 24.

Wendy Rieger (22:21)

Yeah, well, I don't think anybody is saying that about the Thunder. I'm just saying I think it's a.

Brian Windhorst (22:26)

Lot closer to that.

Wendy Rieger (22:27)

I don't.

Brian Windhorst (22:27)

It's a lot closer to that than the Thunder are the heavy favorites.

Wendy Rieger (22:31)

I don't think it's. I don't think it's comparable at all because I think. Because I think the Cavs were looked at as having LeBron James in his prime and several other major players.

Brian Windhorst (22:40)

I think it's comparable McMahon, because Cav's corner was on the other side. I think that's why it's not comparable.

Wendy Rieger (22:45)

Oh, it's not comparable because the. I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna fall into this.

Brian McMahon (22:50)

Come on, Wendy, he's reeling you in.

Wendy Rieger (22:52)

I mean, with all due respect to the, the, the, the Pacers, I, I'm sorry, I do not think that they have a LeBron James in his prime again.

Brian Windhorst (23:01)

I, I wasn't trying to turn this into a specific relitigation of Warriors Cavs, which I know in Northeast Ohio there's a lot of sore feelings and maybe they could.

Wendy Rieger (23:10)

No, not at all.

Brian Windhorst (23:12)

I'm just saying. I would say there is a similar feeling of the Thunder. I still think going into this season. The Thunder are not being treated like a team that just won 68 games and won the title.

Brian McMahon (23:25)

Which is crazy because the Thunder should be better than they were last year. They have a roster full of ascending talent. Chet Holmgren missed more than half the.

Brian Windhorst (23:36)

Year and then had to say hardship. It's a bunch of games.

Brian McMahon (23:39)

Yeah. Like, I mean, they should be a better team than the 68 win team that had a historically high point differential and won a championship.

Brian Windhorst (23:47)

I mean, there were people that were surprised in the survey that they got 18 out of 20 votes to win the west and win the title. That like there wasn't more votes for other teams.

Brian McMahon (23:55)

Well, that doesn't surprise me.

Brian Windhorst (23:57)

I don't agree. Well, I don't agree. I don't agree with that. I think they should have got 18 votes. I'm just saying. I. I don't think they're seen the way they should be. It's the Thunder like that, where his team was.

Brian McMahon (24:05)

And then potential challengers. The warriors have every right to feel like they can be a potential challenger. You know the stuff we talked about. The Timberwolves after going to the conference finals the last couple of years and really during the season last year, having to figure out a lot of fit things, really got it figured out with Julius Randle alongside Ann Edwards. The Nuggets with their improved bench. That is a team that pushed OKC to seven games. You know, obviously the coaching change, you know, breathe some life into that team. By the way, how crazy is it? David Adelman has seven playoff wins and three regular season wins in his coaching career?

Wendy Rieger (24:46)

It's one of the craziest stats you'll ever see.

Brian McMahon (24:49)

I don't think you'll ever see that again. And then, you know, the Rockets, the Van Vliet things, a huge blow, but they've. I think you gotta put them on the list. And honestly, I think he. I think the two LA teams are somewhere in that. I think there's a pretty fat tier of potential challengers and they're in that tier.

Wendy Rieger (25:07)

Just again, point out, not that I'm predicting this. The Wolves made the last two conference finals. Yeah, point that out.

Brian McMahon (25:16)

And the Mavericks think they're in that tier. They are not on the list of teams that finished last season strong to give them momentum going this year.

Wendy Rieger (25:25)

We'll talk about the Mavericks in a minute. I don't want to get away from the Warriors. Even though we've been pulling far though.

Brian Windhorst (25:30)

We got away from the Warriors.

Wendy Rieger (25:33)

All right, so we'll see how they actually play on the court. But the warriors delayed. And I, you know, I don't exactly know the reason because I've been overseas, but I, I assume it was Kaminga related. It is not unusual for, for teams to make their general manager and head coach available days before media day. And then certainly if you know the head coach, if he hasn't given a preseason address yet, always speaks on media day. Often the general manager does too. In the case of the warriors, neither the general manager, Mike. Mike Dunleavy or coach Steve Kerr talked on media day. And I get it, they had the Kaminga thing outstanding. So Dunleavy spoke. But after the first day of practice, which you would now have joined the team, joined alongside the team Bontemps, Steve Kerr spoke. And Steve Kerr, who is in his 12th year as the head coach of the warriors, has won four championships, has been to five finals, six finals. Talked about his complete comfort level with being on the final year of his contract. He not only does not have a contract for this year, but said that he doesn't expect there to be negotiations about a new contract and said that he's completely comfortable with that. He's in a very good place with Mike Dunleavy and Joe Lacop, the governor. You know, I spent a little bit of time with Steve Kerr this off season. I had dinner with him one night. He seems in a very good place. But Steph Curry is multiple years on his contract. Jimmy Butler has multiple years on his contract. You know, this, this, you know, hoping for good health. This warriors run is going to extend, you know, whether or not they're going to be good enough to, to get back to the Finals. It's one of the things we're going to be watching for the next six months. But the comfort level with the warriors themselves, Bontemps, because this isn't just about the Warrior, the Steve Kerr's comfort level, but the warriors comfort level with not having Steve Kerr under contract and Steve's open comfort level with it. While it might sound like everybody's not stressed about it, I think it's an interesting development that's going to be allowed to get to this point.

Brian Windhorst (28:02)

Yeah, I think it's an interesting development, too. I was a little surprised that Steve just came out and said it. I talked about this with Slater on our thing today. It reminded me a little bit of when I was at media Day in 2018, right before coming over here, when I was still at the post and living out here, when Steve Kerr got up there on the podium and basically just said, yeah, Kevin Durant's leaving next summer. So we're just gonna have a fun year and we're not gonna, we're not gonna really spend a lot of time worrying about what the future looks like. You know, they gave and called it like the last dance.

Brian McMahon (28:46)

It was not a fun year.

Brian Windhorst (28:47)

Well, it ended up being a challenging year.

Wendy Rieger (28:51)

Well, they reached the finals, but it.

Brian Windhorst (28:53)

Was not a fun year. It was not a fun year. But, but I think, and I'm not saying that like, it reminds me of that in the, in the sense that I think Steve is like, definitely leaving next summer. He's not going to coach next year. But what I mean is Steve is obviously a master of managing the media and managing the emotional IQ of the team. And I think if you're. Everybody knew his contractual status, right? And if you just come out and say the first day, hey, we're going to talk about this in the spring, gonna have a great year. I'm gonna.

Wendy Rieger (29:31)

It's the fall.

Brian Windhorst (29:31)

What's going to talk about it in spring? We're gonna get through the season. We'll sit down, we'll talk about it then. I feel great about where everything's at. You know, what you do, you remove it from the menu of options for people to ask you about between now and then, Right. If he just said, you know, worry about it later, it's fine, then in a month might say, hey, Steve, your contract, like, where are we at? Right. But by sort of taking it, addressing it and putting it over here, he removed it from the potential storylines for the season. And frankly, I mean, it's not too different than what his former coach, Phil Jackson, did many times in his career. And Steve Kerr, like Phil Jackson, is in the extraordinarily enviable position of being able to do whatever the hell he wants.

Wendy Rieger (30:23)

That's right.

Brian Windhorst (30:24)

And if he wants to be the coach of the warriors next season, guess what? He'll be the coach of the warriors next season. And if he wants to test free agency and see if he wants to potentially coach somewhere else, he can go do that and he'll get a job in three seconds. And if he decides he wants to go back and do television, he will be the most sought after television person in a long time. He's already been great at it in the past. He'd be great at it. If he does it again, he'll get a giant check if he does that. And if he wants to just go hang with his grandkids and be done, he can do that. And he'll walk into the hall of Fame as one of the five best coaches ever.

Wendy Rieger (30:57)

Right.

Brian Windhorst (30:58)

So if you're in a position where you can dictate your terms of what you want to do, why wouldn't you say, hey, yeah, I'm just going to go through the year and enjoy it and see what happens next summer? Because he's not. He's not. Some coach has to worry about being a lame duck.

Wendy Rieger (31:12)

I remember this. You know, when I think about this, you're right. This happened with Phil Jackson. He sort of went year to year. I remember this happening with Joe Torrey.

Brian Windhorst (31:20)

Oh, yes.

Wendy Rieger (31:21)

And he was the coach of the Yankees, and they were winning all those championships in the 90s, around the turn of the century. And. And for like, several years in a row, it was like, is Joe Torrey going to come back? And like, literally, the media would camp outside Joe Torre's house in October or November.

Brian Windhorst (31:37)

His house is Steinbrenner's house.

Wendy Rieger (31:39)

And they would, like, wait, you know, is Joe Tory returning his coach? So, yes, you are correct. Manager, skipper, whatever. Yes, you do reach a level where, you know, you have decision. This kind of happened, I think, with Doc Rivers, too, in Boston. You know, they. He had a lot of success, and it was, you know, you know, he would get asked at the end of every season, like, are you coming back? And, you know, several times the answer was, yep, I'm coming back. And I remember one time the Clipper trade. Yeah, I remember one time the. The Heat beat the Celtics in the playoffs and the post game series was over. In the post game, press conference was on, and the Boston media had to do what they do with Doc, what they were doing with Doc at the time when they were like, doc, are you coming back to coach next year? And he's like, oh, yeah, I signed a contract extension about six, eight weeks ago. Yeah, I'm coming back. I was like, oh, my God, you know, okay. But then there was one year where he said, I got to think about it. He didn't say he was coming back right away, and he ended up on the Clippers a few weeks later. So it does happen. Having said that, it is unusual that a coach of his level actually reaches free agency. And the comeback is more like, well, we'll either go our separate ways or we'll stay together. It's unusual. That's the case. So I don't. I don't think it's panic time. I don't think it necessarily is indicative of anything. But, you know, Steph and Jimmy got their contracts, you know, aligned and you know, Kerrs is not. I just, I think, well, and I.

Brian Windhorst (33:19)

Think if Steve wanted, here's what I would, I feel very comfortable saying. If Steve Kerr wanted his contract to be aligned with Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, his contract would be aligned with Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler. And I, I think like the guy is approaching 60 and he's had a hell of a run. And I like, you know, I think it's, I think it's as likely and this is just me speculating. I have not talked to Steve about this at all, but I haven't known him for a long time. I would guess it's more likely he doesn't coach at all after this season. Then he explores free agency and goes and coaches another team. Like, I, I don't. We'll see what he winds up doing. But I feel like it's, yeah, do I want to do this again?

Brian McMahon (34:05)

I mean, and, and look, as far as coaching jobs go, coaching Steph Curry is a pretty sweet gig.

Wendy Rieger (34:13)

You would be the first to say that.

Brian McMahon (34:15)

I mean from just like the talent, the personality, all that, all of it. So, yeah, I, you know, I'm not saying there's no way Steve Kerr would go coach another team, but man, like it's going to be tough to find greener grass than that. But it's, it's a demanding job, you know, I mean, it's demanding job. He's done well, very well for a long time, made a lot of money and maybe he does at the end of the season just look in the mirror and say I need to step away or I want, by the way.

Wendy Rieger (34:46)

One of the one, you know, you can play what if games all day long, all night long for you guys.

Brian Windhorst (34:51)

All day for what you're going to say.

Wendy Rieger (34:54)

Because you're talking about Phil Jackson. Yeah. One of the more remarkable what ifs of the last of the, of this, of the century so far. When Phil Jackson was running the Knicks and he had, you know, decided he, you know, he had hired Steve Kerr. Steve Kerr. I, you know, I don't, I mean I don't know how much of committed. I don't know how you want to use the word committed, but like, you know, he was going to be the head coach of the Knicks and then the warriors job developed. Mark Jackson was, was let go and the warriors job was a very attractive job on the west coast with his, where his family was, you know. Again, I don't know. I don't know. I'm not looking to get aggregated for.

Brian Windhorst (35:31)

What happened there's an even bigger what if to this than the Phil Jackson Steve Kerr one, which is what if Stan Van Gundy, who was the warriors top pick, had chosen to coach the warriors instead of going to have both jobs with the Pistons. He was their top choice.

Wendy Rieger (35:46)

Whoops.

Brian Windhorst (35:46)

Well, it's, I mean I'm not saying I don't know if the warriors would have been the team they are if standing on there. But like that, that's to me the much bigger what if like Stan was the number one choice. They were like, do you want our job? And he said, I'm going to go to Detroit and have full control over basketball operations and be the coach. And that's where the Steve Kerr thing came in after that, because of what.

Wendy Rieger (36:10)

Happened when he was in Orlando when he was very successful and his, his star player Dwight Howard tried to get him traded, which he announced in front of the media, which was, I mean, why drinking a Diet Coke has been.

Brian McMahon (36:23)

A better post practice coach media availability than that. Especially when, you know, Dwight comes over and well, what was it? Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet Coke.

Brian Windhorst (36:36)

While the New York, while the New York Knicks media was standing there.

Wendy Rieger (36:39)

Oh my God, I will say it was, you know, Dwight just went into the hall of Fame in August, or was it September whenever it was recently and he shouted out Stan, who was in the crowd? And you know, made reference to that.

Brian McMahon (36:55)

He didn't shout out Mike Dantonium. And Mike was in the crowd too.

Wendy Rieger (36:59)

Oh, I didn't know that at Adam.

Brian McMahon (37:01)

And Elliott Mike was there. You know, Mike coached both Dwight and Carmelo Anthony. I think the other players who enjoyed coaching more during his great, not quite.

Brian Windhorst (37:10)

The Steve Nash level relationship with those fellas. I'll put it that way.

Wendy Rieger (37:13)

That's true.

Brian Windhorst (37:14)

More Hoop Collective podcast after this.

Wendy Rieger (37:21)

When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom 60th and never miss.

Brian Windhorst (37:38)

A meme or milestone.

Wendy Rieger (37:39)

All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone.

Brian Windhorst (37:45)

Learn more@WhatsApp.com this episode is brought to.

Brian McMahon (37:49)

You by State Farm.

Brian Windhorst (37:51)

Listening to this podcast. Smart move. Being financially savvy. Smart move. Another smart move.

Brian McMahon (37:58)

Having State Farm help you create a.

Brian Windhorst (38:00)

Competitive price when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with a personal price plan like a good neighbor. State Farm is there prices are better based on rating plans. That vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.

Wendy Rieger (38:19)

Upgrade your laundry routine with a durable and reliable Maytag Laundry pair at Lowes. Like the new Maytag washer and dryer with performance enhanced stain fighting power designed to cut through serious dirt and grime. And what's great is this laundry pair is in stock stock and ready for delivery when you need it the most. Don't miss out. Shop Maytag in store or online today at Lowe's. All right. Speaking of contracts, there was a rookie contract extension that happened while I was sleeping in Abu Dhabi.

Brian McMahon (39:04)

First when you sleep update of the season.

Wendy Rieger (39:07)

I had a great night's sleep. I I passed out about 10 minutes after I was on NBA Today with you at about 4:15 Eastern. Anyway, Nikola Jovic from the Miami Heat agrees to a 4 year 62 million dollar extension with where the salaries have gotten with the new cap that is really not that far above the mid level exception. So it is huge money. Yeah, it is a huge money and but a you know a certainly a reasonable deal for still a very young player who is very tall, shoots the ball well and highly athletic. It just I think whenever you're examining the Heat because the Heat are always, you know, eyeing the next big acquisition, you just keep an eye on where their cap sheets are. And you know one of the things about Miami is this off season is well, it's offseason's over but what they might do with a Tyler Hero contract, Tyler Hero is extension eligible and you know, whether they want to protect their books going forward, certainly, you know, this is a very reasonable number to invest in. A player like Jovic maybe ends up being a good deal, maybe it's not. He's, he's a player that has been requested in trade discussions with them over the last year or so and they've resisted trading him. So they obviously like his upside more than talking about Jovic and him getting paid. He's a, he's a role player for them at the moment. It's just interesting when the Heat expend money and put some money on their books. So but again, what is, what do we do here on the podcast Bontems When a player signs a contract we first ask the question can this contract be traded?

Brian Windhorst (40:53)

And by the way, yeah, it's a good, it's a good deal. I mean he, I mean look, Nicola jovic is a 22 year old 610 guy who's got skills and it just came off a Euro Basket where he scored 12 points a game for Serbia and shot over 50% from three. Like he can, he can really play. His problem so far in his career has been he's played a total of 107 games in three years. So he needs to be able to stay on the court, which is partly why I think this number came in where it did. But when you look at him next to Bam Adebayo, he's a perfect fit as a long term four for Miami. And I think this is a deal where there's a ton of upside for the Heat and we could be talking easily about this in as soon as three or four months, if not by next season as one of the better deals in the league. Again, if Jovic can stay on the court, which is a real, if one.

Wendy Rieger (41:49)

Of the better deals in the league.

Brian Windhorst (41:51)

I'm just talking pure vat, just pure like the kind of deal that like I could see being on the, the all contract team story I do in the middle of the season because like if he's a starting power forward making 14, $15 million, that's a really good value contract. Like doesn't make him better than Jaren Jackson Jr. For example. But like when you're, when you talk about why would he spend this money like this could be a starter on what's a backup contract going forward and to get him locked up at 22 years old on this kind of deal, I think it's smart business. And I think it, like you said, if Miami's going to spend money, it's going to be on money like this that they can either trade or that doesn't preclude them from having max salary cap space in 2027 when they have Bam and nobody else on the books. Now Bam and Jovic and nobody else on the books potentially go out and add big name players in free agency.

Wendy Rieger (42:45)

Yeah, well, they currently have nobody on the books. Like that's why their, their Rogier thing is interesting. And also Norman Powell who is in the final year of his contract and they got on a, on a very nice. By the way, I, you know, they had, they still have Khalil Ware who almost certainly will have his option picked up. But yeah, you know, but when you look at the Heat and you look at where, where they're at with this particular team, you say, okay, Bam Adebayo, he's their captain, he's their long term franchise player. Wiggins has this year and he has next year's player option, which is $30 million. I think a reasonable Chance that he picks that up. But, you know, it's possible he could opt out of that and they could redo a deal. NORMAN Powell at $20 million on the last year of his deal. But you are correct, they have been careful with what they have done regarding their, their books to keep them relatively clean after next season.

Brian Windhorst (43:40)

Well, it's 2027 when Jokic and Giannis and all these guys are available. That is, that is the year to watch.

Brian McMahon (43:47)

They're in an in between, so they've got to, you know, they've got to, they're positioned themselves to make a play for their next superstar. Bam is a, an all Star. He's not a superstar. They, you know, that's a place that's had success getting superstars over the years. They're positioning themselves to take another big swing. Jovic is a guy who I think factors into that next phase of the Heat either as a high quality, complimentary role player or potentially as a, you know, a trade chip that's included in a deal for a star if it doesn't end up happening via the free agency.

Brian Windhorst (44:25)

Well, like you said, Brian Jovic is on the team right now in part because the Heat did not go get Kevin Durant. Right. Like to go back to the same conversation we've had about them a few times, they could have traded for Kevin Durant, but that would have required them sending out more draft picks.

Wendy Rieger (44:41)

They had two different bites at that apple.

Brian Windhorst (44:43)

Right. But it was the same choice essentially both times. It was, do we want to trade draft picks and young players to get Kevin Durant and add them to our current team and will that make us good enough or are we going to get assets back in the Jimmy Butler trade and get, get draft picks back, get players back and like McMahon said, recognize that we're in an in between phase and this is not the time to push in. And I, I said at the time, I think we all would agree. I think logically that was the right path to take. Kevin Durant's an all time great player. He was not turning the Miami Heat into a contender.

Brian McMahon (45:19)

So Durant ended up where he should have gone.

Brian Windhorst (45:22)

Yes, 1,000%. And the heat should be waiting for a guy that's going to be a better fit with their team to actually get them back to contending status. And as we all know, the Heat will always be a place guys are interested to play. And as long as they remain in the mix for it and keep adding some young players that are interesting, at some point they're going to get somebody.

Wendy Rieger (45:44)

Kevin Durant was so excited to be a Rocket. I know we talked about that, but just because we just mentioned in passing.

Brian Windhorst (45:50)

Like I did not basketball fit, he should be excited, right?

Wendy Rieger (45:54)

I know. I'm just saying that, you know, I, you know, I have, I was sitting there thinking as I was, you know, sitting in that press conference with Durant on Monday in Houston that, you know, I've, I've been around Kevin Durant in a lot of situations. Now. This is his 19th season and you know, I've seen him on a lot of teams, you know, covered him with Team usa. I've seen him in a lot of uniforms, you know, seen him when he's not been excited. Like, you know, in that 2018-19 season with the warriors, his last year in.

Brian McMahon (46:21)

Golden State, like last season in Phoenix, obviously.

Wendy Rieger (46:24)

Yeah, you know, I don't think that he was, you know, post after the.

Brian McMahon (46:29)

Whole trade deadline stuff like, yes, he.

Wendy Rieger (46:32)

Was definitely, he was definitely turned off after that. But at the beginning of the season, Durant was genuinely, you know, despite the overall tenor of disappointment about the Fred Van Vliet injury, which, which, you know, sort of, I think undercut the Rockets momentum regardless of what happens. But I'm just saying, just because you mentioned it, like, I, I, as I was thinking about and reviewing it on the 15 hour flight out here, I, he was, he was really fired up about it.

Brian McMahon (47:02)

You were in those, look, Kevin, you were in those lie flat seats just kind of pondering all this stuff.

Wendy Rieger (47:06)

You know, it was a very long flight.

Brian Windhorst (47:08)

I mean, look, Kevin's had very, I mean, you go all the way back to when he tore his Achilles in 2019. He, he's not had a whole lot of things to get super excited about, like in terms of real success, like, yeah, they had the one year in Brooklyn where they went seven with the Bucks in 21. Otherwise that whole experiment was a giant disappointment. He goes to Phoenix. That whole experiment was a giant disappointment. They win the one playoff series and they get smoked. Then they, then they get. Because they made the second round the first year. Then they got swept by the Wolves, right? And then last year they didn't even make the playoffs. So like you go those two seek those two situations together, like just, there just was a lot of misery in both places. And now to land blaze McMahon said in the perfect basketball fit for him where he can fit right in with these younger guys. He's always been a guy who's loved to get in the gym with younger players and work on their games. Like they got Amend Thompson and all, you know, Alfred Shanghu and all these interesting young players. All these guys are in the gym all the time. Like it's got a chance to be an incredible fit for him. And, you know, like, we've talked about a lot. I'm just super excited to watch that Rocket stink.

Wendy Rieger (48:18)

Yeah. All right. So where you are there in Vancouver, by the way, McMahon, how did the Mavericks choose to go to Vancouver?

Brian McMahon (48:27)

You know, I don't know. I suspect that there's a golf course around here that J kid wants to play.

Brian Windhorst (48:35)

A lot of golf courses, a lot of places, though.

Brian McMahon (48:37)

Thursday's the off day. I'm going hiking up a mountain. I bet you JK will be on a golf course. But no, I, I don't. They like to get away for training camp. Last year was in Vegas, now Vancouver. I'll take Vancouver over Vegas, but that's just me.

Wendy Rieger (48:52)

Yeah, you've been to Vancouver twice this summer. I guess it's fall now, but yeah.

Brian McMahon (48:55)

Twice in my life. Both within, you know, span of months.

Wendy Rieger (48:58)

Yeah, there you go. So Cooper, Cooper Flag, I know you talked about him when we were on NBA Today Year Today, my yesterday, wanted to see what the early returns were on Cooper Flag, the rookie of the of the moment.

Brian McMahon (49:12)

They still like them.

Wendy Rieger (49:13)

They like. They're going to keep them.

Brian McMahon (49:15)

Yeah, they like him, you know, it. They like his competitiveness. They like his basketball iq. And I thought, you know, he put it really well. Like, he, look, his goal was to be rookie of the year, but he understands, like, this is not a situation that number one overall pick typically walks into where, you know, the ball's in his hands, everything revolves around him. And, you know, you're going to live with growing pains because you're probably going to not win a whole lot of games to get another high lottery pick. He walks into a situation where, yeah, he's going to have the ball some. But look, it's AD's team first and foremost. Kyrie is going to come back, you know, probably at some point mid season. You know, AD's talked a lot about the pressure not being on Cooper Flagg to have to carry the weight of a team. But I really like, you know, Cooper Flags talked about he wants to just fit in. And, you know, I said, you know, how do you. How do you fit in? But maintain the kind of assertiveness that you've played with your entire life. And he said, I want to fit in, not fade in. You know, he wants to fit in in the sense of impact the game in A ton of different ways. You know, defensively, he might be a more impactful defender right away than an offensive player. You know, defensively, as a. As a playmaker, rebounder, you know, making the right reads and scoring. But I thought fit in, not fade in, was. It was a pretty good way to put, you know, what his approach will be this season.

Brian Windhorst (50:48)

As long as he doesn't fit out.

Brian McMahon (50:50)

Yeah, right.

Wendy Rieger (50:52)

Kevin Love is in Utah.

Brian McMahon (50:54)

He's fitting out in Utah. I tell you that.

Wendy Rieger (50:58)

It did look weird. It did look weird seeing him in a Jazz uniform. He's got the.

Brian McMahon (51:02)

He's got the snow peaks on the. On the hair, too.

Brian Windhorst (51:05)

Oh, yeah. I legitimately forgot he was on the Jazz. So I saw that picture of him, I was like, holy.

Brian McMahon (51:10)

He looked like he was in a hostage video.

Brian Windhorst (51:12)

Yes, yes.

Wendy Rieger (51:13)

It wasn't that bad.

Brian McMahon (51:15)

The.

Wendy Rieger (51:16)

The thing about Flag that got a lot of people's attention early when he was just, you know, in his mid teens, was how much he was wanted to defend. This is obviously a player who was incredibly skilled with great size and, you know, you know, a lot of tools. And a lot of times when you see a player like that who's going to have entire leagues and entire teams built around him, you don't see defense always being a priority. As I have watched him, he loves to defend. He thrives on defense. In fact, it's one of the reasons. It's one of the. I think, reasons that people got excited about him is that he showed such a willingness to defend and not just, you know, you can go look at his highlight videos, and he blocks a lot of shots. Okay. He's. He's. He hunts blocks shots, but he wants to defend, you know, a whole bunch of different players. And it was really defining his time at Duke. And I will say this, one of the areas that I suspect he can make the biggest impact as a rookie, and you know, Norm would. When you're talking about the number one overall pick, especially if you're talking about a guy like Cooper, who is regarded as a potential instantaneous franchise cornerstone, like, you don't get that every year. You don't see this a lot. But his impact as a rookie very well might be on that defensive end. I realize this experiment with him playing a point guard will be monitored, but that defensive end of the court is where I think we're going to hear about him a lot.

Brian McMahon (52:44)

Yeah. And look, he's probably on a lot, if not most nights, going to get the toughest defensive assignment one through three, maybe even four very.

Wendy Rieger (52:54)

That's a incredibly rare for a rookie to hear you say that.

Brian McMahon (52:58)

Dude, for an 18 year old rookie who should just be starting college.

Brian Windhorst (53:03)

Right.

Brian McMahon (53:04)

Remember, he reclassified. He should have graduated high school last year.

Wendy Rieger (53:08)

You reclassified in high school and college, I believe.

Brian McMahon (53:11)

Oh, I reclassified like five times in college. Never, never moving up though. I had a senior era, but again, an 18 year old with that kind of, of defensive ability and responsibilities. I, I don't know, I'd have to think, have we ever seen that? I'm not sure we have.

Brian Windhorst (53:36)

Very simply, the guy that he's reminded me of since he was in high school is Kevin Garnett. So I think he is. Yeah, I can see that standpoint, from a skill standpoint, from a, a intensity standpoint. That's, that's who he is. And I, I think he's got a chance to be that kind of player, which obviously is an incredibly high level player. It's all the more reason why it's insane he wound up on the team we wound up on after everything that happened last year. But yeah, I mean, he's, you know, between the playmaking and the versatility at both ends and the defensive intensity and the ability to guard all these positions, like, that's been the guy that he's reminded me of from the jump. And I, yeah, he's. He's going to be awfully fun.

Brian McMahon (54:19)

And you know, I was talking to AD a little bit today and he was talking about just how much more polished and advanced Cooper is than most rookies, than normal rookies, which is really remarkable given just how young he is. I tell you, it's this kid. He is a, I mean, he is still a baby face kid. And it's a trip. He. This is the first dude I've covered who's younger than my older daughter. So now I'm covering kids younger than my own. Like, God, I'm old. J. Kidd was the last guy that I covered who was older than me. But like, this is officially like, damn it, I'm old.

Wendy Rieger (54:59)

Yeah, I was talking to one of the Sixers players yesterday and. Or no, Jalen. Jalen Brunson.

Brian Windhorst (55:06)

Yeah.

Wendy Rieger (55:07)

And Jalen Brunson was talking about how he was born in 1996. I was, I was graduating high school in 1996, bro.

Brian McMahon (55:17)

I graduated high school a year before that. I remember feeling old when there were guys who were, who were coming to the league who were born after I graduated high school.

Brian Windhorst (55:25)

Shoot.

Brian McMahon (55:25)

Now a lot of those dudes have had nice careers and retired.

Wendy Rieger (55:30)

Yeah, well, Bob Thames has a newborn. So he's looking at us like, what are you guys talking about? All right, well, thank you very much to Jackson for fighting off jet lag, for letting us get this in. Have some more to talk about next couple of days after I see a couple of games here and looking forward to my meeting with some officials today here in Abu Dhabi.

Brian McMahon (55:54)

Dignitaries, right?

Wendy Rieger (55:56)

Dignitaries, Yes.

Brian McMahon (55:57)

I don't know exactly what that means, but I know it means they're important.

Wendy Rieger (56:00)

People with high titles. So.

Brian Windhorst (56:03)

Podfather.

Wendy Rieger (56:04)

Yeah. Yeah, Right. So very much looking forward to that. We'll have some more to talk about with that and then we'll see some more games. Games start tonight. It's shocking to me, but the games start tonight, so we'll actually see some action time.

Brian Windhorst (56:19)

You hear this. There have been preseason games played. Very exciting.

Wendy Rieger (56:24)

All right. Thank you to Jackson, thank you to Bontemps. Thank you to McMahon. Thank you for watching and listening to the Hoop Collective. We'll talk to you next week.

Brian McMahon (56:32)

Adios, amigos.

Brian Windhorst (56:44)

Talk about stepping up.

Wendy Rieger (56:48)

It's time to level up your game. Introducing the all new ESPN app. All of ESPN all in one place. Your home for the most live sports and the best championship moments.

Brian McMahon (56:58)

The electricity is palpable.

Wendy Rieger (57:00)

Step up your game. With no annual contract required. It's the ultimate fan experience.

Brian Windhorst (57:06)

Level up.

Wendy Rieger (57:06)

For More on the ESPN app or at stream.espn.com sign up now.