NBA Summer League Live Show in Las Vegas With Special Guests

Summary

Detailed Summary of "NBA Summer League Live Show in Las Vegas With Special Guests"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective
• Host/Author: ESPN, NBA, Brian Windhorst
• Description: Brian Windhorst and a team of ESPN's Insiders sort out life in and around the NBA world.
• Episode: NBA Summer League Live Show in Las Vegas With Special Guests
• Release Date: July 13, 2025

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1. Event Kickoff and Host Introduction

Brian Windhorst warmly welcomes the audience to Las Vegas for the live Hoop Collective podcast, blending the excitement of the NBA Summer League with insightful discussions.

Brian Windhorst [00:33]: "Hello, Las Vegas. Thanks so much for coming out. Boy, what a bunch of sickos. You come to Las Vegas in the middle of summer to watch summer league basketball and then come to a live podcast."

2. Introduction of Special Guests: Alex Rodriguez and Mark Laurie

The highlight of the episode features Alex Rodriguez and Mark Laurie as the new owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx. Their presence brings anticipation for innovative changes within the franchises.

Brian Windhorst [03:18]: "We have a gentleman who struck out 2300 times in the major leagues, almost once in the NBA, and a guy who made a lot of his money by selling stuff to Walmart. It's the brand new owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx—Alex Rodriguez and Mark Laurie."

3. Ownership Journey and Team Acquisition

Alex and Mark elaborate on their four-year journey to acquire the Timberwolves and Lynx, highlighting the challenges and perseverance required to secure the franchises.

Mark Laurie [08:43]: "Yeah, no, we have a shared set of values. I think we just know that doesn't matter, you know, who's got the idea. It's we want to get to the right answer."

Ben McMahon [08:29]: "We're excited about the future, so no looking back."

4. Introduction of the "Jump App" Innovation

The new owners unveil their "Jump App," a dynamic ticketing solution designed to enhance the fan experience by allowing real-time seat purchasing based on game developments.

Mark Laurie [05:26]: "The Jump app allows you to dynamically purchase seats at moments that matter—like if someone hits a home run, the seats behind home plate might change in price."

Tim McMahon [07:20]: "It's like Uber for NBA tickets. You can jump into any available seat at varying prices depending on the game's flow."

5. Team Strategy and Financial Management

Alex and Mark discuss their strategic approach to building a competitive team, emphasizing patience, disciplined spending, and focusing on incremental improvements rather than seeking immediate breakthroughs.

Ben McMahon [10:20]: "We want to be very disciplined and patient, but with a sense of urgency. Every decision we make is incremental, moving the ball forward."

Mark Laurie [11:04]: "We paid the second-highest luxury tax last year and will do so again. It's a calculated decision to build a strong foundation."

6. Team Dynamics and Decision-Making Process

The co-owners delve into their collaborative decision-making process, stressing their alignment in vision and values, which minimizes conflicts and fosters a unified leadership front.

Mark Laurie [09:24]: "If somebody has real conviction, we usually go with them. But we haven't had that issue."

Ben McMahon [09:40]: "We just want the right answer. We'll debate until we figure it out, without letting ego get in the way."

7. Light-Hearted Banter: Mark Laurie's Baseball Anecdotes

Mark shares humorous stories from his baseball days, including a memorable experience at a Yankee game that intertwines sports and personal memories.

Mark Laurie [04:00]: "Where's the billionaire?"

Brian Windhorst [12:40]: "You paid a $252 million contract and overperformed. That's how smart your decisions are."

8. Discussion on NBA Expansion and Conference Alignment

The conversation shifts to potential NBA expansion and the implications of moving teams between conferences, with a playful debate on geographic logistics.

Brian Windhorst [14:03]: "Would you guys love to be an Eastern Conference team?"

Mark Laurie [14:40]: "One of the advantages of not focusing on geography is..."

Ben McMahon [15:04]: "We're not going to start campaigning, but having East Coast ties could benefit road games."

9. Summer League Highlights: Cooper Flag and Dylan Harper

Focus turns to standout performances in the Summer League, particularly Cooper Flag's impressive 31-point game and Dylan Harper's notable contributions.

Brian Windhorst [10:17]: "You've got some big minutes. Are you guys excited about Cooper Flag scoring 31 points?"

Tim Bontemps [02:37]: "Cooper Flag scored 31. I think the rest of the Mavericks scored about 12."

10. Insights from Kevin Pelton on Emerging Players

Kevin Pelton provides analysis on key players to watch, emphasizing Cooper Flag's potential and highlighting other promising talents like Ace Bailey and Yong Han Sen.

Kevin Pelton [40:43]: "Cooper Flag is not to be written off. He responded with 31 points today."

Kevin Pelton [51:47]: "Ace Bailey and Yong Han Sen have shown exciting performances that could shape their NBA futures."

11. Guest Appearance: Nick Nurse, NBA Champion Coach

The episode features Nick Nurse, renowned for coaching the 2019 NBA Champion Toronto Raptors, who shares anecdotes from his coaching career and interacts with the hosts.

Nick Nurse [22:53]: "Good game, though. Good game."

Brian Windhorst [22:55]: "Nick Nurse just had a championship run. Congrats!"

12. Personal Stories: Owning a Golf Course and Community Involvement

Alex Rodriguez discusses his acquisition and revitalization of the Carroll National Country Club, illustrating his commitment to community projects and personal interests.

Alex Rodriguez [30:15]: "We repainted the clubhouse, restored the ponds, and maintained the course since 1924."

Mark Laurie [30:38]: "It's been great for the community and keeping a historic place alive."

13. Promotions: Upcoming 30 for 30 Podcast

A promotion for the upcoming 30 for 30 podcast series "Chasing Basketball Heaven," which explores the story of basketball analytics pioneer Martin Manley.

Kevin Pelton [53:07]: "This podcast will tell Martin Manley's story and his influence on basketball analytics."

Brian Windhorst [58:31]: "30 for 30 podcast presents a brand new original series, 'Chasing Basketball Heaven,' available July 22."

14. Surprise Presentation and Closing Remarks

The hosts surprise Tim McMahon with a thoughtful gift celebrating the birth of his child, followed by heartfelt thank-yous to all participants and attendees.

Brian Windhorst [55:27]: "Shout out to everyone who traveled here and spent your evening with us in Las Vegas. Thank you."

Tim Bontemps [55:59]: "Adios amigos."

Conclusion

The episode combines insightful discussions on NBA team ownership, innovative strategies, and player development with light-hearted interactions and personal stories, providing a comprehensive and engaging experience for listeners.

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Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps:

• Brian Windhorst [00:33]: "Hello, Las Vegas. Thanks so much for coming out..."
• Mark Laurie [05:26]: "The Jump app allows you to dynamically purchase seats at moments that matter..."
• Ben McMahon [09:40]: "We just want the right answer..."
• Kevin Pelton [40:43]: "Cooper Flag is not to be written off..."
• Alex Rodriguez [30:15]: "We repainted the clubhouse, restored the ponds..."

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This summary encapsulates the key points, discussions, insights, and interactions from the podcast episode, providing a clear and engaging overview for those who haven't listened to the live show.

Transcript

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[Brian Windhorst]

Hello, Las Vegas. Thanks so much for coming out. Boy, what a bunch of sickos. You come to Las Vegas in the middle of summer to watch summer league basketball and then come to a live podcast. Man. Thank you so much for coming out. We've got some great guests tonight. Hopefully they'll surprise you. Hopefully they'll be entertaining. If not, you can just all make fun of Bontemps. All right, here's where we start it by saying, welcome to the Hoop Collective podcast. We talk about the NBA, which we're doing from Saturday night at the MGM grand in Las Vegas. All right, On Monday, this crazy bastard flew to Portugal with his two month old baby and we said, okay, I guess we're doing this podcast without you. And he said, oh, no, no, no. So yesterday he flew from Portugal back to the United States to Las Vegas, and he's going back to Portugal tomorrow. It's Tim Bonte. And straight to here at the MGM grand from watching Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper ballad out of the Thomas and Mack center is Ben McMahon.

[Tim McMahon]

It's a hell of a room. Yeah, pretty awesome.

[Brian Windhorst]

Nice of you to eat on your way out the door. I had to get him in a minute ago. He's like, can I bring this beer out here?

[Tim McMahon]

Listen, I'm just trying to make it through. I got 38 hours in Vegas, so I'm making the most of it from start to finish.

[Tim Bontemps]

Can I get a Howdy Partners in?

[Tim McMahon]

No.

[Tim Bontemps]

Or you just want to talk the whole night? Howdy, partners. Hey, Von Timps is always such a joy. The uswb, the jet lag version. This is going to be a real treat.

[Tim McMahon]

We're going to have a great time.

[Brian Windhorst]

Did you enjoy Cooper flag scoring 31 points?

[Tim Bontemps]

He scored 31. I think the rest of the Mavericks scored about 12.

[Tim McMahon]

I was so out of sorts at the game. No joke that Josh Brock had the assistant for the Mavs who's coaching the game. I saw him after, I said, hey man, I'm glad you're 2 0. And he was like, yeah, we didn't win today.

[Tim Bontemps]

More expert Analysis coming.

[Tim McMahon]

Yes, exactly. That's how I was watching the game. I was like, oh, good.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right. Well, without further ado, we're going to get to our first guests here. I hope they're ready in the back. They maybe have tried to dip into the beer that you left back there. There are plenty. We have a gentleman who struck out 2300 times in the major leagues, almost.

[Tim Bontemps]

Once in the NBA.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's right. That's right. He also had 700 homers and a guy who made a lot of his money by selling stuff to Walmart. It's the brand new owners of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx. Alex Rodriguez and Mark Laurie. Maybe Alex Rodriguez and Mark Lori. Maybe.

[Tim McMahon]

We'll see.

[Brian Windhorst]

Wouldn't it be amazing if they weren't there?

[Tim McMahon]

Oh, there we go.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Hey. Hey.

[Mark Laurie]

We needed a map. We got lost.

[Tim McMahon]

It's a little confusing.

[Mark Laurie]

Where's Mark?

[Brian Windhorst]

Where's the billionaire?

[Tim Bontemps]

He might have found the bar.

[Mark Laurie]

He's the tech guy. He should know how to get here.

[Brian Windhorst]

I have a bone to pick with you, Alex, because I was living in New York City and I went to a Yankee game and it was the last month that Mariano Rivera was playing. Okay. It was the eighth inning, the Yankees were up by three. Rivera starts warming up in the bullpen. The whole crowd is like, so excited. They're gonna get to see Rivera throw. And then you get up and you hit a freaking grand slam and ruin the save situation.

[Mark Laurie]

You deserve a refund.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, Rivera came out and got him out. 1, 2, 3.

[Tim Bontemps]

But no, you know what happened then? A bunch of people left their seats down low and jump.

[Mark Laurie]

And you jump all the way down there. By the way, I'm getting concerned about Mark. Is he really supposed to come out?

[Brian Windhorst]

I don't know what happened to him.

[Tim Bontemps]

They've got a new tech thing, though, at Minnesota games. Just jump out.

[Brian Windhorst]

You're gonna sell this seat, Alex. They are.

[Tim Bontemps]

If people leave, you can go down from nosebleeds. You do a little. What is it?

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, seriousness, you guys. First off, congratulations on your four year journey of becoming the owners and the governors. It's just. It's a done deal. You guys have done it. There's Mars.

[Tim McMahon]

Yay. Made it right.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hey, it was. It was like the sale of Timberwolves. It took a lot longer than we thought, but it finally got there.

[Tim McMahon]

Well, and a happy ending. So it's all good.

[Brian Windhorst]

You guys did announce yesterday, this innovation that we're fascinated by. Where? Well, tell us about it. First off, you guys are going to do A lot of cool stuff.

[Tim Bontemps]

The Jump app.

[Mark Laurie]

I'll tell you how the conversation started. And then I had. I let my engineer talk and explain the business. So has anyone can relate with this? When I was 10 years old, I had no money. So my mom said, here's two bucks, get to Yankee Stadium. So I pay the two bucks, you go all the way to the upper deck, and then your goal is to work your way by the seventh inning somewhere behind home plate. But this takes time, strategy, timing. Because the ushers at Yankee Stadium, their average age is about 87. So, you know, at 10 years old, I can move pretty quick. And the point of the story is that now if you're that same 10 year old kid with Tupacs, somebody leaves. Just like we have Uber. You say all the four seats right behind on plate are free. They paid a couple thousand bucks, but I can get there for 150. I can watch the last three innings right behind on plate and watch Aaron Judge hit. And that's the point of jump. You can jump on all any time and dynamic. And if someone hits a home run, it might get a little bit more expensive. And if the game gets a little close, opens up a little bit, I'll get cheaper. I mean, just like Uber and you know, New Year's.

[Tim Bontemps]

Okay, I've got a important, serious question. What if I just go pee and I, you know, there's a line in the restroom. Am I going to come back in some little twerk?

[Mark Laurie]

You got to activate your car.

[Tim Bontemps]

Okay.

[Mark Laurie]

Your seat.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay.

[Tim McMahon]

Yeah.

[Ben McMahon]

By the way, you can make some money while you're peeing.

[Mark Laurie]

Exactly like Airbnb.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Ben McMahon]

If you're late to the game, you could sell the first quarter.

[Mark Laurie]

No, but Brian, if you go in the year 2010 and five, if we wanted to go somewhere, we would take a cab. There was an Uber. If you're traveling on vacation, you got to go to a hotel. Now you have Airbnb. But if you go into the arenas today, we're still operating like it was still 1975 with Ticketmaster and other things. So this gives an opportunity to disrupt the business that is ready to be disrupted. But Mark, you can explain the technology.

[Tim Bontemps]

I think you just did very well.

[Mark Laurie]

And these people are going to fall asleep with us. Brian, help us.

[Brian Windhorst]

All I'm going to say is, I would say it was March or early April of last year of 24, it was announced that the team was not going to be sold to you. And I had a phone call with the two of you guys and you said we're going to get the team. And I said, well, okay. But I was, I'm just seeing here that the team is off the market. You know, if a guy has the team, he doesn't want to sell it, you know, and you're like, both of you, we had this call and you're like, we're going to get the team. And then I, then, you know, these stages went by, won't bore everybody. And I was like, well, what happens if you win here? But the other owners don't want to give it to you. And you're like, I talked to you guys and you were like, we're going to get the team. We worked on it. We're going to get the team. And you never wavered. I can say this because I talked to you throughout the whole process. We're going to get the team. We're going to get the team. I want to say that I always believed in you guys, but here you are, you've got the team. And so after a four year journey, like, it's got to be really thrilling that you guys were able to make it happen. Now you talk.

[Mark Laurie]

Now you talk.

[Tim McMahon]

Mark?

[Ben McMahon]

Yeah, I mean, I think it's been a four year journey in the last 18 months. You know, it was tough, but, you know, here we are, you know, we're excited about the future, so no looking back.

[Tim Bontemps]

So I sat in your press conference yesterday, we had the roundtable afterwards. You guys are obviously aligned, your partners. But, but I'm sitting there thinking like, what happens when you disagree? Who, who's the head honcho here? Who's Jordan? Who's Pippin?

[Brian Windhorst]

He's Jordan. We don't disagree.

[Mark Laurie]

Yeah, you know, we're a great team because we have like one and a half brains and usually has a full brain, gets the tiebreaker. But, but honestly, we're so aligned with the way we look at things and I would say that 99% of the things we agree on and on the 1% where we're off, I think we're 100% on. If somebody has real conviction, we usually go with them. But we haven't had that issue. Mark, what do you think?

[Ben McMahon]

Yeah, no, we have a shared set of values. I think we just know that doesn't matter, you know, who's got the idea. It's we want to get to the right answer. We'll just keep debating it until we, we figure out what the right answer is. And if you're both not stubborn and don't have an ego and just want the right Answer usually get to it.

[Tim McMahon]

Right.

[Ben McMahon]

So yeah, it's been great. We haven't had any situations.

[Mark Laurie]

I would say if you study the great even American companies going back 100, 200 years, there's usually two co founders, a man and a female, or a man man, two females, whatever. But it also, there's a check on balance. Like if I'm going off the rockers, Mark will pull me back in and if he has a crazy thought and maybe I pull him back in. So you get, you know, one plus one equals three. But more than anything, I think two thoughts are better than one and we get to usually the same destination. But I come at it from 30 years being in the locker room and Mark comes at it from, you know, being one of the top E Commerce guys in the world for the last 30 years.

[Ben McMahon]

There's no question we get to a better answer every time than one of.

[Tim McMahon]

Us would get to alone one on the court. You guys just came off two conference final trips in a row. You got out of the first round of the playoffs once the whole time, the history of the franchise for that. So it's pretty good. But what is the thing that's going to be required for you guys to obviously take the next step? Obviously you got Oklahoma City just won the title. The west is loaded. You know, you've got a couple guys signed back this summer. But what do you guys think you need to do to sort of push on from where you've been?

[Ben McMahon]

I mean, I think it's patience and making, you know, the right decisions, like the focused on the inputs rather than the outputs, not looking for a big bang, but every decision, whether it be, you know, in the draft trades, you know, it's just every move you make is incremental and moving the ball forward. And I think that's what we've been doing. I think we feel really good about.

[Mark Laurie]

About this year and I think we want to be very, we want to be very, very disciplined and patient, but with a sense of urgency. And when we're close, we paid the second highest tax last year and this year we're going to be in the tax again. We think that. I remember when I played, when we played against Oklahoma City, we had a playing game, I think it was three or four years ago and Shea, all those guys are still young and we beat him at home. It was a very good game. But if Sam Presley turned around and said, you know what, let's break it up, let's change directions, they wouldn't have been world champs this year. And then they got close. They brought in Caruso and a few others, and boom. So we look at that as a good model for us. And probably other teams are looking at that and saying, hey, it pays to be patient.

[Tim Bontemps]

I was kind of expecting lunch to be provided at that roundtable, but then you started talking about, he said, 91 million in luxury tax. I'm like, yeah, I get it.

[Brian Windhorst]

We thought you would pay it. You guys just spent 220, $25 million on Julius Randall and Naz Reed. And so that was a big decision you had to make. Obviously, those decisions went all the way back to the. When you made the Karl Anthony Towns trade, which I know you guys were involved with also when you did redid Rudy Gobert's contract last year. So I know you guys are planning for that, but obviously, those were big decisions to make out of the gate to spend $200 million on those guys.

[Ben McMahon]

Yeah, no, it was. But, you know, we like where we stand right now. We've got a lot of financial flexibility with the contracts. A lot of good, good contracts. Got a lot of young players, depth. Like, we're in a really good position. And like Alex said, if we see an opportunity to strike, we will. But we're going to be very, very smart about the decisions we make.

[Mark Laurie]

You know, Brian, talking about baseball in 2004, I hate to remind everyone of this. It was the worst year of my life. For those of you who know, I used to play for the Yankees. I played against this team called the Red Sox. I got you. I got you.

[Brian Windhorst]

I love it.

[Mark Laurie]

And he's wearing red.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Mark Laurie]

And we were up 30 in the ALCS.

[Tim McMahon]

I think people remember the story. I don't think you have.

[Mark Laurie]

It is a comedy show, so people can laugh at me. I'm okay with that. So anyways, we lost those four games. Long story short, cut to five years later when we beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. Oh, thank you. A couple of New Yorkers. Thank you. Thank you.

[Brian Windhorst]

It's hard to find Yankee fans. It's really hard.

[Tim Bontemps]

Any Lakers fans.

[Mark Laurie]

But Brian, the thing is about that is that it was the same seven or eight core guys that came back five years later. So in sports, it's so easy to, like, go for the head fake and go for it now. But we thought there was a lot of value in keeping the same seven, eight core guys. And we have 10 guys that are deep with our young guys. We have a really good young team here in Vegas. And then you go continuity with ownership. Tim Conley Coach Finch and Edwards, I think that's a good foundation and a good core.

[Brian Windhorst]

So on Monday is a. Most people don't know, but the summer owners meetings, the board of governors meetings. It'll be your first board of governors meeting. Is there, like a hazing expected to take place? Do you have to bring Danish? Do you have to bring Rolexes?

[Alex Rodriguez]

I guess we'll find out.

[Tim Bontemps]

It'll be a lot easier with Cuban not in the mix, I can promise you.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. So obviously, the Western Conference is so packed, but let me ask you this. In the event that there is expansion, there's going to be a little bit of competition amongst the teams on the Mississippi River, Minnesota, Memphis and New Orleans about who may get to move to the Eastern Conference. It's never too early to begin campaigning. Would you guys love to be an Eastern Conference team?

[Mark Laurie]

Well, one of the advantages of not going to college is. Is I didn't take geography. So, Mark, why don't you take this one? I don't know where. The Mississippi.

[Brian Windhorst]

You could have been a point guard with that pass.

[Tim Bontemps]

I think you got to be careful.

[Ben McMahon]

What you wish for. That's what I'll say. Okay, but we're both east coast guys, so there's some benefit on road road games.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, for sure.

[Ben McMahon]

But, yeah, we're not going to.

[Alex Rodriguez]

It'll be what it'll be.

[Tim McMahon]

You're not rocking the boat right off, right out the gate. I mean, you have a geographic argument in your favor. Yes.

[Brian Windhorst]

I wrote.

[Tim McMahon]

When we. Brian and I did an expansion story last year, and we wrote about the fact that you guys have the worst balance in terms of Western Conference, the Eastern Conference, and how much benefit you guys would have if you did shift to the East. And there were teams that called me and said, did the league tell you that, or was that because they're trying to. Everybody's trying to figure out what's going to happen with the. I mean, it is a real thing. Especially if, you know, we're in Vegas. There's a good chance if there is expansion, Vegas and Seattle will be the teams then, you know, that is, like Brian said, that is going to be a real thing people are talking about. So we'll see what happens.

[Brian Windhorst]

Never start. I mean, maybe just a little upgraded, you know, breakfast on Monday. Just. You never. You never can start too early with campaigning.

[Tim Bontemps]

Bring donuts.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. For that. Although you guys just did get a big vote. It was pretty big. So tonight, you guys play the Nuggets. If anybody here is watching your summer league team, what should we be is Terrence Shannon Jr. Playing? I don't even know he's here.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yep.

[Brian Windhorst]

He looked great in the playoffs. You got some big minutes. Are you guys excited about him?

[Mark Laurie]

I mean, we're thrilled. I mean, the one thing I will tell you about T.J. shannon, who came out of Illinois and he's going to be almost 25. So he's one of these seniors that was around for a while, but he's one of the hardest working guys. I mean he gets to the every day, seven days a week, he's there at 6:30 in the morning and they have to kick him out of the building. In Minnesota, so far this summer, he's made 18,000 threes.

[Brian Windhorst]

You guys are coming. I mean, you're looking at the daily report.

[Mark Laurie]

Yeah, no, we have it all, you know, on the sensors. We know what the guys are doing. We track them. We get our emails at the end of the week and I mean he's by first every time. We've had to tell him, you got to go home. So we were very bullish on him and talk maybe about our draft, you.

[Ben McMahon]

Know, I mean, Johan Berengy, I think we're excited to see him. He had seven blocks last game, first.

[Tim Bontemps]

Possession, gets two swats.

[Tim McMahon]

I know.

[Ben McMahon]

He's so athletic. You know, he's 611, incredible reach, very athletic. He used to play soccer, so he's very sort of.

[Tim McMahon]

He's only played for a couple years, right? I think he's only played for like four years.

[Ben McMahon]

18 years old. So yeah, no, we're really excited about him.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hopefully.

[Ben McMahon]

Hopefully see another seven blocks tonight.

[Tim McMahon]

That'd be good.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Tim Bontemps]

So you guys, you know, new owner syndrome is. It is a thing for real life.

[Tim McMahon]

We've seen it.

[Tim Bontemps]

This guy's wearing a sun's hat. He's seen it. Microwave it is the longest running case of new owner syndrome ever. Actually, that's not true. Cuban had it for like 20 years. But you guys are new owners. But you've also been been doing this for a while. And a rod, you know, you were talking yesterday about how you learned from the owners that you played for in baseball. I'm from Texas. You came through Texas. We didn't know Tom Hicks was a new owner. And his new owner syndrome resulted in an all star shortstop getting a $252 million contract. What did you learn from that?

[Mark Laurie]

I thought it was a great deal.

[Brian Windhorst]

Very smart. Right.

[Mark Laurie]

And I overperformed.

[Brian Windhorst]

How about the opt out that you got? That was good.

[Mark Laurie]

That's a great question. When Tom, who was in Private equity and he had some volatility in his funds and at one point he was looking to look for some liquidity. And to your point, he had just signed Chain Hill Park, I think for 18. But he said, look, I'm paying you 24, but I can trade you tomorrow to 20 teams because your money, as he said, is in the money. Your contracts in the money. Someone can be making $5 million and it could be a negative deal. Right. It could be really worth two. So whether it's Anthony Edwards or sga, all the great ones, usually when you're paying them a lot of money, they're worth that and then some.

[Brian Windhorst]

Anthony Edwards is in the money and you guys won't.

[Tim Bontemps]

The negotiations with him will be player option or not. The money won't be negotiated.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. Hey, these guys got to get over to the unlv. Thank you guys for stopping by. By. Congratulations.

[Tim McMahon]

Congratulations, guys.

[Brian Windhorst]

Truly an amazing journey to get the team which they bought for 1.5 billion and is now might be worth three and a half. Talking about it, just in case you're worried about the 90 million in luxury tax, by the way, this is where.

[Mark Laurie]

Brian's head is when we would talk every time he goes, have you ever thought about flipping it, Brian?

[Brian Windhorst]

We don't have the team.

[Mark Laurie]

We don't know if we have the votes.

[Brian Windhorst]

What are you talking about?

[Mark Laurie]

Long term investment.

[Brian Windhorst]

It's the greatest insin equity. Like I'll bet you guys are really sad to see these teams sell for 6 and 10 billion.

[Mark Laurie]

Very.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, Mark, Mark, Lori and Alex Rodriguez, thanks for coming by.

[Tim McMahon]

Thanks, guys.

[Brian Windhorst]

Appreciate it. You know it.

[Tim Bontemps]

More Hoop Collective podcast after this.

[Tim McMahon]

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[Brian Windhorst]

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[Tim Bontemps]

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[Tim McMahon]

Come on.

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[Mark Laurie]

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[Brian Windhorst]

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[Brian Windhorst]

All right, well, we're so glad those guys stopped by.

[Tim McMahon]

Glad Laurie made it out to the stage.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, I know that was a little concerning. Yeah. I don't know, maybe somebody. Maybe somebody made him an offer for like four and a half and he was like to take this phone call.

[Tim McMahon]

I had to think about it.

[Brian Windhorst]

You know, actually, maybe it should be a call. And they had to see what the.

[Tim McMahon]

Offer was also possible.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, well, we have another special guest here, and this is a guy who became very established coaching the Birmingham Bullets and the London Towers and the Iowa Energy and the Rio Grande Valley vipers and the 2019 NBA champion Toronto Raptors.

[Tim McMahon]

There's the no dunks guys. There's the no dunks guys in the.

[Brian Windhorst]

Backyard in the 202320 or 2425.

[Tim McMahon]

We would have thought the no dunks guys would. The number one Canadians in the building. But honorary Canadian outstripp.

[Brian Windhorst]

Definitely an honorary Canadian.

[Tim McMahon]

Yes.

[Brian Windhorst]

He's probably paid a ton of taxes in Canada.

[Tim McMahon]

I would imagine so.

[Brian Windhorst]

Anyway, coming right over from the 76ers game, friend of the pod, Nick Nurse. I got a hat. Look at this guy.

[Tim McMahon]

Thank you.

[Tim Bontemps]

Do we get the initials hat now?

[Alex Rodriguez]

Yeah, for sure. Got my Brian Windhorst hat on. Hoop collective. Hoop collective. Geez. Tough shoes to follow here. A rod. Wow.

[Tim McMahon]

Nick was supposed to come on first, but his game ran long, so gets to come in after these guys.

[Brian Windhorst]

Did you grab the clipboard and want to draw up some plays at the end? Is that what happened?

[Alex Rodriguez]

I did not. I am not. I am far away from that mode right now. And was happy to see TJ DeLeo sweating over his own plays.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, good, Good.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Good game, though. Good game.

[Tim McMahon]

So you guys win. We don't. We didn't even get a chance to see.

[Alex Rodriguez]

We did not.

[Brian Windhorst]

Sure.

[Tim McMahon]

You're really shot up.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Shot blocked at the buzzers. We raced up the floor.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hey, if that's gone. If that's gone played, you would have.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Yeah, maybe.

[Brian Windhorst]

That was March and April. Nick, did you win?

[Alex Rodriguez]

Good.

[Brian Windhorst]

We did not. No.

[Alex Rodriguez]

March. March and April was.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hey, Nick, did You win.

[Brian Windhorst]

No, really.

[Alex Rodriguez]

You're really funny today. It must, must be the setting.

[Brian Windhorst]

Just look at your ring when you get back home. So let's start right there, you guys. First off, I want to talk to you about lottery night. So you go to Chicago, you're sitting in the room. You know that if nobody would, you need two. Only one person, only one team was. Could move ahead from you. Right. And you would have kept your pick. So you're sitting there and who moves in front of first? The Spurs. Spurs.

[Tim McMahon]

The Mavs jump first.

[Brian Windhorst]

The Mavs jump first and the Spurs. Okay. And you're thinking what when two teams jump, you guys?

[Alex Rodriguez]

Well, I was just little confused from Kevin Nagandi's the Sams are out. And I was like, I forgot about that.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's right.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Like trying to add and look what's going on.

[Brian Windhorst]

He's a Philly guy. I think he was manifesting his greatest fears.

[Alex Rodriguez]

And I was like, how are we out?

[Tim Bontemps]

He said, we were out.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Like, we're out, we're out. And then Daryl's like, we're not out anyway, so we weren't out.

[Brian Windhorst]

Always checking out.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Yeah, yeah, it was good. So I mean, fortunately we weren't out. And he, it wasn't that bad. Quickly he said, oh wait, the Sixers are back in.

[Brian Windhorst]

So.

[Alex Rodriguez]

So yeah, we were happy. I mean, you mentioned some of the. Losing this. This. Yes, that was some unfortunate, tough season. And at least we, you know, got. Got a good. Got our pick. Mainly that we got it.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, you got your pick and then it was a pretty good one.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Moved up a couple. Yeah. So good.

[Tim McMahon]

Well, I mean we haven't. We've only got a chance to see him a little bit, but in his first game, VJ Edgecomb, third pick out of Baylor, had a really big game for the Sixers. What are you guys excited about with him going into next season?

[Alex Rodriguez]

Yeah, just a lot of everything. Right. First of all, incredible athlete, does things defensively. Like, you know, he's good defensively, but he like makes plays like he's a shot blocker. You know, you don't see that a lot from that. He like, he's a shot blocker from a, from a kind of a wing position. Tries really hard on D, explosive. Looked like he's got some shimmy to get his own shot off. He's full court player, was kind of getting up and down in transition, so that's some of that. And then he's an incredible person and he's really all about working really hard and super respectful and it's, he's just like a, he's great to be around, you know, like really quickly you can tell, like, geez, you're going to like this guy when you, when you see him and have him around your team.

[Brian Windhorst]

You're going to have a potentially really good backcourt this year. I saw Maxey said, I think he gave an interview yesterday where he says fully cleared from his finger injury. So I hope he's, you know, he'll be back. And you should have like a pretty dynamic set of options back there.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Should be. Should be good, right, Maxi? McCain.

[Brian Windhorst]

McCain is back. Yeah. Yeah.

[Alex Rodriguez]

McCain, Edgecombe, Grimes, maybe. We're still working on that. Kelly, Justin. Yes. I'm sure I forgot somebody in there. Lowry.

[Brian Windhorst]

Gordon Lowry. Kyle Lowry, for his 20th season coming back.

[Tim McMahon]

Can't get rid of him.

[Alex Rodriguez]

That's, that's quite an accomplishment, man. Seriously, 20, 20 years is, you know, I mean, you guys know this, but when like I first got to Toronto, like, how many years ago was that now? 13 or whatever it was.

[Tim McMahon]

Yeah, 12 years ago.

[Alex Rodriguez]

And he was kind of like teetering, like he wasn't really the full time starter yet. And he'd been gone from Houston, Memphis to Houston to Toronto and. And now to see us, six All Star Games, two gold medals, NBA title.

[Tim McMahon]

Probably a Hall of Famer, and then now 23 million.

[Alex Rodriguez]

It's really amazing when you go back.

[Brian Windhorst]

And think about you guys play golf. Number one, who wins and number two, what's the game? You and Kyle.

[Alex Rodriguez]

First of all, played with him a couple weeks ago and he beat. Beat me soundly for the first time ever.

[Brian Windhorst]

Really?

[Alex Rodriguez]

His game is really good right now. He's really like.

[Brian Windhorst]

His game is really good. Let's sign him.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hey, hey, hey.

[Brian Windhorst]

No, no, no.

[Tim Bontemps]

Usually he's busy during the playoffs, but he had a lot of time to play golf this year. He's. He's.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Yeah, for sure. Lots of practice on the range. Lots of extra practice on the range. You guys are really funny in this setting. Really funny.

[Tim McMahon]

You're just, you're just gonna stop talking.

[Alex Rodriguez]

And turn it over.

[Tim McMahon]

This is my.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Get out here and laugh with you guys.

[Tim McMahon]

This is my life every day. Yeah, just every single day.

[Alex Rodriguez]

I like this. So you guys are in a much. You know, there's no arguing amongst each other. Anyway, his game's in great shape. His golf game. You know, he's playing in that celebrity thing, right?

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, that's right. He is.

[Tim McMahon]

He's out in Tahoe right now.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Tim McMahon]

Is he going to be back at Carol Carroll national in August.

[Alex Rodriguez]

I hope so.

[Brian Windhorst]

So here's the thing about. Nick grew up in Carroll, Iowa. The pro, the Paris of Carroll County. Am I correct in saying that?

[Tim McMahon]

I've been there. I can confirm it is the Paris of Carroll County.

[Brian Windhorst]

Was it two years ago? Two years ago, you bought the.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Yeah, a year ago. A year and a half.

[Brian Windhorst]

He bought the Augusta national of Carroll, Iowa, Carroll Country Club, and renamed it Carroll national, which I love. That's not even a joke. He really did. And the logo is the outline of the state of Iowa with the. With the flag right where Carol is. Just like Augusta.

[Tim Bontemps]

I thought he was going to say the initials.

[Alex Rodriguez]

No, no, not the initials, but yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Have you ever been there?

[Brian Windhorst]

I have. Okay.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Okay, here we go.

[Brian Windhorst]

And actually, you're returning the favor coming over here because Bonsems and I came to Carroll last year to the inauguration of the. Of the course.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. Which was great. And you know what? It really annoys me that Bontemps, who plays golf once a year, is like, pretty much can beat me. It's very upsetting. It's very upsetting.

[Tim McMahon]

Have my moments.

[Brian Windhorst]

I played so bad that day. I was back from Paris for like a day. I played so bad. I didn't want you to see me even hit a shot. But you freaking did. But you own a golf course in Iowa. I mean, that's remarkable. Why? Why did you do that?

[Tim Bontemps]

Because it could.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Again, I'm just gonna sit out. What am I doing up here? You guys are answering. Anyway. Why did I do Was a course I grew up on? My parents were members there for, like 30. I mean, country clubs are pretty, like. I almost wouldn't call it a country club that. I mean, it is a little bit, but they could live 35 years.

[Tim McMahon]

It's got a pool and a restaurant.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Yeah, it's not enough stuff, but it was.

[Brian Windhorst]

It was great music.

[Tim McMahon]

They have great music.

[Alex Rodriguez]

That day, it was kind of at its end. They were just about ready to turn it into. To good old Iowa farmland. And some guys asked me if I'd be interested in taking a look at trying to help them keep it going. So we did it. And then we've, you know, done a lot of cool stuff, you know, like, stuff that just needed to be done. Cut the grass, put water back in the ponds, put sand back in the sand traps. And it's been there since 1924. You know, we did. We repainted the clubhouse. We did everything, and it's going pretty good. We actually repainted the pool this spring, and I Don't know if you guys know this or not, but I have five older brothers, and my dad ran a painting company called Nurse and Sons Painting, and those guys painted it.

[Brian Windhorst]

Really let them down.

[Tim Bontemps]

The labor.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Yep, that labor.

[Brian Windhorst]

And.

[Alex Rodriguez]

And my old five older brothers, I, you know, text them, hey, man, you know, we're out of the playoffs. You want to go to, you know, Augusta? Let's go to. Let's go to the Masters Crickets.

[Brian Windhorst]

Nothing.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Want to go to the Kentucky Derby?

[Brian Windhorst]

Nothing.

[Alex Rodriguez]

I said, hey, our pool needs painting at the club.

[Mark Laurie]

Boom.

[Alex Rodriguez]

We're there. They're booking flights. And they did. They all came in and helped paint us. So. Yeah. Anyway, it's long. Talk about. It's fun. It's good for the community. It's. It's coming back, and there's some. There's. We have a nice event again in August coming up here in a couple weeks.

[Brian Windhorst]

So you have coached in Europe quite a bit. You won a championship in Belgium. You won championships in England, G League, NBA. One story you told me, and I wish you would retell it now, was. Was it in Belgium or wherever, where. Yeah, you were in first place in the league. And so therefore, when you played in the championship game, you had to start the game down, like, 30 to nothing, right.

[Alex Rodriguez]

No. So, yeah, this is the. The Belgian Cup. The Belgian Cup. They let all down. They let all the divisions in. First, second, third, fourth, and they just have a draw, you know, like the. The FA Cup.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Alex Rodriguez]

In soccer. In England. Right. So. And if you draw a team below you, you got to spot them 10 points for every division they're below you. And we drew a fourth division team, and we got to their place. We already know we were like, the. One of the top two teams in Belgium. We got to their place, and it was 30 zip on the scoreboard before the. Before the ball went up. They throw the ball up, and of course, you know, they, like, hit two threes right away. It's like 36 to 2. And we. I can you. We did not take the lead till about a minute to go in the game, and we. We got out of there with a win over fourth division. Cement floor.

[Tim Bontemps]

Floor.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Like, I mean, it was something if.

[Tim Bontemps]

We had anybody from the league office, they would make. They would hear this and say, the Jazz are up 22 nothing to start every game. Next year.

[Brian Windhorst]

The Jazz would argue for it to maybe be a little lower. Can we negotiate day team? So the Eastern Conference this year is in total flux. Hopefully you guys are going to come back healthy. How do you See what you guys can accomplish this year with your team back.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Well, I mean, we're a team with a lot of good players, right? So we expect to make a run at things. I mean, I don't like being out of the playoffs very well, so that's where we're going to start. We got to start with getting these new guys integrated, getting our older guys back playing, and get in the playoffs and take it from there.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, the good news is you won't have Bond himself summer long saying Philly's got the best Big Three in the league. There's no conversation. You overhyped them and. And cursed them.

[Tim McMahon]

What are you doing?

[Tim Bontemps]

You cursed them.

[Tim McMahon]

What are you doing?

[Tim Bontemps]

It's the truth. They all listen. They all heard you all summer long. I mean, you were planning the championship parade up the Rockies.

[Tim McMahon]

Be quiet. Be quiet.

[Alex Rodriguez]

I don't have any idea what you're.

[Tim McMahon]

A couple weeks ago. Couple weeks ago, we're like, hey, you know, we should have some guests on the pod. I said, hey, you know, ask nurse. Nurse will come on. It'll be great. And I tell them, hey, we're going to have this nice fun pod. You're going to.

[Brian Windhorst]

Come on.

[Tim McMahon]

It's going to be a good time.

[Brian Windhorst]

It's good time. Yeah. Well, yeah.

[Tim McMahon]

This guy's sending missiles at him every 30 seconds.

[Brian Windhorst]

Sending him a. You.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Throwing them at Bon Temps. Throw their missiles. That's more you're used to.

[Tim Bontemps]

He's just. He's so jet, like, you don't even realize.

[Brian Windhorst]

Smack. Yeah. So I'm sure you're always thrilled when you come out for the pregame and you see Bon Temps there like, oh, God, not again. Hey, pal, not again.

[Tim McMahon]

Some people enjoy seeing that.

[Brian Windhorst]

It's not you.

[Alex Rodriguez]

I am. I am. No.

[Tim Bontemps]

Nobody in this room.

[Brian Windhorst]

We love Bontemp. Yeah.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Tim McMahon]

I mean, I know Bontemp.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, I really appreciate you stopping by. I know you've got some. A lot of engagements here. You got your. Your team that you're gonna go see, and we wish you next year to be very busy and unable to attend any major events and your golf game to go to hell in the spring, hopefully.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Wait a minute. Before I get off, can I. Can you make the hour and a half drive over to the event again? You live so close to Carol National.

[Brian Windhorst]

Have another event that day.

[Tim Bontemps]

The whole.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Wait a minute. But the good news is we. It's two days this year, so.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Pick one.

[Brian Windhorst]

What. What day. What day are you playing the guitar? What day are you performing?

[Alex Rodriguez]

I don't. I don't know. I don't know. You won't stay for the. You won't stay that late anyway.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, yeah, I left so embarrassed last year. I left on the 16th hole. That's a true story. I just got in my car and drove away. I was like, I can't even post this score. It's so bad. But, well, I hope you have a successful event coming up. I hope you have a successful season. And we have some really good things to talk about. The 76ers last year. Nick Nurse.

[Tim Bontemps]

More Hoop Collective podcast after this.

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[Brian Windhorst]

You can Venmo this or you can Venmo that.

[Alex Rodriguez]

You can Venmo this.

[Brian Windhorst]

So you can Venmo that. You can Venmo.

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[Brian Windhorst]

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[Brian Windhorst]

One of our guys, he, you know, he's been around the world. He's guy who really appreciates his success so we can have some fun with him, but obviously incredibly successful coach. And we can't really root for anybody, but we can pull for people, so we always pull for Nick.

[Tim Bontemps]

And Wendy asked for the Belgian points given story because you're asking for strokes. It's your long winded way of asking for strokes.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, man. I wouldn't even enter into a bet right now.

[Tim McMahon]

He isn't kidding, too. He did leave. He literally left after the 16th hole last year. He's like, I have to go home. This is really bad.

[Brian Windhorst]

I was literally like, you just back from Europe? I was just like, I've had enough. I have as much as I can do. That's right. Yeah. What time is your flight tomorrow?

[Tim McMahon]

11:15, I think.

[Brian Windhorst]

Good. We'll keep that in mind. All right. So we were supposed to have Dave McMenam in here, but he blew us off to do sidelines for the Laker game.

[Tim McMahon]

Yeah, booing. There's some good booing. Yes, that's right.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, you're.

[Tim Bontemps]

There's a Mac 10 seed chance this year.

[Brian Windhorst]

But we're very happy to have one of our favorite colleagues at espn. He drives so much of what we do and he behind the scenes is even more valuable than he is publicly. But he's a friend of our pod. He's one of the best in the business. We call him the Machine. The one, the only. Just back from the ER where he has some sort of strange thumb injury that was a result of doing analytics. Kevin Pelton.

[Tim McMahon]

Kp.

[Kevin Pelton]

Yeah, but you should see the calculator.

[Brian Windhorst]

No, seriously, what happened to your thumb?

[Kevin Pelton]

I slammed it in a car door a week ago. So it's one of those things where you tell people the story and everyone winces immediately as soon as they hear it.

[Brian Windhorst]

I kind of giggled, to be honest with you. So, Pelton, you've. You're here at summer league. What are the. What are the storylines that you're watching? What, what players are you excited to see this next week and a half?

[Kevin Pelton]

Well, this Cooper flag guy, you know, a lot of people were ready to jump off the bandwagon after he shot 5 of 21 on Thursday. Not me.

[Tim Bontemps]

Oh, wait. A way to stick with him.

[Kevin Pelton]

I took the brave stance that it is too early to write off Cooper flag and he responded with 31 points today.

[Brian Windhorst]

The most points. Do you know this here's a trivia. The most stats Williams in here in spirit. The most points for a number one overall pick in the summer league since that's a happened here in Vegas.

[Kevin Pelton]

John Wall.

[Brian Windhorst]

John. God, the Machine 2010.

[Tim McMahon]

Why is the Machine John Wall was in attendance today.

[Brian Windhorst]

He was there.

[Kevin Pelton]

Yeah, he was signing autographs.

[Tim Bontemps]

Wasn't looking like you could get 31 anymore.

[Brian Windhorst]

He can always count on you.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hey, no, listen. This is a true story. This is a true story. The last shot that John Wall hit of his career was when he slammed into my back when I was about to do a sports show.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's true. That's a true story. He was about to get cut and he was raging against the dying of the light. And he slammed into McMahon on the sideline while he was about to do a sports center hit.

[Tim McMahon]

What?

[Tim Bontemps]

Everybody was like, what are you doing there? They told us they were gonna start the. It was the stay ready game. Like the guys who aren't getting minutes coming back from injury, they told us they were gonna start at like, I don't know what time, whatever, say like 12:30. My hit was at noon. And then they started at 11:45 and we didn't have time to adjust. So he drives down the middle. I don't even know if he got hit, but he backed, slammed right into my back. I'm like, all right, dude.

[Brian Windhorst]

And it was a block. It was Nan 1. I'm sorry to say for you, I kept my feet. But not your dignity. Yeah. Cooper flag had 31 points today on 10 of 20.

[Tim Bontemps]

10 of 20.

[Brian Windhorst]

10 of 20. So much better shooting. Dylan Harper with 16 points in that game, I think.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah, like 18 or 19 minutes. Dylan Harper looked good the first game that he played. He sat out. I don't even know. One of California is called California California Classic. He sat that out and then he sat out the open with a little groin injury. But yeah, he looked good.

[Tim McMahon]

He's going to be awfully good highlight.

[Kevin Pelton]

Block for Dylan Harper in transition. That was very impressive.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. So who other than Cooper Flag and Dylan Harper, what are you watching for? If any of these folks are going out to Thomas Mech. Well, or the, you know, the Cox Pavilion, the little side arena too. I came to the first. All right, the first Vegas summer league. I came in 2004. And they didn't used to have a foul out rule. Now if you foul 10 times, you foul out. They put that rule in because Dwight Howard as a rookie was fouling like 14 times a game. Nobody was coming to the games. They were bringing in campers from like 11 and 12 year old campers to sit in the stands, to just fill the stands because nobody else. There was no games at night. All the games were during the day. And at one point the clippers had a game and there's no courtside seats. I mean, there were seats, but nobody had bought them. And like midway through the second quarter, Donald Sterling walks in with six blondes and he sits courts right in the middle. Courtside, three on the right and three on the left.

[Tim Bontemps]

And that probably cost more than his Clippers roster.

[Brian Windhorst]

I can't confirm or deny.

[Tim McMahon]

Man is auditioning for a spot on the stage here later. I think trying.

[Brian Windhorst]

They had. The Thomas and Mac center was sealed off. Like, we can't be. We can't even think about using that building. So to see 20 years later, to see this is going on this pretty cool. But anyway, if any of these folks go over there. Pelton, who are you watching? Well, he doesn't have to be rookies.

[Tim McMahon]

Were you. Were you about to shout out another Spur?

[Kevin Pelton]

I actually wasn't. Although we can talk about Carter Bryant.

[Tim McMahon]

I was going to say, very impressive today.

[Tim Bontemps]

That's what the people came for.

[Brian Windhorst]

Let's go.

[Tim McMahon]

Well, I was. Before we shot. We have a bunch of NBA people here, but I wanted to shout out one guy in particular. Sean Sweeney, new associate head coach of the San Antonio spurs, in attendance.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hey, not tall enough to ref a game, but he's a hell of a coach.

[Tim McMahon]

He just doesn't stop ever.

[Brian Windhorst]

We also have a whole bunch of Oklahoma City Thunder executives in here. And they're still smiling.

[Tim Bontemps]

No, no.

[Brian Windhorst]

Because they're not drunk. Because they don't drink.

[Tim Bontemps]

No, no.

[Tim McMahon]

Hey.

[Tim Bontemps]

And they saw nerves here. They didn't like the lottery stuff. The top six stories they don't like.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, they were there with the other side of that. Nothing ever goes the Thunder's way. I don't know if they're ever gonna think it's gonna work out, but Sean.

[Tim McMahon]

Has just showed up in San Antonio from Dallas, got away from McMahon 1. One big win for him.

[Tim Bontemps]

And it goes right from me to Mike Wright. What a prize.

[Tim McMahon]

In addition to. In addition to Victor Wembanyama, he's got another guy who's pretty good on defense who was quite good today.

[Kevin Pelton]

Yeah, Bryant was someone who really popped in my statistical projections early on.

[Tim McMahon]

Carter, Bryant, for people who don't know.

[Kevin Pelton]

Who that is, who's kind of a three and D wing, high steal and block rates. But one thing I didn't realize, watching him a little bit at Arizona, like, defensively today, it was just kind of. He was the aggressor out there. The way that he was using his size and strength defending the ball. Forced to Cooper turnover early on.

[Tim Bontemps]

Not only Cooper turnover I mean, he locked him up. And it was one of those things where like, Cooper Flags got the ball out on the wing. Obviously, the whole arena is excited. There's a buzz. He's trying to make something happen. And it was like several seconds he's locked up until he just dribbled the ball off his foot because there was so much pressure.

[Kevin Pelton]

But the guy, I was going to say, because we maybe need someone on this podcast to not pronounce his name like a 90s boy band, is Yong Han Sen of the Portland Trailblazers.

[Brian Windhorst]

And our next guest is Yang Han Sen. Yong Han Sen. Okay. So sadly, you're just excited.

[Tim Bontemps]

We didn't know. We were trying to figure out if it was Yang Hansen or Hanson Yang, and it's neither one pushing way beyond that.

[Brian Windhorst]

You're just excited about it because you're a Pacific Northwesterner and you're looking for a reason to go down to Portland.

[Kevin Pelton]

I would love a good reason to go down to Portland. Donovan Klingon is a reason in his own right. And their young guards, Tumani, Kamara, Deni Abdia. But that's not true. I mean, admittedly, I didn't make that many games last season, but not because I wasn't excited about the Blazers. I think we may not have the Yong Gang in attendance here tonight because they're playing at 7:30, but assuming he continues playing after this. He had a very exciting opening performance on Friday with his passing. You know, his size.

[Brian Windhorst]

He grew up. He's like the. One of the first generation of big men who grew up idolizing Nikola Jokic. And so He's. Was he 7, 7 3?

[Kevin Pelton]

I don't know that.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay. But he, he. If you watch him play like, you can tell he has studied how Jokic plays. Wants to play on the high post. Made some crazy passes two nights ago. Was that last night?

[Kevin Pelton]

Last night?

[Brian Windhorst]

Last night.

[Kevin Pelton]

I don't want to say Blazers fans are getting over their skis here, but I did hear today that instead of him being the Chinese Jokic, Jokic is going to be the Serbian Young.

[Tim Bontemps]

He was considered the biggest reach of the first round. Like when he was picked, you know.

[Brian Windhorst]

People thought he was. Hold on.

[Tim Bontemps]

That guy's supposed to be like a mid second rounder. Where did you have him on your nerd board?

[Kevin Pelton]

Well, I didn't have him at all.

[Brian Windhorst]

That was. My God. What happened? Get off. Get out of here.

[Tim Bontemps]

One summer league game and he's got him as the Chinese Joker.

[Kevin Pelton]

I send someone to watch Joe Chi, who you may remember from Houston Rated really well in my model. So I have some qualms about the the Chinese Basketball Association.

[Tim McMahon]

What is the correct pronunciation again? Just so I can now say it because Jackson Yang Han Sen. So Yang Hansen seven one according to Jackson. Okay, Jackson producing even during the live show.

[Brian Windhorst]

Jackson and Jello. By the way everybody, he didn't get a proper applause earlier.

[Tim McMahon]

Jackson tried to get on the pod with the announcements beforehand. That was interesting.

[Brian Windhorst]

I've been following me around the country for the last two and a half months and I am tired of it. Listen, I am ready to move on.

[Tim Bontemps]

Jackson's biggest contribution during the playoffs, all the work he did on the podcast. His biggest contribution was boosting my confidence when he was guarding me in pickup basketball. His post defense is atrocious.

[Tim McMahon]

Nobody likes to talk about anything more than Tim McMahon likes to talk about his mediocre pickup basketball game.

[Tim Bontemps]

It is, I'll say it again. I've used this line but it's. This is an accurate scatter report. Bond temps, hoops like he, like he podcasts. He talks a lot and contributes none.

[Tim McMahon]

McMahon played five or six times during the playoffs and I got the play by play of every single game because.

[Tim Bontemps]

He only showed up once. He wasn't coming back after that.

[Tim McMahon]

No, I, I, I just, it just, it's non stop. It's unbelievable by the way. Talk about it every single day, but I'm really not exaggerating.

[Brian Windhorst]

You came to summer league.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hey, hey, hold on. I got, I got my boys back here.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, with an age, coincidentally, Luka and.

[Tim McMahon]

Liam shout out to the twins.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hey, I smoked their little butts last week too.

[Kevin Pelton]

No, no injuries.

[Tim Bontemps]

No full court too. These guys were huffing and puffing. I'm old.

[Brian Windhorst]

I was.

[Tim Bontemps]

But let me just tell you. And I've seen you run. You were huffing and the court's only about 40ft, to be honest with you. But the, the dagger, the, the walk off was from half court, baby.

[Tim McMahon]

Again, this is, this is every day.

[Brian Windhorst]

How many shoes did you bring to summer league? How many pairs of shoes?

[Tim Bontemps]

So it's a trick question because I have to go to, I do, I have to go to LA after. So I had to, I got four shows in la, so that's four right there. Although these will be my father's day present, by the way.

[Kevin Pelton]

How much are you going to see the shoes on tv?

[Tim Bontemps]

I think I packed, I think I packed like nine. But there's skip right by your question. It's all good.

[Brian Windhorst]

My bad.

[Tim Bontemps]

One pair of basketball shoes. Don't, don't know if I'm going to use them. Although Christian from Christian Scooby's here. If we can get a pickup run in la.

[Tim McMahon]

Another big celebrity if you don't know Christian Scooby.

[Brian Windhorst]

Scooby the star is really Scooby.

[Tim Bontemps]

I don't listen. I've never seen Scooby do a one a one handed handstand while dribbling a.

[Brian Windhorst]

Ball or the other hand the premier halftime act in the NBA.

[Tim McMahon]

That's right.

[Brian Windhorst]

Our favorite.

[Tim McMahon]

That's right.

[Brian Windhorst]

So he. He also does a.

[Tim Bontemps]

He's kicking red Panda while she's down. That's not nice.

[Brian Windhorst]

He also does a show here in Vegas in the off season and the show is pretty much the same with Scooby except for in Vegas he doesn't wear a shirt and he oils himself up. That's essentially the only difference.

[Tim Bontemps]

He just listens naturally.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. All right. But Pelton, anybody else you think we should keep an eye on here?

[Kevin Pelton]

Well, I'm curious to see if Reed shepherd plays tomorrow.

[Brian Windhorst]

I think 26 points last or 26. 28.

[Kevin Pelton]

28 sounds right. Six threes.

[Tim Bontemps]

It's like 10 to 20, 25 though.

[Tim McMahon]

But yes, I mean six for 15 from three. That's pretty good.

[Kevin Pelton]

A bunch of blocks and steals reach out.

[Tim McMahon]

He always have an awfully good year for the Rockets. He's going to be awfully, awfully good.

[Brian Windhorst]

And any other first round picks that you've seen so far that you've been interested in.

[Kevin Pelton]

I'm curious to see more of Ace Bailey. You know I saw he didn't play last.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, he's got a little hip thing. We'll see.

[Brian Windhorst]

Jazz are already getting going on that, aren't they?

[Tim Bontemps]

I'm pretty sure they can play 18 year old Ace B. Bailey and still lose next year.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's the plan.

[Tim Bontemps]

That's the plan. I'm serious though.

[Brian Windhorst]

We.

[Tim Bontemps]

I'm not just saying like a Rod and Mark Laurie are gone now, but the French kid.

[Kevin Pelton]

Yo on Baron J. Oui oui.

[Brian Windhorst]

In the back. In the back. Before we came out a Rod and Mark were all excited about the fact that he had seven blocks. Was it last night?

[Kevin Pelton]

No, he was sworn tied the summer league record.

[Tim McMahon]

Right.

[Kevin Pelton]

Which kind of shocked me it was that low.

[Tim McMahon]

He's got a pretty good mentor. And Rudy Gobert obviously the greatest French center. Tilt the young fella in San Antonio surpasses him at some point in the future. But pretty good guy to emulate over the next couple years. You know, learn how to play. So makes pretty interesting.

[Brian Windhorst]

So Pelton before we go, yes, you are about to star, I think is the proper term. You're about to star in an upcoming 30 for 30 podcast.

[Tim McMahon]

Really? News?

[Kevin Pelton]

I don't know how much I'm in the podcast, but the promotion makes it seem like a lot.

[Brian Windhorst]

You're gonna star in it.

[Tim McMahon]

This is news to me. What do we got?

[Kevin Pelton]

I'm not the subject, to be clear.

[Tim McMahon]

What's the story?

[Kevin Pelton]

The story is about a pioneer of basketball analytics named Martin Manley. So he was writing in the 80s, well before there were, you know, PR existed well beyond before basketball reference. Any of these things that we sort of take for granted now was inspired by fellow Kansan Bill James and did a couple of best books called Basketball Heaven was the name of his series in the 80s. And I happened to read one of them they had at the UW Library.

[Brian Windhorst]

You were probably reading it.

[Kevin Pelton]

Not at the time. Not at the time, but when I was in college, they had it at the UW Library. So I read it. And he invented a very early player rating system that basically was, let's take the good things players do, you know, points, rebounds, assist, steals, blocks, subtract missed shots, turnovers, fouls, things like that. And, you know, that's going to be their player rating, which eventually showed up on NBA.com many years later. So he was someone who was really ahead of his time in this sort of analysis, but, you know, one of those kind of pioneers that has been lost to history to a great degree. And this podcast will be telling his story as well as what happened after his time writing these books.

[Brian Windhorst]

There's more to the story, but he can't give it away. That's all I can say.

[Tim McMahon]

That's where the machine comes in, actually.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, that's right.

[Kevin Pelton]

The best part, though, is if you go check out the promo video for this, there's a list of the people who are most responsible for there being potentially too many threes in the NBA. Now it's Steph Curry, number one.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right.

[Kevin Pelton]

Daryl Morey, number two.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay.

[Kevin Pelton]

Dean Oliver, who basically invented what we now know as basketball statistics, number three. And then somehow I made it on the list at number four.

[Brian Windhorst]

So you. You better be careful out there. Some people don't like the number.

[Kevin Pelton]

Yeah, I mean, they are being crossed off. It reminded me a little bit of Happy Gilmore. Oh, wait, no, there's Billy Madison.

[Alex Rodriguez]

I put.

[Kevin Pelton]

I ruined the joke.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right.

[Tim McMahon]

I've been told, I'm told by producer Jackson that the podcast comes out on July 22, so make sure you check it out.

[Kevin Pelton]

Check out our 330 podcast.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right. Wonderful. All right, Mr. Pelton, thank you for everything. Take care of those other nine fingers. The machine, Kevin Pelton.

[Tim McMahon]

Thanks, kp. Two thumbs up for the machine.

[Brian Windhorst]

Two thumbs up. One and a half thumbs up. All right, well, before we take some questions, because we've got some of those. I think Jackson's got some. We have a special presentation we have to give to go back to Portugal. We ought to be thought that. Why?

[Tim McMahon]

Why?

[Brian Windhorst]

Why?

[Tim Bontemps]

Because you just had a baby.

[Brian Windhorst]

I know.

[Tim McMahon]

I have one carry on bag because.

[Brian Windhorst]

I'm here for 38.

[Tim Bontemps]

You got two.

[Brian Windhorst]

Now, this is on behalf. This is on behalf of your friends at the Hoop Collective.

[Tim McMahon]

Wow, that's a lot of stuff. Holy cow.

[Brian Windhorst]

For your son, Jesus Christ. That's a really nice way to say thank you.

[Tim Bontemps]

You're welcome.

[Tim McMahon]

I'm just trying to contemplate how I'm gonna get it.

[Tim Bontemps]

Now you see why I give him such a hard time.

[Tim McMahon]

This was very unexpected. It's very nice. Shout out. Shout out to. Shout out to Kon. The reason we're doing the pod, because she allowed me to come back from vacation.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, go ahead and raid that McMahon, because he doesn't want anywhere way.

[Tim McMahon]

What do we got? Holy cow. That is amazing.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. You're going to start changing your tone when you go.

[Tim McMahon]

Well, I mean, yes. I'm just sort of overwhelmed by Got.

[Tim Bontemps]

Got his kicks game.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Right.

[Tim McMahon]

I was not expecting it. It was very cool.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's the idea of the surprise special presentation.

[Tim McMahon]

I'm just also now figuring out we're.

[Brian Windhorst]

Saying thank you for flying all the way back from Portugal.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hey, this guy is a lot of fun at parties.

[Tim McMahon]

Listen. And in the state I'm in, I just looked at this and said, how am I going to get this home to Portugal and then home from Portugal.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, we'll ship it just.

[Tim McMahon]

I know, I know, I know. I did not anticipate getting gifts. It's very nice.

[Brian Windhorst]

You can always count on Bontemp.

[Tim McMahon]

I did say thank you. I did say thank you.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, so for the television purposes, I'm going to say a little something here to wrap the show so they can put a little bow on it. And then we're going to have Q and A. So that's what we're going to explain to you. So here's where I say thank you to Jackson and Rafa.

[Tim McMahon]

Yes, thank you.

[Brian Windhorst]

And Julius and Megan and all of our producers who made this happen. Thank you for everybody here in Las Vegas, who I heard some people came from all over the country. Shout out to one of my special guests, Cedric Johnson's birthday. He decided to come to spend his birthday with us. Shout out to everybody who traveled in here and spent your evening here in US with Las Vegas. You could have gone to the Nuggets Wolves game, but you came here with us instead. So we're very appreciative. Thank you.

[Tim McMahon]

This is an Incredible program.

[Brian Windhorst]

Tim McMahon, thank you to Bontemps. Thank you for watching, listening to the.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hoop Collective and for the intents of the podcast. Adios amigos.

[Tim McMahon]

You've seen the headlines, heard the debates.

[Brian Windhorst]

Some say the three point ball has created a monotonous rhythm to the game.

[Tim McMahon]

Has the three pointer ruined basketball? And how did we get here?

[Brian Windhorst]

The rise of the three point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined.

[Tim Bontemps]

I decided I wanted to have one of the most organized goodbyes in history and I think I will be successful.

[Brian Windhorst]

30 for 30 podcast presents a brand new original series, Chasing basketball heaven, available July 22. Wherever you get your podcasts.