Nightcap - Hour 1: Knicks beat Celtics to advance to ECF, Aaron Gordon doubtful for Game 7 with hamstring injury!

Summary

Podcast Summary: Club Shay Shay – "Nightcap - Hour 1: Knicks Beat Celtics to Advance to ECF, Aaron Gordon Doubtful for Game 7 with Hamstring Injury!"

Release Date: May 17, 2025

Hosts:

• Shannon Sharpe – NFL legend and host
• Chad Ochocinko Johnson – Pro Bowler, All-Pro, and Liberty City's own Bingo Ring of Fame honoree
• Joe Johnson – Basketball contributor and University of Arkansas alum

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1. Knicks Advance to the Eastern Conference Finals

The episode kicks off with Shannon Sharpe announcing the New York Knicks' decisive victory over the Boston Celtics, securing their spot in the Eastern Conference Finals (ECF) with a staggering 119-81 win. This marks the Knicks' first advancement to the ECF since the year 2000, ending a 24-year drought.

Shannon Sharpe [03:10]: "The New York Knicks are going to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1999."

2. Detailed Game Recap and Performance Analysis

Shannon Sharpe delves into the game's specifics, highlighting the team's balanced scoring effort and impressive statistics:

• Miles Bridges: 22 points
• OG Anunoby: 23 points
• Cade Cunningham (Cat): 21 points and 12 rebounds
• Jalen Brunson: 23 points
• Josh Hart: Achieved a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists

The hosts discuss how the Knicks dominated the Celtics, emphasizing their superior shooting and rebounding.

Shannon Sharpe [08:49]: "The Knicks got four guys with 20 points or more. You got a triple double from Josh Hart. They rolled by what? 38 points over the Celtics."

Chad Ochocinko Johnson adds his perspective on the Celtics' performance without their star player, Jayson Tatum, arguing that the team was unlikely to perform well without him.

Chad Ochocinko Johnson [06:08]: "A team is better without one of the better players in the NBA? I never believe that for a second."

3. Celtics' Struggles Without Jayson Tatum

The absence of Jayson Tatum, a four-time All-NBA selection, significantly impacted the Celtics' performance. The hosts debate whether the Celtics could have fared better had Tatum been available, ultimately agreeing that his presence is pivotal.

Shannon Sharpe [11:10]: "But Cat probably has to guard Miles Turner, but Miles Turner just steps out to the three. Miles is a stretch five."

4. Knicks’ Strategy and Team Dynamics

The conversation shifts to the Knicks' strategic playstyle, focusing on their "blue-collar" approach and the importance of home court advantage. Joe Johnson commends the Knicks for their resilience and ability to perform under pressure, suggesting they have a strong chance to reach the NBA Finals.

Joe Johnson [10:22]: "I think we gonna see the Knicks in the Finals."

5. Aaron Gordon’s Injury Update

A significant portion of the discussion addresses Aaron Gordon of the Denver Nuggets, who sustained a left hamstring strain, casting doubt on his availability for Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The hosts express concern over his ability to return in time and the potential impact on the Nuggets' chances.

Shannon Sharpe [16:11]: "Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain and his status is in doubt for Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder."

Chad Ochocinko Johnson compares Gordon's injury to that of Steph Curry, emphasizing the severity and likely prolonged absence.

Chad Ochocinko Johnson [18:36]: "That's grade one. So you're going to miss maybe at least three games, maybe four."

6. Impact on Nuggets and Future Predictions

Without Gordon, the Nuggets face a challenging path forward. The hosts debate the necessity for key players like Michael Porter Jr. to elevate their performance significantly to compensate for Gordon's absence.

Shannon Sharpe [21:04]: "Michael Porter Jr. needs to have the game of his life... he could have the game of his life."

Joe Johnson expresses skepticism about the Nuggets overcoming this setback, highlighting the importance of versatility and depth in their lineup.

Joe Johnson [20:47]: "But without him, Uncle Ocho, I mean you're gonna have to lean on some of the young guys you got over there..."

7. Final Predictions and Outlook for the ECF

As the episode wraps up, the hosts weigh in on the upcoming Eastern Conference Finals matchup between the Knicks and the Indiana Pacers. They predict a gritty, competitive series dominated by strong defensive plays and strategic teamwork.

Chad Ochocinko Johnson [33:49]: "These dudes, they've competed. They've been doubted the whole year. We already know what Halliburton has been going through as far as being the most... overrated player."

Shannon Sharpe emphasizes the importance of home court advantage and the Knicks' clutch performances throughout the season as key factors in their favor.

Shannon Sharpe [17:23]: "Gonna be some ugly games. It's going to be some ugly games."

8. Closing Remarks

The episode concludes with the hosts expressing excitement for the upcoming series, acknowledging the unpredictability of playoff basketball and the potential for thrilling moments ahead.

Chad Ochocinko Johnson [73:33]: "I don't care if you don't want to be the face of the league, boy, you better. You're going on. You finna be the NBA logo."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Shannon Sharpe [03:10]: "The New York Knicks are going to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1999."
• Chad Ochocinko Johnson [06:08]: "A team is better without one of the better players in the NBA? I never believe that for a second."
• Joe Johnson [10:22]: "I think we gonna see the Knicks in the Finals."
• Shannon Sharpe [16:11]: "Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain and his status is in doubt for Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder."

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This episode of Club Shay Shay provides an in-depth analysis of the Knicks' remarkable performance, the Celtics' challenges without their star, and the broader implications of key injuries on the playoff landscape. The hosts offer insightful predictions and highlight the resilience and strategic prowess of the teams involved, making it a must-listen for NBA enthusiasts.

Transcript

[Host]

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[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Hold on.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You want to.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Okay, wait a minute, wait a minute. Time out.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You did say oo. OO said. Are you guys sure?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The Knicks don't have a chance. Before I say, you know, I think the Celtics five, maybe six, right? I think the Celtics gonna get it. You're like, nah, I'm. I'mma ride with the Knicks.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I say I'm riding with the Knicks. Now listen, I am a.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You in the brand. The grand marshal. Take off the grand marshal.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Now, before we go on now, I want to make sure. Now I don't know if we remember or. Ash, I might need you to go back and check the table because I remember, if I'm not mistaken, both of you picked the Celtics to win. I think uncle you saying a five. Joe, you might have said six. And on top of that then I said, okay, let's make it lighter yourself. Let's make a little side bet. Both of you chose to say a.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Certain dollar amount that I ain't bet nothing. I say I ain't betting the man that already owe me money.

[Joe Johnson]

Okay?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

That's what you said?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, that's what I said. Well, Joe.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Joe, you owe me 500.

[Joe Johnson]

Joe, we ain't betting no 500, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I promise you.

[Joe Johnson]

We better light, honey.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He tried to get over there.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I'm just trying to charge a little interest.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, we had a nice little friendly bet. You won the bet, man.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

So you need my cash out. What you need? Because I don't.

[Joe Johnson]

I don't think we'll Talk about it later. We ain't got time right now. We ain't got time. Oh, what we got going, baby.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The Knicks got four guys with 20 points or more. You got a triple double from Josh Hart. Who was that? Miles McBride came off the bench, gave the 10 solid quick points, and they rolled. They were 19 or 21 from the free throw line, 16 to 46 from the three. They shot 46% from the floor. They did a great job of. They turned the ball over a little, but it didn't matter. You know, you could tell early on in the game how this game was going to end. It was not going to end favorably for the Boston Celtics. They really had only one guy that could, that could get anything going, because early on, only Jaylen Brunson, excuse me, Jaylen Brown, was doing anything. Everybody else was just clanking and clanking and clanking and, you know, like, I wonder how many points the Knicks are going to actually win by, because this is not going to be a close game and it's not going to be pretty. Joe, what do you think? What do you look. Other than being outgunned, why did you think it got so out of hand so quick for the Boston Celtics?

[Joe Johnson]

I think the Knicks really understood the moment. They didn't want to go back to Boston, and they just came out with that fight and that desire, that intensity to win and get this series over with. I thought Jaylen Brown came to play. He gave him a great little boost. But, man, when you get. Uncle Ocho, when you get down like that in the playoffs and you got the firepower to fight back, oh, man, this game was over well before it even really got started, to be honest with you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Derrick Wright was a minus 45 and plus minus. Jalen Brown was minus 30. Holiday minus 34. Luke Cornette was minus 16. Al Horford was minus 33. I don't know if I've ever seen somebody minus 45. That's. I mean, just like Shay was plus 51. I don't know if I've ever seen somebody minus 45 and plus minus Joe. But you're right. I mean, the Knicks got it going. They pounded them on the glass, plus 19 on the glass, plus plus six, offensive rebound. Everything, everything, everything was in the Knicks favor. And the scoreboard would, would indicate that it was a close ball game in this first quarter. 26, 20. You're like, okay, Boston, you, you, you hung around, but the next thing you know, it's a 38 to 17. So now you're down 27 you're down 35 at the end of the. You're 35 at the end of the. So.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, yeah, this, this, this, this, this is a tough one because the Knicks got six guys and double figures. So by committee they beat you. They two top guns, Cat and Brunson. You know, they did they thing as far as, you know, playing, being efficient, making plays, just playing hard. And then these other guys like the OGs. OG gave you 23 tonight. I mean, this is closed out basketball, man. They did not want to go back to Boston. And man, New York is in a frenzy right now, man, because Unc and.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Ocho, I know they going crazy out that way.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, hey, hey. They got a chance to make it to the finals, man, and this is great for basketball.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, they got an excellent chance. These teams are familiar with each other. It's two different styles. One want to grind you out, the other want to get up and down. Sometimes the, the Knicks will go with their two bigs, Mitchell Robinson and Cat. You know, the, the only big that really, that the, the Pacers have is Miles Turner. They don't really play TB Thomas Bryant and, and, and Miles Turner together. So it's going to be very interesting to see because if you put Miles Turner on Mitchell Robinson, that means Pascal Siakam has to deal with Cat. Cat has the advantage. And then when Cat gets his butt down on the block, when Cat is not selling for threes, Cat's unguardable. There's nobody that's currently in the playoffs that can deal with Cat. Nah, nobody. Nah, not if he, when he decides like, I'm going to the block.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, I think. Hey, okay, Ocho, I think you gonna have to play cat at the 5 a lot this series against Indiana because you gonna have to, you gonna have to deal with Siakam. He's a very important piece in this series who could ultimately win you a series. I don't like the fact that Cat will have to guard him. So I think he gonna.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, Cat probably have to guard. He'll probably guard Miles Turner, but Miles Turner just step out to the three. Miles is a stretch five.

[Joe Johnson]

I'm saying if Cat is in there with, with big fella. If I. Yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

With Mitchell Robinson. Yes, yes.

[Joe Johnson]

But man, this is, this. These two teams kind of mirror each other. To me. They, they both blue collar teams.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Gonna beat you by committee. You don't, you don't really know who gonna be honestly for the Knicks. Brunson has been, you know, clutch pretty much the whole playoffs, the whole season but this is going to be a good series, man. Two gritty teams who ain't going to play a lot of pretty basketball. It's going to be some ugly games.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Ugly.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. And you got, you know, you got guys that can defend. You got Nemhard that can defend, Niecemith that can defend. You got Mathburn, who can defend. So you got some guys, Siakam that can defend the same thing. You got Miles Bridges, you got og, you got Josh Hart, you got guys on the Knicks that can defend at an elite level. So I agree with you, is going to be who takes care of the basketball the best. Right. Because if you turn the basketball over against the Pacers, they are, hey, they laying it up before you. You look around at the fish, you're like, that was a foul. They're laying the ball up at the other end. So these are two teams that we saw them last year. They went seven games, Indiana went to MSG one game, seven on the Knicks floor. But this is a different Knicks team. This is not. They, they traded out Julius Randall, brought in a cat and it seems to be working really, really well. I mean, you know, catnip there. Excuse me, Julius Randall, them. They're in the Western Conference finals. They're waiting the winner of the Nuggets and the OKC Thunder. But I thought the Knicks, the Knicks. I don't know if the Knicks can play any better. I mean, you got four guys with 20 plus points. Yeah. And look at the plus. And you got Josh Hart gave you a triple double. And, and, and, and Miles McBride, who's been playing very well in the limited role that he's been playing, making big shots, playing some really good defense. It's going to be a great series. Would I be surprised if he went 6 or 7? Nope, I would not.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Okay, well, I got the most important question for both of you again before series starts. Now, when it comes to boxing, styles, win fights, a certain person's style, you understand who probably has a better chance of winning based on the outcome. So again, you got the next hard hat, blue collar team, they gonna get it the hard way. And you got the goddamn four by one Pacers that like to run up and down the court. Now who we got winning the series now? You say it. Mike. Unc. You said Mike. You can see it going six or seven or five and six. Whatever you said. Yo, what you think? What the series going to?

[Joe Johnson]

Man, listen, I doubted the Knicks, bro, this whole playoffs.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Now, now we waking up.

[Joe Johnson]

Okay, can I talk? Can I talk? I've been down the Knicks, I had Detroit, you know, giving them problems, and they did.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Gave them more problems than the Celtics.

[Joe Johnson]

They gave them problems. But I think they learned through those series, through that series, they learned a lot about themselves as far as being resilient. You know, they lost their first game at home, and I just thought it was going to be an uphill climb, but they pretty much handled that series, and I think it prepared them for, you know, this series right here against Boston, man, they were gritty, they were hungry. Uh, obviously they were the, the, the healthier team. And I just thought, you know, they had guys made plays at the right time, and I think it's that time, bro. So I, I'm, I'm saying that to say this, I don't really want to bet against the Knicks no more, man. Ah, but, but, but Ocho, the Pacers got six dudes averaging double figures in the playoff. Yeah, you right. They got six, maybe even may, maybe seven dudes averaging double figures in the playoffs. These two teams, man, are so scary. And you don't really. You don't know what you're gonna, what you're gonna get out of them. I think like I said, same style as far as fight.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep, I agree.

[Joe Johnson]

I'm giving the edge to the Knicks because they, they got home court advantage.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Oh, now you wanna.

[Joe Johnson]

Oh, they got home point advantage. Man, chill. What you want from me?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Yeah, I was trying to, I was trying to double or nothing that bet. See if you want to, you know, run it back, but.

[Joe Johnson]

Okay, okay, we make it, we might get. We might can put a little something on the, on on this game seven coming up and the next series and in the Western Conference, so. Hold your horses.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

What's game seven? OKC and the Nuggets. Yeah, well, Megan, who you got?

[Joe Johnson]

I know you look like you got dimple, so I'm gonna go ahead and take okc.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Listen, I like the Young Bulls. Listen, I like SGA to show up and show out and close the game out the way it should be closed out.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, well, it sound like we thinking of like, then.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Yeah, well, sound like somebody scared to bet, but. Okay, go ahead.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So when, when does the. The Easter Conference finals kick off? Monday or Tuesday?

[Joe Johnson]

I think. Tuesday.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Tuesday. Okay, so get a little rest. Paces are well rested. They've been off for the last. So they're gonna be off damn near a week by the time. By the time they play, so they'll be well rested. I like. You know, I would, I'd be surprised. I think it's going six to seven games. Nobody's winning, nobody's sweeping, nobody's winning in five. I like six or seven. Right. And they are, you know, looking at them, Joe, you. When you look at how they play and look at how they, you know, the starters and, you know, I think the Knicks probably have like three or four guys in double figures. Man, it's just hard to pick Brunson. Cause that game is. If the game is in the clutch moment, you know, I don't trust any. I don't. I'm not so sure I trust anybody more in the post season than I trust Jalen Brunson in a clutch moment. It.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, I agree he's been special, especially down the stretch or when he's been counted out. He's. He's come through time and time again in this postseason. And that's why I, I give the. I mean, I give the Knicks the edge. Obviously, they got home court advantage. And I think Brunson is going to be a difference maker, you know, in this series. He's showing that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But they're moving on. Knicks are going to the Eastern Conference Finals. 1001981 victory over the Boston Celtics minus Jason Tatum. I'm not so sure. Had they had Jason Tatum, beta, it had been any different. But they didn't have him. The Knicks made sure. Left no doubt. We're not going back to Boston. We're done. We're about to take two, three days off and get ready for the Eastern Conference finals because this is our chance to get to the NBA Finals, something that we haven't done since 2000. Sean's had a very important update today on Aaron Gordon's hamstring. Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain and his status is in doubt for Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Sources tell ESPN. Major development heading into Sundays. 3:30pm Eastern Game ABC for the Western Conference Finals birth. We saw that. I saw him grab it last night. He started rubbing it. I saw the way he was walking. And Ocho, we just talked about it last night with Sean Marion. I'm like, I don't like that. I don't. I didn't like the way he grabbed it. I say in this incident, it decided. I don't know if it'll be close if, if he can't go. And it doesn't look like he's going to go.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

No, he's not going to be able to go. I mean, what happened to him is really no different than what happened to Steph Curry. You know, once you feel, once you full that, feel that pull, once you feel that pinch, it's a wrap at that point. That's, that's grade one. That's grade one. So you're going to miss what, maybe at least three games, maybe four. If that, if Jeff wasn't able to come back, then Aaron Gordon's not going to be able to come back either.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh yeah, he wouldn't. Steph wasn't able to come back in like four games. So what makes you think he's going to be able to come back in 48 hours?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

He's not going to be able to, huh? He's not going to be able to. Because as soon as you try to come out there and make any kind of, any kind of herky jerky movement, once they grab again like a second time, you done furious.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, that's a rap. And it's like, yeah, this absolutely impacts him because he's a guy, he could defend, he can rebound, he can score. Now the last game he didn't have that big. I mean he didn't score that much. But we know what Aaron Gordon, he hit the big shot. He had two game winning shots. He had the game winning dunk against the Clippers and he had the game winning three in game one against OKC in the first game. So we know what he represents. He's a guy that can defend multiple positions. You see him guard shape, you'll see him guard Jalen Williams, he'll slide the check, he can guard a multiple positions and he can go get you 20 and double digit rebounds. I don't know where they can get that kind of scoring, where they kind of, where they can get that kind of versatility. No, look, I know Strawford had a great game. Russ has been the energizer buddy off the bench for him. But you got to ride a Russ roller coaster. I just don't know Joe, where they get that kind of versatility, where you get that scoring, that rebounding from if Aaron Gordon can't play and it doesn't look like he's going to play.

[Joe Johnson]

Nah, I think, and outside of Jokic, I think Gordon has been pretty much the most consistent. You know, I know it's been Murray, but for the most part Gordon has won them games. He won him games last. So he's been a huge piece of their success, you know, in this postseason. So without him, Uncle Ocho, I mean you gonna have to lean on some of them young guys you got over there and hopefully they can come through and have A big game.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But Michael Porter Jr. Needs to have the game of his life.

[Joe Johnson]

He needs to be. You say how the game of his life, but how's he having single digit? I don't understand that.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I mean, Unc, if the injury that Michael Porter Jr. Has, if it's that bad, where he's inefficient and he can't shoot, he's not really contributing offensively or defensively. I'm not sure why they just don't start Russia. I don't understand.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, you said you and Joe said y' all want those points off the bench.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, you need that energy, that spark plug. Cause you know one thing Russ gonna do, he gonna give you energy and effort, right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

That's hard to get from a lot of guys nowadays. So you need that spark off the bench if y' all do come out flat or somebody who can come in and sustain if y' all do get off to a great start. But man, that's. Yeah, you gonna need somebody to have an out of body experience if Gordon ain't gonna be able to go, but if he got that grade one, he might as well hang it up. You can put. You can put as much tape on that hamstring you want to, boy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Once you go to moving around, it's a rap.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Yeah, it's gonna pull again.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, I. I agree. Like, look, Yoke played unbelievable last night. He had 29, 14 and 8. You might need to have 39, 17 and 12. And Jamal Murray probably need to go be a. Have an efficient 26 to 32. Yeah. And Michael Porter Jr. Is going to need to give you 20 plus points for them to have a chance. Because it could be a fair similar situation to what we saw tonight. The crowd got into the building and what was a six point, all of a sudden you go into the half, you're down by 21, you're down by 27 points. And look, in the playoffs when you get down by that many, it's. It's hard to come down. The Knicks have done it on several occasions.

[Host]

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[Joe Johnson]

They got firepower. They. They got guys. Brunson, he leads the NBA and clutch points, four points, quarter points. So he can go get you 20, 25, and a quarter. They've been fortunate in that sense. And that's why down the stretch, man, they've been more successful than not. So, man, I think we gonna see the Knicks in the Finals.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, it looks like it.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

That's why.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, I think ESPN would like that.

[Joe Johnson]

Oh, my God.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Cause I don't know. I don't know. You gotta have the Knicks because they're the only one that has a national following. Everybody else is regional. People in Indiana for the Pacers, people in OKC go to roof. Okc. People in Denver go roof for Denver, people in Minnesota. But the Knicks is a household brand. Yeah. And so. And plus, you got that. You think about the markets. You got Minnesota, you got Oklahoma, you got Denver, and then you got New York.

[Joe Johnson]

Okay, I would. Y' all want to jump the gun on this? But say. Let's say the Knicks do make it to the Finals. Who would y' all want to see them play against? I know, I know. We still got some basketball to play. Ant Man, There we go.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Hey, can you imagine?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because I want to see. I want to see Cat and Julius. They got swapped each other. Yeah. Cause somebody gonna say, see, y' all. Y' all made a mistake. This could have been y' all.

[Joe Johnson]

If they make it. If they both make it to the finals. We still gonna say that?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Of course. Because who win?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Okay, okay, okay, okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, I won. No, no. You see, if you'd had me, the roles would have been reversed. If you'd have had me, you'd have kept me.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, hey, Ocho.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

It happened. Minnesota and the Knicks.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, boy.

[Joe Johnson]

You got yourself a bet, partner.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Believe that.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Who you got? Who you got? You got. Who you got? The Wolves.

[Joe Johnson]

I'm going Minnesota. Yeah, them Wolves and young wolves.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Hey, hey, Uncle. Hey, Joe. Imagine New York if they hoist that goddamn championship trophy.

[Joe Johnson]

Oh, man. Come on.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Imagine the city of New York if they had to win the goddamn championship.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, that's like. Like when. When a Boston or the Lakers. Because you talking about cornerstone franchises. You talking about, like, from the beginning.

[Joe Johnson]

It's gonna be bigger than that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah, for sure. Because it's been so long.

[Joe Johnson]

Just because of the duration.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, you got to go back to, what, 73.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's the last time they won the championship. The Knicks. Yeah, man. Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, them boys ain't gonna be no wrong in New York if that happened.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Hey, listen, everything free, man. Everything free.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Look here, if Jalen Brunson brings a championship to the Knicks, he goaded. Yeah, he is. He's looked at like Jeter. He's looked at like Strahan. He's looked at like lt. He's looked at like those great Yankees. That's how he'll be looked at, no question. Think about how they. They revered out those 70 teams. Clyde Frazier, Earl the Pearl. Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

And.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Rested. So Willis Reed. Look how they revere those, bro. Have a lot of people don't even remember. Only Spike Lee remember to win the championship back then. Everybody else was probably wasn't even born or like two months.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Right, right, right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

For him to do that, especially at his size.

[Joe Johnson]

That's gonna be.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And his size, Ocho, 6 foot, and he brings a championship. It's something about the little guy. It's something about the Iversons that we could wrap up, man.

[Joe Johnson]

Iverson, little guy, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I saw AI, man, and AI ain't much bigger than me.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

And you know, the funny thing about it is, is AI was short. He was small in stature. Jalen Brunson is short and small in stature. But Unk, they play like.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They play big.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

They play like they 6, 6, 6, 7.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yup.

[Joe Johnson]

Oh, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Man, you could let. Man, if AI had have been 6, 6, 6, 7. What?

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, hey, hey. That's. Hey, that's why he don't give us. That's why he don't give us everything. He just gave.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He can't give us everything. I mean, think about, bro. What. What if bro six, six, right?

[Joe Johnson]

He ain't gonna give us everything. He gonna give you. He gonna give you enough to work with, though, Ocho.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

You know what I'm saying?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm gonna give you some tools now.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm getting some tools. You gotta find out which tool worked right.

[Joe Johnson]

You. You trying to cheat now, Ojo? You want me by six? Fold. What if Ojo was six? Four? Oh, you gonna give you anything.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I'm six. I'm already six, three, nine.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Don't worry about it, Joe. Yeah, man, I. I hate. You know what I hate? This. This is a game seven, and one of the team's key players isn't going to be there. Yeah, it was already. It's already an uphill Climb. So now you tell me I got to climb the mountain and I ain't got no shoes. I understand if you don't give me no mountain boots, but damn, at least let me have some. Some Gore Tex, some sneakers, some Nike trail shoes or something.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, hey, it's destined. It's destined for some teams to make it. Uncle, he gotta.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It is.

[Joe Johnson]

He has to level the playing field sometime. You know what I mean? So this is why I feel like the road for success for the Timberwolves is high, man, because I think they've been resting, and I think they understand the moment as well. And I just think it'll be so cool for basketball, man, if we could get the Timberwolves versus the Knicks in the finals. Oh, my God, that'd be nice. Yeah. Yeah. It's gonna be different, though. It's gonna be.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. I mean, the Knicks, you. You need. The Knicks, you need it. I mean, you can't have OKC in Indiana. I mean, you could, but. Boy.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Boy, that's. That's. That's ugly. That's ugly there, huh?

[Joe Johnson]

We gotta put some respect on Indiana name, though. We gotta put some respect. Oh.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh. That team is legit. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. You can't say nothing bad about the team because they get up and down the court. They can defend when they want to defend, but they're more interested in getting the ball out of the net or taking it out or taking it off the rim and getting up and down the court. And sometimes they get a little careless. But no, no, no, no, no. They got guys that can defend him hard. Mathburn, NE Smith, they got guys that can defend. Oh, absolutely. They got guys that come off the bench. Mattburn and McConnell comes off the bench giving you quality, quality minutes. Occasionally, TB will come out the bench and give you 10 solid minutes. He'll get you a couple of points, a couple of rebounds. But it's that five. With McConnell and Matheran, it's that seven. Now, we know their committee. They're gonna look to have five, six guys in double figures. Somebody might have 21, 22, and then you're gonna have a bunch of teams. 19, 18, 16, 15. That's how they play. That's how they play. But everything is really predicated on how aggressive is Halliburton.

[Joe Johnson]

Yep.

[Shannon Sharpe]

When he's aggressive, they're a different team. Sometimes he becomes too passive, and he doesn't look to get his shot. He doesn't look to get all the way down the hill. He's looking to, you Know, start and then. And distribute. Nah, you got to stay aggressive. When he stays aggressive, they're different. See how they were. They were behind against Cleveland. Yeah. And then all of a sudden he got aggressive. He started shooting the ball. Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

No, I agree. I think Halbert is the key and the other guys around him, Siakam, the Turners, you know those, those guys can explode at any given night. I think Hallenberg definitely has to come out and be aggressive against Brunson. Man, this is, this is going to be. Must. Watch tv guys. You know, these dudes, they've competed. They've been doubted the whole year. We already know what Halliburton has been going through as far as being the most. What overrated player.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah. So he's playing for something and he's been showing up and I'm expecting this, this series to, to go. No different, you know, a drag out fight. Two teams just being relentless amongst each other and man, I just think it's going to come down to home court advantage. Uncle Ocho.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, I think they'll probably start. Mikhail Bridges will start on Miles turn will start on Halliburton.

[Joe Johnson]

You think so?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Og OG will start. OG will start on Siakam.

[Joe Johnson]

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

That's going to be nice when that, when that series, when that series start again Tuesday.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Yeah, I think that's. I think that's how they started. I mean I think Evan Turn, Aaron Turner then I think Josh Hart will probably take. He'll take either Nim Hard or, or niece Smith.

[Joe Johnson]

Right, right. Man, there's some good matchups, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Oh, for sure. For sure.

[Joe Johnson]

It may not be the prettiest basketball, but you talking about some dudes competing at the highest level.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

And trying to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And then Bronson Brunson will take Nemhard or Nice. Smith. Og. Og. OG is going to take. Is going to take Siaka, obviously. Cat. Miles Turner I believe they start. I believe Mikhail Bridges because he's long and will take. Will take Halliburton. Right.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And then you could, you could match Hart and Brunson. Okay. Neesmith, Nimhard, go from there. But I don't, I don't think they put. I don't think they start Brunson. I don't think they start Brunson on Halliburton. What you thinking, Joe?

[Joe Johnson]

No, no, they're not. They probably. They probably gonna start him on. On them hard or, or. Yeah, you're right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Because what you don't want is for Halliburton to get comfortable. So that you don't have to keep. Keep somebody long, rangy on him. Pesky. Somebody challenged them.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Shots that can pick him up, that can pick him up in 94ft.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

This is going to be a fun one, man. It's going to be a fun one. I know. You know, we talk about the Knicks making it to the finals, but time and time again, the Pacers have put themselves in position to be successful. So they've been pulling out wins that I didn't think they could get. So it's hard for me to go against the grain with these dudes, man. They've been. They just like New York. They've been gritty the whole season. And it's not going to stop now. Like, it's just going to continue. So I'm looking forward to a good one.

[Shannon Sharpe]

New York is moving to the Eastern Conference Finals. 1001981 over the Boston Celtics. They will face the Indiana Pacers, who dispatched the number one seed in the Eastern Conference in five games, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jimmy Butler says it's really refreshing to be Steph Curry sidekick on the Warriors. To come here and know I'm second to Steph, it's a really good thing. To be his sidekick is really refreshing. I don't know if I've ever heard somebody that's used to being the number one all of a sudden happy with being number two. Because the expectations doesn't change. Because you do realize, Jimmy, they got you there because you're supposed to be the piece to get them over the hump.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Right, Right.

[Joe Johnson]

He's played this role before, though. He played with D. Rose. He know what it's like to be Robin. He knows what it's like to be, you know, a sidekick to some degree. And I.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He's kind of like that. When he was in Philly with. With Embiid.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

But it all started in Chicago, you know, Jimmy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

Jimmy had a different route in the. In coming to the NBA. You know, he sat on the bench the first few years.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep. So when he first round draft pick.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah. So when he finally got his chance, bro, he embraced it. He took advantage of the moment and he never looked back. So he understands his role playing with Steph and he knows what's going to make them successful. Uncle Ocho. So I think that's why he's trying to starve in this Robin role as much as he can, especially if it's gonna help them be successful.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, he didn't start, but he didn't do very well. Maybe he'd get off to a better start next year because against the Timberwolves, he had that one game and that was it. That was it, Joe.

[Joe Johnson]

I know, because that's cause unconocho we trying. We want Jimmy to score 40 and 50 points, but he was out the injury. He was without Steph Curry. So, you know, it was tough. The onus was on him throughout the whole game. I know he got PA big money, but he wasn't gonna be able to beat them Timberwolves by himself, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, we just wanted to give us game. That way, maybe we get step back for game six. That's all we wanted.

[Joe Johnson]

And look, if I'm being honest, he looked like he been hobbled ever since he took that tough spill against Houston. He don't look like he been right. The way he move out there, the way he. It all looks a little unorthodox to me. It don't. He. He didn't look like he was moving well.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. What'd you think of Ocho?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I mean, listen, I could. I can understand where Jimmy was coming from about being. Being the Robin, you know, to. To Steph Curry, being Batman, because I. I took that same approach, remember? Hell, I stood on the table with Mike Brown and. And Marvin Lewis and that. That 2010 season. I'm like, man, listen, during the off season. Hey, hey, coach. Hey, Mike, we need to go get to. We need to go get to. Now you can understand what I've done for Cincinnati during that time, during that tenure, you know, and going into year 10, I'm like, we need someone like this to get us over the hump. We talk about one of the greatest players of all time, and Mike. And I told Mike Brown and Marv, I said, I have no problem taking my backseat to who I know with my own two eyes is better than me in every statistical category. Bring him in here. Let's see if we can get him to help us out. I have no problem being Robin, so I can understand where Jimmy's coming from in a sense, and taking that backseat where the onus is really not on you to have to do all the work. Obviously, football is a little different because it's 11 man game, but I get it. I get it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Look, Steph makes it easy for everybody because the floor is more spaced, there's more tension eyes on him, and there's less eyes on the other four individuals. And so guy, he makes it easy for a lot of other people. That's what happens when you play with a great player, especially the greater the Player. The historically great players, the greater the player, the more attention they. They draw. Less attention you get. And so now that's why you hear all about, say, man, it's so easy playing with great players. Yeah. Because they make your job easier. Because now you're not the focal point, they are.

[Joe Johnson]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right. Steph is always going to probably get the best defender. And guess what? Y' all gonna try to blitz him. Y' all gonna try to trap him, try to get the ball out of his hands. He's gonna swing. He's gonna always do the right thing, make the right play. Now you're scrambling, trying to get back.

[Joe Johnson]

Playing four against three. Cause he always gonna have two on the ball when he got it. Or you playing four against four. The court is so spaced and open. And they missed that against the T. Wolves. You know, when was. You know, you need. He's a game changer, man. He. You know, he's a guy who can explode for 40, 50 points. You know, he was probably gonna have at least one or two of them in that series. So without him, it was hard for me to see the warriors getting past him.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And that's the thing. When you look at it, I don't know if it gets any easier, because as. As. As. As Steph gets older. Right. The west gets tougher. Yeah. There's a possibility. Giannis comes to the West. There's a possibility. You know, the Lakers make a move, the Clippers can make a move. There's so much going. I mean, that's why you have to really seize the moment in the moment. Oh, next year, man. Hey, we get another year with Jimmy under our belt, bro. That ain't no guarantee.

[Joe Johnson]

No, it's not.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It ain't no guarantee. Ojo, man, the Rockets mess around and make a trade, and they get Giannis, they get another piece, boom. The Clippers, maybe they move something. The Lakers, maybe they trade Austin Reeves and get a true big. Ain't no guarantees, man. That's why you have to take advantage of it in that situation. That's why I say Boston, you know, Boston win the championship. Oh, man, they're gonna be loaded for years. Look. And just like that, Jason Tatum gone for a year. Jason Tatum not playing next year. Yeah. No, no, he's not playing next year. If I'm not mistaken, Kevin Durant missed two seasons. Damn.

[Joe Johnson]

Yes, it's. It's definitely unfortunate, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He missed. He missed 18 months. He got hurt in June. The season started in October. He didn't play. Then they came back. He didn't start to play, they end up going to the bubble. He didn't play. Yeah. So this is not an, you know, this is not an injury. You know, acl, you see guys come back in seven months, eight months.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Absolutely not.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ain't happened with no Achilles.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah. It takes time.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It takes a lot of time because guess what? You're not weight bearing for six to eight weeks.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Then you got to build that calf all the way back up. And there's a really high rate of retards in Achilles, so you have to be extremely cautious. And I know JT's gonna do everything he possibly can to come back. He's young enough to come back. Look at kd. KD looked just as good, if not better after the Achilles injury than he did before. KD didn't miss a beat.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, KD got that little thin frame, though.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

You know that, that, that frame he got make a huge difference.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, yeah, he, I mean, I don't think jt. JT just got wide shoulder. JT ain't no size. I mean, when you look at, when you look at them, look calves. He gotta be. He gonna be all right. He gonna be all right, Joe. He gonna be all right. He gonna be all right. But like I said, take err on the side of caution, you got a very problem. You got another, you got another 10 years ahead of you. JT, err on the side of caution. I know the, the, the athlete in you, the, the, the champion in you gonna want to get back, but hey, don't even, don't even chance it, bro. Don't even chance it. Steve Kerr was asked about the warriors offensive system and said, this is our solar system. Steph Curry is the sun. Steph is one of the all time great players playing at the peak of his powers. Close to it. How many more years? Steph is what, 37, 36. 37. How many more. How many more of these years do you believe we have with Stephen? Joe.

[Joe Johnson]

I think Steph could play into his 40s. Now, what type of basketball are we talking about? I think I don't want to see him as the focal point. Maybe go team up with some guys that can take some pressure off of him. But if he's not the main guy to where you have to focus on. Oh, yeah, I think he could play well into his 40s, Uncle Ocho, because I mean, he a shooter. Shooter shoot.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

I think the problem gonna be is having to guard these little dudes that's coming into the NBA or that's ready Here, you know, as you age, it get a little. It get tougher and tougher.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And you heard G.G. jackson say on the scholar report.

[Joe Johnson]

Oh.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We got a pigeon.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Don't let it fly. Don't let it get away.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I mean. I mean, who would you. Who would you get right where. Where Steph doesn't have to touch the ball? I mean, obviously Draymond sometimes, you know.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, Draymond is really good point.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Sometime. But how long can Steph keep up with the running over and over and over and over and over the way he does? I mean, he should be able to. Being that his game is not just. He doesn't bang as much, you know.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, he not play. He's not playing above the rim.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

He's not playing about.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He doesn't. He doesn't. He. It doesn't require him putting his body on somebody, playing with his back to the basket. So you can bang on him or he's banging on you. That's not what he does.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

He might be able to play may pass 40 then, if that's the case.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah, I can see. I can see him playing another four. Four years. Four or five years. Yeah. I would not be surprised if he played into his. Into his 40s. Not just 40s. He's 38. He'll be. When will he be. He's 37. When will he be 38? Probably this year. Yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

You think he'll finish off with, oh.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He just turned 37 in March.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

And go to State. You think he'll go somewhere else or finish his career in Golden State?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I think. I think. I think he's gonna be. I think he gonna be a Kobe. I think he gonna put one, you know, if a Dirk. You know, Dirk put all 20 there. Kobe spent all 20 there.

[Joe Johnson]

I don't know. I don't know.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, it all depends. It all depends on how much. It's not like Golden State is not going to try to surround him with talent, because we know that they've gone out and got Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant. We see them go out and get Jimmy Butler. So Gruber and Lakem, they don't have a problem. They've been in the luxury tag, They've been in the repeater, and so they'll do whatever it takes in order to win a championship. The question is if. If and when Steph will ever feel that he doesn't have a legitimate chance of winning a championship in Golden State, then will he be willing to say, you know what? I need to move on, or does he just walk away. Yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Well, at what point will Steph feel how Giannis feels in Milwaukee right now? But if he has owners that's willing to do what's necessary to continue to put the pieces around him to make sure you have a chance at continuing each year, then he probably can finish Noah's career there in Golden State.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They got some pieces. I mean, think about it. They got Kaminga, they got Moody, they got some draft capital.

[Joe Johnson]

Okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't know if they have the same, because they had to trade some of it to. To get Jimmy Butler.

[Joe Johnson]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They maybe gave up a first round pick and Wiggins to get Butler. But you still got Kaminga, you got Moody.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, I think. I think. I think Steph. I think he'll probably stick around. I think they gonna use some of those young guys they got and some good trade baiting all over there and try to bring in some more help to help that veteran group. Because you just signed Jimmy to a two year. Yeah, a two year deal.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep.

[Joe Johnson]

It was. It was a nice healthy one. And, you know, you. You got him. You got Jimmy Draymond, Steph. Yeah. If you could add probably another. Some form of veteran help to some degree. Yeah, I think they can still make another run at it, but for the most part, I don't know, man, I can see him playing somewhere else.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How many more peak years you think he got? You think he can still play? He can play at the level that he's playing at until his 40s. Or do we start to see a little dis. Some of that dissipate?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Oh, man, it definitely wouldn't be the shot that dissipates.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, well, as you get older, when are the first thing to go is your legs.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

The legs, yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

That's really.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Will he be able to continue to run at that pace, create the separation?

[Joe Johnson]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because it's still gonna scream hell out you.

[Joe Johnson]

And he been doing all. He's been doing a lot of running for these past few years, man. So it's gonna catch up with you at some point. Look, that hamstring, hey, it let him know, you know, Father Time is undefeated, but I think he definitely still has, you know, at least. At least three to four more years left with good basketball in him. I just don't want to see all the pressure on him, you know what I mean? Like, yeah, he needs some help. He. Maybe he ain't the leading scorer on the team, but he probably can be, you know, obviously one of your most important pieces. But I guess only time will tell.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Joe. Where do you have Steph Rank all time top 5, top 10 as far as guards or. You just said as far as overall.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Well, that's tough.

[Joe Johnson]

I probably for sure put him in the top 10.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I can see that.

[Joe Johnson]

You got him top five or top 10?

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, I don't got him in the top five. I think I got him in the top 10. Braun, Jordan, Kareem, Kobe, Magic, Wilt for me, and then that's my top five. 10. Oh, Kobe.

[Joe Johnson]

Did you say Duncan?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Duncan. I might put Duncan at 6, Kobe at 7. But either way, just before this, we talking about top 10, right? Colby Duncan definitely in the top 10 for me. Yeah. I go, Steph. Yeah, Steph Bird Shack.

[Joe Johnson]

Okay, I can see that. Because Steph, he has changed the game.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Yes.

[Joe Johnson]

He's iconic, you know.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Joe Johnson]

He got these young dudes shooting from half court, one step across half. Now, he wasn't doing that. They weren't doing that. When I came out. When I came out of school in 2000, you know, it's been. It's been a. Thing's been a lot different. So I definitely give him that, man, he changed the game. The way we play the game, obviously, playing with the warriors, playing that. That small ball, he has, you know, put his mark on the game for sure.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. I mean, I mean, theoretically, you could put. I mean, you could make a case that Duncan is the top five.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, I know.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I think. I think Kareem and Duncan are the most underappreciated players, great players. Because. And I think it's because they're big. Cause, you know, first of all, Kareem was surly, right? And he did. He changed his name when it was very unpopular. You have to realize what was going on in the 60s and the 70s. So he wasn't the most popular player. Tim Duncan didn't say anything. Can you remember anything? Can you remember anything in his 19 year career that he said that you could like? Man, y' all remember when Tim said this?

[Joe Johnson]

You can't listen. I had the pleasure to play against two of those spurs teams in 03. We had Stephon Moss playing with the Phoenix Suns. We had Stephon Marbury as the one he was playing. The point guards, Me, Steph, Penny, Sean Marion and Amari Stoudemire was just a rookie.

[Advertiser 5]

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[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

He was just a loaded.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

What?

[Shannon Sharpe]

We.

[Joe Johnson]

We was an AC. Uncle Ocho. We played against the spurs, who was a 1 seed, and we won game one. After that, it was a gentleman sweep. But Tim Duncan was so special, bro. Like, he was special man, nothing exciting about his game. He just got it done every night. You know that sheet. 28, 15, 32, 17. But you like he ain't gonna wow.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

You, you know, he just gonna miss the fundamental.

[Joe Johnson]

Yep, that's it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Shot your ass to death. Right.

[Joe Johnson]

And, and that's. And that's why I think, you know, people kind of under underestimate, you know, his career and how it went.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. And Kareem, he. What did Kareem do? He threw this guy hook.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Host]

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[Shannon Sharpe]

It was so he had the most dominant shot nobody else has been able to perspective. But it's boring. You know, nobody even tried to throw the sky hook unless they run. Unless the shot clock running down and they just try to heave it up.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, that's a tough shot man. Hey, you got to put, you got to be in the gym working on that to be throwing that sky hook. Magic sky hook too.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yo, Magic did the baby sky against the Celtics. But and that's the thing. I think, I think those are two of the most underrated because you look at Kareem, he has six MVPs. Six led the league in scoring, led the league in rebounding, led the league in block shots. He's a 15 time all NBA selection, 11 time all defensive selection, a 19 time all star. He was the all time leading scorer in NBA history. He's the third leading rebound in NBA history. People don't talk about Kareem. I think it Duncan. Five championships could have easily had six if if, if Ray Allen didn't hit the most unbelievable shot in a pressurized moment in NBA history. Man, he's a defensive player. Didn't Timmy win the defensive player of the year? I know he's a three time. He's a three time Finals MVP and a two time mvp. I don't know if he won defensive player of the Year. But he's an all defensive player and.

[Joe Johnson]

He a bad boy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

15 time all defensive player. 15 time all NBA, 15 time all star.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And people look at him like he. Like he fed a cheatie. All he. All he did and nobody. I mean, has anybody ever won? I mean, hadn't he won like a thousand games? He won like a thousand games. Yeah, I don't think he. I don't think he ever won less than 50.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, pop had that well oil engine over there.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Boy, Pop had it going for years.

[Joe Johnson]

Look, hey, okay, Ocho, if y' all remember, you know, back when they got dunking, I think David Robinson was still there. Yeah. But I think he had got hurt the year before summer. They had that. They had that subpar season. Yeah, but they were. They were a great team, but I think they had a major injury and that's how they got the number one pick. And it happened to be Tim Duncan. And it just took him. It took him over the top.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, Tim Duncan, he won more games than anybody in NBA history. Right. He's won a thousand and one game long thousand and one. So if a guy played 20 years, he would need to win 50 games regular season. That's just regular season. He would need play 20 years and win 50 games every year to get to a thousand.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Then get postseason as well.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, no, he didn't. I didn't count his postseason wins. Oh, you mean he got five championships, three MVPs, three finals MVPs, two regular season MVPs.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah. A lot of these records ain't gonna never be broken, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nah.

[Joe Johnson]

Like this. All them records LeBron setting every time he scores a record. Nobody catching that.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

You don't think nobody catch LeBron. Especially now that the game has changed. It's more free flow.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't know if they're gonna be able to play long enough, Ocho. See, you gotta think, though, Ocho. You saying if he stopped now, he's still playing. He's still. He's still adding that. Like, you're right. You're right. It's like Tom. When Tom broke the record, it's like, man, I don't know if anybody gonna break this record. And then he plays another three years. Hey, I could really. I could really see LeBron playing at least at bare minimum, two more years.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, look, it ain't even just the longevity. It's just how impressive he's doing it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He's still scoring 24 and a half points a game at 40.

[Joe Johnson]

Ocho. Like that, man, listen, that's crazy.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

And I think, you know, Luka makes it a little bit more easy because now he doesn't have.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Cause he's off the ball. You don't have to handle the ball as much.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Yeah, that's. That's crazy. Wait, if they, if they get. If they get another special piece them Lakers get.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They need a big. The Lakers. The Lakers need a big.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Boy, they gonna be nice because them.

[Joe Johnson]

Timberwolves ain't going nowhere, baby.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nah, nah. OKC is not going anywhere either. Houston's up and coming. They got the pieces to make a move to go get somebody. Impressive, right? The Clippers, I don't know if they have the. I don't know if they have the draft capital. I mean, really the only player that side. I mean, you want to do everything you can to keep Harden and Kawhi and the big Zubots. So I don't know if they have the pieces to go get somebody else to aid them. Yeah, but a lot of these records, like, they not. I mean, LeBron, theoretically, how many points he got? Like 42,000, 41,000. I mean, theoretically, he can retire with 43,000 points. He got 42,000. So theoretically, he could have 40. If he plays two more years, he'll have 44,000, man, 44,000 points.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

That's crazy, man.

[Joe Johnson]

God never gonna be. Ain't nobody catching it, bro. They not catching it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, and what he's a. He could easily be first team all NBA. So that'll be a 14 time first team all NBA selection. He's gonna be. He's gonna make one of the teams one through three. So now he'll be a 21 time all NBA selection. He's a 21 time allstar. And what, five time all NBA four times. Be what, five or six time all NBA, four or five first team all NBA selection, four MVPs, four finals MVPs, three all star game MVPs.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Hey, that's the funny thing. And Joe, when you think about everything LeBron has accomplished, the pressures that won him when he came out of high school, the consistency and everything he was able to overcome and being consistent year in, a year out, and all the accolades, his resume and his totality, and there's still people that have things negative to say about him when it comes to the game of basketball. Like there's, like they, they have at this point, you just have to make up something or, or like he's done it all. What else can he do?

[Joe Johnson]

Comes with it, man. Comes with territory.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

What the hell else can you do?

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's nothing.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

That's. That's. That's crazy.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

76Ers are expected to listen to offers for the number three overall draft pick, per the Athletic. It's expected that the Sixers will listen to offers for the number three, but it's unclear whom the team would take if it stays Rutgers. Bailey has been seen as the biggest upside swing and he feels a theoretical position of need for the Philly as a big wing. That means that possibly, I mean, are you going to move? We'll talk about that in a minute. But he also is viewed as the more of a project scouts and executive than the Sixers front office that likely need to win next year to keep their jobs. I've also gotten a wider sense of the appreciation of the front offices for the Edgecomb than Bailey. Are the Sixers. Question is, are the Sixers a pick away or a trade away from being a contender? You got Joel embiId, you got PG, you got Tyrese Maxey. Is Bailey the piece that puts them.

[Joe Johnson]

Over the hump, let me tell you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Or do they need to swing that pick into a. A proven player, Man, I, I like Bailey. They.

[Joe Johnson]

They be crazy not to draft Bailey with that third pick. Let me tell you, all these kids are projects. What they mean the Cooper Flag is a project, right? Like, ain't no giving. None of these dudes gonna come into this league. And the first year you banking on them to play significant minutes and turn you into a household franchise. No, it's gonna take time. Even if, okay, Dallas draft Cooper Flag, and they keep him with AD and that's gonna be a project as well, right? Like, they all gonna be projects, man, but they'll win.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I believe they'll win more because they got more solid, quality players to start with. A lot of times when the guy goes number one overall and he's going to a team, they ain't really got nothing to work with. I mean, like, like Ant man, he went to the. He went to. He went to Minnesota. Damn. They had Cat. Cat was the number one raw draft pick.

[Joe Johnson]

Right, right. And Cat. Cat had to suffer through all them years, and then, yes, okay, we get the number one pick again. Now we got Ant Man. Now we got us something. Yeah, yeah. That's kind of how it goes. You know what I mean? But I like Ace Baylor. I like his upside. Yes, yes, he will be a project, but I think in two to three years he will for sure, you know, be able to help Philly, you know, definitely do something.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

So that means they don't have nothing in the draft.

[Joe Johnson]

Right.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

You think about it, a team even willing or even thinking about listening to office for that third pick. So there's nobody in this draft coming out this year that is similar to how ant man was when he was at Georgia. Nothing like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And, and, and let like. Or LeBron.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Or Wimby or Zion. You like, can't miss, right? Can't miss. The only thing, and I said this before, I said the only thing that concerns me about Zion is his weight. Because he's a big young man. Yeah, big young men turning the big old men. Big old men can't play sports. It's really that simple. Ocho. I think they gonna, they might move it. But look, I, I never got, I never got the sense. Joe, you can correct me if I'm wrong. Interesting to hear what you think. I never really felt that Zion was happy about going. I think Zion would have preferred to be number three overall and go to New York than be number one overall and go to New Orleans.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, I, I definitely agree. I think his, his run in, in New Orleans is over. But I never, I never felt his heart was there, you know, in playing. Because the only way you can show that you care is if you get your butt out there on the court.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

You know, get a fan something to see. And for the most part, it's been non existent now when he do play.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, he's unbelievable.

[Joe Johnson]

He is amazing. So, yeah, I'm sure, I'm sure he want that New York market. I'm sure he wanted to go there. He would have. Oh, my God.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Can you. Hey, you're right. You're right, Joe. And you know, it's like everybody's gonna sign that rookie max extension. You'd be foolish not to. It's 150, 160 million dollars. And you coming out, going into your third, you know, coming out of your third year, you'd be foolish not to sign it. But he was like, man, first chance I could get, you know, he liked one of them guys. Guys like, man, he's a really hard worker when he shows up now, he works hard. We just can't get him to come all the time. You know, you, You've heard bosses say that about workers. Boy, he, that you get him here now, he gonna work for you. He's just getting him here. When Zion's on the court, nobody can question Zion's ability. It's just that more times than not, Ocho, he's probably missed more games than he's played games and it's hard. The fans get frustrated. Front office get frustrated. Yeah. You know, now all of a sudden, people are questioning how serious are you taking it? You see, you're not controlling your weight. You're not disciplined like you need to be. It's just. It's a tough sale.

[Joe Johnson]

I think there's going to be a lot of moving pieces this summer in the NBA. Meaning, like, I do, too. Some big guns.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, I think I do, too.

[Joe Johnson]

I'm going to get moved around this summer. I love what a game is. You know, these teams competing in the playoffs. We've been able to see some pretty good basketball. I know the Celtics game tonight wasn't great, but for the most part, you know, everything's been competitive. It's been fun to watch, and then ultimately that's what you want, you know? Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know, they just got this, this new deal. They go into Amazon, NBC. So you're in the first year of this collective Bargain New Deal. What, 77 billion. So I think you'll have some pieces, too. I think they're going to be. I think there's going to be a lot of movement this off season. A lot of movement.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, I definitely do. Like, I'm talking about some. I favor some of our favorite.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I wouldn't be. I wouldn't be surprised if Philly moved Paul George or tried to.

[Joe Johnson]

I wouldn't be surprised if Philly moved Embiid.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I wouldn't either.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

What.

[Joe Johnson]

That's what I'm saying.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Maybe Embiid to the Lakers. You talking about. You say we need. They need to be what you think.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah. But the thing is that what you want. You want Rui and Austin Reeves. Cause you're not getting LeBron. LeBron has a no trade, and you're not getting Luka. So what do you want? Austin Reeves and Rui.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

That's a good.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah. They gonna have to take. They. They gonna have to take something, but it definitely won't be LeBron Luca.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

It won't be neither one of them. Cause you want to pair him with them, right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah. Ooh.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And that's. Yeah, that's. Yeah. But I, I think they're gonna be a lot of moving pieces. I. I would I be surprised if the Pelicans move Zion? No, I think there's a 60, 70% chance they do.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, I agree. I think soon. They probably working on it right now. Soon as trade. As soon as the trade opened up, first thing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And here's the thing. I'm not so sure either one will be disappointed.

[Joe Johnson]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't think Zion will be disappointed if he traded, and I don't think the Pelicans front officer be traded.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Wait, wait a minute now. He might be disappointed, depending on where he goes.

[Joe Johnson]

He ain't gonna be disappointed.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

You don't think so?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't think he. He. I don't think he looks at anything is worse than where he currently is.

[Joe Johnson]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

All right, that's just me talking. I don't know. I know who he is, but I'm not saying. I'm not talking to him, but I don't. I don't. I don't think he views any place that he could potentially go in the NBA is worse than where he's currently at, man.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Boy, New Orleans is beautiful, but, huh? But New Orleans is that.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, it is.

[Shannon Sharpe]

If you want to go sightsee, if you want to go eat.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Even from a basketball standpoint, I mean, I view Zion as one of those players, generational talents that can change the game. He can change the franchise. He just hadn't been able to stay on the court.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay, so how can he change it off the court? Is he a martyr? He's never an activist. I mean, so how are you going to change it?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

We ain't gonna change it nowhere else. Then what's the difference?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, who knows? I mean, sometimes you go to a shame of scenery, and Ocho, you.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

All of a sudden, you heal up like Luke Wolverine, huh?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Man, you heal up and then guess what? You ain't making that. You ain't eating no beignets. You ain't eating no A2 fake, no boudin, no jambalaya.

[Joe Johnson]

You.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, Ocho, if you gotta. First of all, in. I think New Orleans or Memphis, one of them is, like, was voted the fattest cities in the usa.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

The fattest.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. So you don't want to be. If I. If I got. If I got an eating problem, Ocho, the last place I want to be is a place that have food, and I can get it. Any type of no. Right you like, man. Everywhere got food everywhere. Ain't got no food like New Orleans. Stop it. Ain't no. I wonder how many. They probably got one vegan spot in. In New Orleans. Everything else is heavy cream, heavy sauce, lard.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Hey, the bad day. Some of the best cooking in the world come from down in New Orleans, man. Yes. Oh, my goodness.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And guess what? As soon as you eat it, you want to go lay down and go to sleep.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I wanna. I wanna see him. I Wanna. I wanna see Zion move, too. I ain't gonna lie. I would. Y' all wanna see. You might need. We might need to get him down to Miami with Pat Riley. Ocho, let him. Let him put that work on him.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Oh, okay, okay. I'll make a call.

[Joe Johnson]

There might be one. There might be one person y' all might be able to get this summer. Y' all might be able to get him.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Y' all might be able to read that, Ocho. I mean, pairing with Bam and. Hey, hero, Tali. Hero.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That'd be a nice front line.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I like him. And Bam, I like it. But I, I, I, I, I'm honestly, I like. I like Giannis and Ja.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I bet you. I bet you do like Yanis. Hey, hey. I like. I like. To be honest with you, I like. I like Yanis and John. I bet you do like Giannis. Yeah.

[Joe Johnson]

I ain't getting no y' Allison job, bro. I'm sorry to tell you.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

All right, listen, I sat in the rooms. I didn't been in the room, so I.

[Joe Johnson]

Okay, Ocho, I got another hypothetical for y' all. I got one more hypothetical.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Joe Johnson]

Let'S say we get Ant man and S A G Shay next round. Let's say OKC gonna close these boys out.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, yeah, I can see that.

[Joe Johnson]

The T Wolves and the Thunder. Next round. Who y' all got.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

God damn it. Hey, honestly, I'm going with Ant.

[Joe Johnson]

Who you going with?

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Hulk.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ant. Yeah, I'm pulling for the home team.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Listen, if Ant man bullish, you know what, off and get that goddamn trophy and that ring.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Man.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

I don't care if you don't want to be the face of the league, boy, you better. You going on. You finna be the NBA logo, nigga.

[Joe Johnson]

Hey, look, and that's the thing that scares me Uncan, Ocho, because he don't want none of that. He don't want none. But sometime when you chosen, you don't have a choice. Because the things that's going to be presented, you know, as far as y' all making it, if y' all can make it to the finals and you do win a championship, man, listen, you can tell them folks all you want to. You don't want to be no Face.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey. Because he understands what comes along with the face, and he don't want to give up what he has going on now as being the face. You can't do it. Some of the things that he does. Everybody like to be incognito.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah. Cause they gonna scrutinize you, you know, they go, yeah, for sure. You're gonna be in a fishbowl and everything you do, they gonna attack you. That's part of it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I think I read a quote today where Jordan says he doesn't know if he could have played in the social media age, the Twitter and all that other stuff.

[Joe Johnson]

Think about. Think about all the stuff he got into. And we didn't even have that back then, you know what I mean? They was catching him doing all these things, man, nowadays.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And people. People were happy to keep a secret that they saw Jordan out such and such place. Now they ain't happy. They ain't trying to keep no secret. They try to put you on blast.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Phones out, phones out, flash out.

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, man, guess who I saw out last night at like 3 o' clock in the morning. Who? Man, you ain't gonna believe.

[Joe Johnson]

Who?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Man, you ain't gonna believe this. Who you think? Megan, Tell me. I hate when people do that. Hey, man, you. Hey, you ain't gonna guess who I saw who. Man, get. Bro, I ain't ask you where you were. I. You told me I'm not gonna guess who you saw. So now who did you see? Man, get.

[Chad Ochocinco Johnson]

Matter of fact, no, I don't even want to know no more, man. Don't worry about it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Thank you. Yeah, and that's the thing. And so now people could keep a secret back then. Yeah. Ain't nobody keeping no secret now.

[Joe Johnson]

No, sir. No, they want to be the first one to tell. They want to be the folk, the 41 1. They want to give you the info first. There you go. There you go.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, I'm in such a sec. Yeah. Who's that?

[Joe Johnson]

Yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now you trending. You going viral and you don't even know nothing about it, Right? All the. All the time. The guys used to come into the city or they go to Nicky's, or they go to X, Y and Z and you never knew about it. Man, it's hard to get somebody to go to the place at night. Somebody. Man, I saw such and such, bro. That man didn't ask you to tell that, right? He won. As a matter of fact, he want nobody to know he told you. That's why he didn't take no picture with you, because he didn't want you to post it.

[Joe Johnson]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

The volume.

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[Host]

When it's tip off time at my house, there are a few things that are must haves on my checklist. My fellow friends and fans. Check my favorite jersey.

[Joe Johnson]

It is good luck.

[Host]

Check an iconic drink that's a fan favorite. Check Hypnotic can turn any cocktail into an iconic creation. With its game changing color and tropical flavor, Hypnotic should be in everyone's starting five. I consider Hypnotic the point guard on my game day roster because not only is it versatile, like having it on the rocks or as a base for cocktails, it also finishes smooth. So grab a bottle of Hypnotic and make your next basketball watch party Iconic. Enjoy the vibrant taste with friends and turn every game into a memorable celebration. Hypnotic where every sip is a slam dunk. Hypnotic Liqueur Bardstown, Kentucky 17% alcohol by volume Hypnotic reminds you to think wisely. Drink wisely.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay?

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[Advertiser 4]

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[Advertiser 3]

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[Shannon Sharpe]

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[Host]

You're listening to an I Heart podcast.