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Sleep Number Announcer
Why choose a sleep number Smart bed?
Jason Bernstein
Can I make my site softer?
Dan Bernstein
Can I make my site firmer? Can we sleep cooler?
Sleep Number Announcer
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Dan Bernstein
Organizations win championships. A Chicago Bulls podcast with Jason and Dan Bernstein on 312 Sports. Welcome to OWC number one 18, Dan Bernstein. Jason Bernstein. The Bulls are now six and four as they've gotten a little taste of teams now who have star players who can do what they do when it matters. Against the scra scrappy Bulls who has.
Jason Bernstein
A regression of the mean as well. Just. Just when it comes to everything and the fact that teams are not not just star power, that's definitely the biggest thing, but starting to make their threes at a higher clip.
Dan Bernstein
I think that's right.
Jason Bernstein
Thanks for that, Matty, by the way, check the studio.
Dan Bernstein
Check. What's he doing now to you?
Jason Bernstein
Look, look.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, thanks a lot, Jake. Well, meanwhile, before we get me. Yeah, yeah. Because you were the one who was distracted. I think that's what. He's kidding. By one minute. Yeah.
Jason Bernstein
For one minute, you've been doing that every single episode. You've been late to pretty much every single episode. And then when I'm late by one minute because I'm on the toilet, all that happens is you start screaming at me.
Dan Bernstein
All right, if I wasn't screaming. Yes, you were. Yeah, I was.
Jason Bernstein
If there's a really good excuse for it. So you can. You can go on.
Dan Bernstein
If Jason sounds dumber than usual or if he sounds more difficult, confused than usual, I would like to introduce you to the first person on record who in an actual hospital accident report is listed.
Jason Bernstein
That's not what's in the report.
Dan Bernstein
Is listed officially as having suffered a diagnosed concussion due to Nintendo Wii Tennis. Do I have this right?
Jason Bernstein
Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
Okay.
Jason Bernstein
It was late at night on a Thursday.
Dan Bernstein
There were shoes all over the ground.
Jason Bernstein
Because I need to organize it better. So it's totally my own fault. There were just kind of shoes in the middle of the room. And my dorm room is a big square. So it's not like there's any one area that is out of reach for movement, if that makes any sense. And I stepped the wrong way, tripped on one of my shoes and hit the back of my head on a panel and I was pretty much rendered useless for a good few days, but feel a lot better right now and I better enough to watch the Bulls, so.
Dan Bernstein
And you still haven't given the insurance card to the hospital?
Jason Bernstein
No, dude.
Dan Bernstein
Okay, what was I supposed to do? Give them what you're supposed to do. You give me your insurance card so I don't have to pay a bill for a $15,000.
Jason Bernstein
I wasn't thinking. I was anxious and I was confused and I was puking. There's not much that I can do. I remembered my Social Security number.
Dan Bernstein
Okay, don't say that.
Jason Bernstein
I'm not gonna say it, but. Okay, well, you can say it.
Dan Bernstein
No, mom will handle. She's gotta call the hospital now and make sure that we don't get a bill for your CT scan and emergency care because you hit your head, because you slipped and fell because your room is too messy while you were playing.
Jason Bernstein
It was the shoes and I made sure. And last night when I was feeling better, I cleaned my room to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Dan Bernstein
Okay. How many beers had you had?
Jason Bernstein
Oh, plenty.
Dan Bernstein
What kind of.
Jason Bernstein
Oh, God. That night. I think that was just a Coors night in Corona type of night. Okay, Did I say Coors night? Yes, Coors Light in a Corona type of night.
Dan Bernstein
Okay, well, that's one I'm keeping track of. That was a tongue twister.
Jason Bernstein
All right. Give me a break.
Dan Bernstein
Continued traumatic.
Jason Bernstein
You always act like you have a concussion anyway.
Dan Bernstein
And you probably had so many undiagnosed from hockey that you didn't tell me about.
Jason Bernstein
That's probably true as well. Nothing was ever this bad.
Dan Bernstein
Well, the Bulls are not bad at the moment and they have. But they like you say. I think you're right. I definitely think there was some opposing shooting percentage regression to the mean that was independent of the quality of their defense. But now they're. They're settling in right around to sort of where they've been in the past. They're at offensive rating. They're 15th out of 30. Defensive rating, their 20th out of 30, which is still a positive net rating of 18th with that record of 6 and 4. And they're averaging 119.2 points per game. They are still playing with pace, but tell me what these three players have in common.
Jason Bernstein
Okay.
Dan Bernstein
Giannis Antetokounmpo. Donovan Mitchell. Victor Wembanyama.
Jason Bernstein
Star.
Dan Bernstein
I would say not just star. Those are people who are. Have been or will be on one of the all NBA teams.
Jason Bernstein
Okay. Right.
Dan Bernstein
Those are all. Those are all NBA players and they matter. As much as we love the story of, well, you know, they may not have a star, but look at their depth and look at their pace and look what it does. They may not have a star, but let's. Let's kind of understand that when things matter and when teams care. It never doesn't matter in the NBA, ever. It could be on a Tuesday night against Orlando on some Wednesday in November against the Pistons or whatever it may be, even though Pistons are really good team. But it always, always matters in this league when the other team has that guy and they've seen in the last three games, no matter how hard they try, no matter how big a lead, when it comes down to it, they can keep giving it to that guy. Yep.
Jason Bernstein
Yep. That's how it works. And God, Wembanyama so good, dude. He's so good.
Dan Bernstein
So that's. It's two games that I've been to now at United Center. I definitely wanted to be there last night, to be there when he arrived, which now is this huge deal. And they've got the whole like see red thing on their. When they walk in, all the cameras are there to. To document the arrival of every NBA player at the arena. And Wemby's just an alien man.
Jason Bernstein
Yeah, he's seven. Is he taller in seven four You've been.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, he's seven five. He's seven. He's.
Jason Bernstein
He's.
Dan Bernstein
No, he's a legit seven five. He is as tall as the tallest ever Chicago Bull.
Jason Bernstein
Oh, God.
Dan Bernstein
You should know this. I think he played two games for them in 91. Then he then was the. He's one of two guys seven four or taller who's been in the front seat of my car. Chuck Nevitt.
Jason Bernstein
Oh, okay.
Dan Bernstein
Chuck Nevitt's the tallest ever bull at 7 5. But this dude is watching him warm up. I always say that that's when. When you know and you just. His handle. His feet, his. Why is it so tight? His fluidity. So with all the. There have been all kinds of comps.
Jason Bernstein
There isn't one. I'm sorry. Yeah, you said Mega kd. Mega kd. He's.
Dan Bernstein
He's Giant Durant with better hands with Hakeem. Yeah.
Jason Bernstein
On defense, if not more because of. Just because of his range. The thing that I noticed a million times and throughout the season. I think this happened against the Raptors a bunch too. I saw in a YouTube video, shout out Jimmy High Roller love his content. It was. He counted against the raptors. There were 11 times where there were just drives to the paint where the Raptors either turned the ball over or just didn't go up. And not only that, he makes people hesitant and they, even at the perimeter.
Dan Bernstein
Even on a closeout for a three point shooter, it isn't just attacking the basket.
Jason Bernstein
Even if he doesn't close out, they'll still hesitate to shoot and, or drive. And the thing is that we see that from Patrick Williams all the time and that it's been getting a little bit frustrating because there are some things that he does really well and he'll make a couple of plays where like, ooh, nice play, but he still annoys me. However, he's so much better in Isaac Okoro. Don't even get me started. God. But the thing that, the thing that I noticed was even Vuch, who generally is pretty decisive, shout out Jim Miller with the decisive decision making. That's, that's the, that's, that's what Vouch is really good at. He had Vuch just all over the place. And then, yeah, Vuch had a couple, couple of threes and he had a nice couple of jump hooks over women. Yama. But even then, it's just everything. They were just doubting themselves. And when he just hit those two threes at the end, I mean, what are you supposed to do?
Dan Bernstein
You can't really do anything. And they were, they were putting him in all kinds of different spots to start their offense. I really like some of the stuff that Mitch Johnson is doing. He's just a kid. You know, when, when he came in, Billy had his press conference before the game. And then I like, oh, that. I guess that is the spurs coach. And you're just, you know, you get so used to Greg Popovich and then you see this, this young Stanford kid coming in and bright guy, very, very upbeat. But he's doing some creative things where they're starting him in the offense. There are times where Wemby is just bringing the ball up. There are a lot of times where they're not calling a play at all just because in transition he's three strides and he's down the court. It's ridiculous. But there were other times where he was starting in the corner and coming up off a screen and then screening himself while the screener for him rolled to the basket. There were times where they were using him at either elbow and just doing some very basic one five and two five things. But, and I'm And I'm calling him the five, even though I know he's not. You gotta call him something, you know, you have. You have to find some way as you're writing down where everybody is. I could just put a big like W there because he doesn't really have a position. But it's when he swings through and shows the ball and gets ready to put it on the floor. And the guy who's guarding him is somebody like Vuch or it's, you know, Hartenstein or Zubots or somebody. And. And they're guarding a guard. It's amazing.
Jason Bernstein
And what's crazy. I shouldn't say what's crazy. What separates him as well, not only just being a complete alien, nothing we've ever seen before. Ever. He break. He. He. He completely demolishes everything. I thought about basketball.
Dan Bernstein
How so?
Jason Bernstein
It shouldn't be possible, what he's doing. Another thing that I think isn't spoken about much is the drive he has to be great. And I think that matters. It really. I mean, not. I think I know that matters. And I'm not. I'm not going to go on with a Michael Jordan BS or the Kobe Bryant stuff. I don't think the Kobe stuff is as BS as the Jordan stuff because Jordan was just a complete psychopath. But some people don't like basketball that much and they play like it. I remember you said Eddy Curry had a ridiculous amount of talent but just didn't like the game. And I'm not comparing them play style wise, but when Minyama trained with Akeem and he did some stuff with monks over the summer, I don't know what that did. Maybe that was for. I don't know if you saw that he shaved his head over the summer and he was a monk for a while.
Dan Bernstein
You're not a monk for a while.
Jason Bernstein
I don't know.
Dan Bernstein
You don't cosplay as a monk.
Jason Bernstein
Give me a break.
Dan Bernstein
No, no, you can't. There's no dilettante monks. That is a commitment.
Jason Bernstein
He was a special guest monk. Okay, Just give me a break.
Dan Bernstein
Tonight from the abbey, let's welcome our very special guest. What do you mean a guest monk?
Jason Bernstein
Look it up. You didn't see that he was doing something with monks over the summer.
Dan Bernstein
Well, you can do things with them. It doesn't make you want to shut up. Okay.
Jason Bernstein
I think maybe it was for flexibility. I don't know what it was.
Dan Bernstein
What? Stretchy monks?
Jason Bernstein
Yes.
Dan Bernstein
What are you talking about?
Jason Bernstein
I don't know.
Dan Bernstein
Was he making Belgian white ale? Was he with Gregorians. Was he with Franciscans? I don't know. Was he chanting? All that matters is that.
Jason Bernstein
Okay, this isn't time for Dan Bernstein shenanigans.
Dan Bernstein
Famous stretching monks of Tibet. You climb the mountain, and they teach you the hurdler's stretch. Stop finding Himalayan.
Jason Bernstein
Stop it. I've been. I've been in a very dark place called my room with no light for the past three days.
Dan Bernstein
Then you dreamt this. This was a concussion hallucination.
Jason Bernstein
Want to bet? Want to bet? Everybody's gonna clown you for that. Because I'm right.
Dan Bernstein
Guest monk. Did you sign the guest list for today's guest monks? Come on.
Jason Bernstein
But he has a drive to be great, okay? That's all that. That's what I'm trying to say is he wants to be great, and he's competitive, and he plays like he's the guy and he cares. All right? Shut demo Domine.
Dan Bernstein
Fark up women in Novis Requiem.
Jason Bernstein
I'm gonna leave with.
Dan Bernstein
Who's that really tall guy?
Jason Bernstein
Oh, that's.
Dan Bernstein
That's Wemby this week. He's a monk.
Jason Bernstein
I'm gonna leave. I'm leaving.
Dan Bernstein
No, you're not leaving. Oh, my God. Shut up. What'd you do over the summer? I was a monk for a while. Oh, really? You gave your life over to. To study and prayer for a little while?
Jason Bernstein
Yeah. You know, Want me to leave?
Dan Bernstein
All right, so these are the stats that Matt Abaticola, our producer, our intrepid producer, brought to Dan Bernstein unfiltered earlier today. And this is through their first 100.
Jason Bernstein
You can't just go back to that after that.
Dan Bernstein
Just. Just wait. I just want to see what your reaction is.
Jason Bernstein
I'm just talking about monks the whole time. Give me Malik on here right now.
Dan Bernstein
Or art. In their first 120 games, LeBron James had 2,680 points. Wemby has 2,738 through their first 120 games. Karl Malone had 1091 rebounds. Victor Wembanyama has 1301. Through their first 120 games, Akeem Olajuwon had 337 blocks. Wemby has 448. And through his first 120 games, Steph Curry made 242 threes. Wemby has made 274.
Jason Bernstein
Chill, chill, chill, chill, chill, chill, chill, chill. I'm not chill with the everything. Okay? I understand with. With the hype, not the. Don't. Don't talk. I don't care about the threes. When it's. When you're comparing him to Steph Curry, that, that he is not as good of a shooter and nor will be as good. I know. It just. The, the reason why you want to. The reason why he's made more is because of Stephen Curry.
Dan Bernstein
That's absolutely correct. That's a different game. Curry helped make it a different game. It was not.
Jason Bernstein
Curry is the Island. I think LeBron's greatest player of all time. Curry is arguably a more important NBA player when it comes to the modern era.
Dan Bernstein
More impactful.
Jason Bernstein
Yeah. Change the game.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah.
Jason Bernstein
LeBron transcended different eras.
Dan Bernstein
That's an interesting comparison. I get it. I would say in that regard.
Jason Bernstein
Okay, okay. Let's get back to the, to the Wemby talk.
Dan Bernstein
No, wait. Let me just say this.
Jason Bernstein
I think I was in the middle.
Dan Bernstein
I know. Just hold on.
Jason Bernstein
Okay.
Dan Bernstein
I'll save the Curry thought. Finish your. Your, your Wemby thought.
Jason Bernstein
Well, yeah, I was just going to say, especially through his first two years and last year, that he was hurt for half of it. I was really worried about that too. What was it like deep vein thrombosis or something like that? I was really worried about that. But people were criticizing him because he relied so much on a three ball. So I'm not. And I think he was shooting too many threes and that's why he's made more than Steph Curry did in his first.
Dan Bernstein
And he's taking 100 fewer of them now.
Jason Bernstein
Yeah. And that's better for his game.
Dan Bernstein
Well, it's also like there's an understanding that if you're 7 foot 5 and you're an impossibly great shot blocker, there's no reason to spend a whole lot of time chasing around the perimeter because then it just makes you shorter. It makes your height matter less.
Jason Bernstein
And then he. When you can take two steps on. On Inside the Ark and dunk on someone, it's.
Dan Bernstein
He's nearly impossible to officiate as well because it's. It's hard to see some of the fouls on him.
Jason Bernstein
Yeah. Also you. You said you were going to say something about Steph Curry.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, My comp there would be Tiger woods is that Steph Curry created a generation of Steph Currys, much like the average PGA golfer is now 20 times better more than the average PGA golfer pre Tiger Woods.
Jason Bernstein
No, I think Tiger woods would be more of a Wemby comp. Cause unicorn wise, because we have seen people the light body type wise, the likes of Steph Curry.
Dan Bernstein
But my comp comes down to the number of people who said, oh, if I just concentrate on being an absolutely sick shooter from distance and I can hit it from the logo, I'm gonna have a job somewhere like that. As a bare minimum, like, I would say that Caitlin Clark is even an example of the Steph Curry influence. Yes.
Jason Bernstein
Oh, my God. 100%.
Dan Bernstein
Just. If you can really. Yeah, you can really shoot it from anywhere.
Jason Bernstein
She plays exactly like Steph Curry. Are you kidding me? Identical. Well, no.
Dan Bernstein
She's a little tougher relative to her competition physically than anything.
Jason Bernstein
Gets a reputation for not being tough for. Yeah, but not, like just because he's small. He's not really small. Six, three. But yeah. I think that Tiger woods is a better comp for Wemby than Steph Curry, because Steph Curry could just shoot really well. He. But he wasn't. Yes, he was doing things we have never seen before, but not quite like Wemby in the sense that it doesn't look real. You can argue that it didn't when he was hitting those shots, but especially with that consistency. But Tiger woods in 1999 was hitting a pitching wedge 190 yards. You know what I mean?
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, I guess. Okay, that's fair. But you know what I meant.
Jason Bernstein
That's like. That's like what Wemby's doing when he's getting two blocks in a row and then pulling up from 30ft.
Dan Bernstein
Well, let me say this, too, before we finish up the Wemby stuff. Your point about what he does to offensive decisions and what he does to. Not just. We always talk about altering shots.
Jason Bernstein
He's a black hole.
Dan Bernstein
But altering shots or. Because of the gravity. Yes. The idea of changing a shot. It's one thing to say that once somebody decides to shoot. I think there's a third category which is dissuading a shot, which is somebody who is making a foray toward the basket or heading down the baseline. And I got. I saw it in any number of times against the Bulls where somebody would get an angle, go baseline, consider. All right, can I go straight up? Can I do.
Jason Bernstein
Even if he wasn't going to contest it.
Dan Bernstein
Right.
Jason Bernstein
He would just stand there.
Dan Bernstein
Right, Right. Can I use the rim to help me? And even then, that doesn't help you because he just reaches with his other hand.
Jason Bernstein
For the people in my generation like his. His defensive aura is just so insane.
Dan Bernstein
It is also a. Because there's a fourth level. Hold on.
Jason Bernstein
If you remember in Black Panther during one of the final fights, when they have those virtual vibranium shields that go up and kind of make a wall.
Dan Bernstein
Yes.
Jason Bernstein
And t' Challa jumps over. That's kind of what. That's kind of what Wemby has. Where Stand there. He has that around him. And no, nobody in. No matter what you do, no matter what he does with his body, it doesn't matter because nobody's going to go up. And if they do. There. There was one block on Modest in the first half where the ball was at the top left corner of the backboard. And Modest is six' ten. And he just went doink and just pinned it off the glass. He made Vooch and Jalen Smith looked like little people.
Dan Bernstein
Well, there was one moment where Vooch got his shot blocked and he got really mad and he made the gesture of, like, challenge that. Challenge that.
Jason Bernstein
Look at that from 10ft.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. So he's walking back toward the bench and. And the bench is looking at Vuch like. Like, nope. No, they felt like that. That was a goal 10. But no, my man, we are not challenging that.
Jason Bernstein
I also. I also remember when. I don't know if it was after the first or second three in a row that Wemby hit to take to tie the game, then take the lead. But in one of the replays, they. I caught a glimpse of the Bulls bench. And I don't know if it's because he's a Frenchman, but Noah Eisenge sat.
Dan Bernstein
There, just went, oh, Made the stink face.
Jason Bernstein
Oh, yeah. It was like CD Lamb when Marvin Harrison put Duron Bland on the ground.
Dan Bernstein
Speaking of which, that is what happened to Josh Giddey the other night. Well, last night I found this really interesting that Billy Donovan was asked about is getting in a place like, no, Josh is out. They started talking about it, and I.
Jason Bernstein
Think, is that a phantom injury?
Dan Bernstein
Well, no, I thought it might.
Jason Bernstein
His pride was hurt after that ankle injury so bad that he had to sit out a game.
Dan Bernstein
We were debating that in the press room.
Jason Bernstein
Although he's been through enough media scrutiny over the past few years, I feel like he can deal with that.
Dan Bernstein
We were definitely debating that, like, you gotta own the bit. If in fact, like, oh, oh, my ankle, then just to seal it, you'd have to sit out of game.
Jason Bernstein
At least it means he got low. Or maybe he wasn't low enough in his stance and that's why he rolled his ankle. But at least it looked like he was trying to defend.
Dan Bernstein
But Billy Donovan denied the knowledge of anything. He's like, well, I. I'm not really on social media. I didn't see much of the reaction. I was just concerned about his health because I could, I could tell he was certainly hurt, and he was being very earnest about it. Billy was. And I think it was too much. Well, no, but then Kali said something, and he know. Then Billy said, oh, I haven't, I haven't seen any of the memes. I haven't really seen the memes. And everyone's like, oh, you know what a meme is? That's interesting. We didn't know that you knew even what a meme was. And then he says something like, okay, well, then you can show me. And there's a pause and he's like, don't show me. I don't want to see it. I really, I, I, I don't. I, I really don't want to see it. And everybody kind of got a laugh out of it. But everyone knows, Everybody knows, like, how much time and effort was spent with the whole broken ankles thing and saying, you know, he literally broke his ankles because he injured himself on that move.
Jason Bernstein
It was, it means, though, it was bad. Williams got dunked on. I mean, yeah.
Dan Bernstein
To close out the Wemby talk.
Jason Bernstein
He should be hard to do that.
Dan Bernstein
He should be defensive player of the year every year as long as he's in the league.
Jason Bernstein
Yep.
Dan Bernstein
There's, there's, there's absolutely no one. He, he blocks shots, he alters shots, he dissuades shots. And then he even gets into your head the moment you walk out there, like the moment you, you inbound the ball. You haven't even thought about shooting yet. And you have to be aware of where he is. So whatever you even call that, he's in your head when you're thinking about thinking of possibly shooting.
Jason Bernstein
I would. If I were going against him and I was the head coach, I would. And Vuch, near the end of the game, Wemby was much more successful, I think, in the second and third quarter. I don't. Defensively, Sorry, I don't want to. Offensively. His first and fourth quarter were remarkable. And what I was going to say, I think Vuch kind of figured this out later. He's way heavier than Wemby, and I know he's not weak, don't get me wrong. But he's not, he's not Giannis strength. I would just beat the crap out of him, make his life hell. Just, just.
Dan Bernstein
It's, it's not that easy.
Jason Bernstein
It's not. But you got, you have to beat, beat him physically. And I'm glad the refs were Letting him play last night, they really did. There were two other points that I was going to make, one of which being that spurs team outside of Wembanyama is built to last. The only thing they need is a shooter. Like a guy. Give me like a buddy healed on that team. You know what I mean? Maybe someone a little bigger.
Dan Bernstein
I'll tell you this. That late in the game, late in the game, when they had.
Jason Bernstein
Thanks for letting me finish my thought there. Your turn.
Dan Bernstein
You said they need a shooter. What else do they need?
Jason Bernstein
Well, I was just gonna. I was just gonna talk about their other players real quick.
Dan Bernstein
Okay, go ahead.
Jason Bernstein
I was like, jesus, take a rest. But Stefan Castle and I called it. I called it. I said that that year when I saw him playing college. He should be the number one overall pick because he is great. And you forget that Darren Fox is really good at basketball. I don't forget that in my guy. I don't know. Oh. The reason why I say he's my guy is because when I play the Portal game, which is the NBA Wordle.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah.
Jason Bernstein
I always guess this guy first. And it's Harrison Barnes. I don't know why, but I always guess Harrison Barnes first. My guy, hb, he's still going strong. He's been. He's a vet, man. He's a real dude.
Dan Bernstein
I noticed the champ, end of the game, when Wemby was out there with the. With the four other guys and the Bulls didn't have Giddy, they were switching every screen and it made it impossible. The Bulls couldn't get an angle. They didn't have a guy who could beat his guy. That's what they miss with Giddy out that they just. They don't have any shot creation. They need shot creation, but they need shot creation with Giddy. Like, even when he's there, they need shot creation, but they. Well, it helps, but when Trey Jones is the only guy that can get past because he can't finish, and with Wemby there, nobody can finish Trey.
Jason Bernstein
No, I think. I disagree. I think Tre Jones was one of the best finishers last.
Dan Bernstein
Oh, no, no. I mean. I mean, going against Wemby, you can't expect him.
Jason Bernstein
Yep. I think he was the best, arguably the best finisher last night. Hit a couple and a couple. He had a bunch. He had what, 22, something like that. And I think one of the reasons why potentially he played. He played with him for a year and a half, so he knows him a little bit. I don't know how much that helps, but it Should a little bit. When you get to know a guy and know his strengths, what he. Not necessarily just his strengths, but what he likes to do, what he doesn't like, which side he likes moving to. It doesn't really matter when you're that long. But I think that Tre Jones is one of the best finishers. Last night, had the Bulls won that game, I would have said that Iowa and Trey Jones were the best players. They were the best Bulls. Regardless, they were the Bulls most valuable players. Kevin Herder had a great game, but Trey Jones and I assumer, were fantastic. And the other thing I was going to say about Wemby is. And I mentioned Giannis earlier. What can Giannis do that Wemby can't?
Dan Bernstein
He's stronger, right? Yeah. The only thing is that under. Well, no, you people bounce off of him. He can. He can go up in pause. He can. He can get it. Gather himself in a crowd and just blow through all of the arms and all of everybody hanging on him. He's. He's considerably more powerful with a more powerful upper body.
Jason Bernstein
More dominant, I guess. Yeah. Sense more.
Dan Bernstein
We're physically powerful. He just is. You know, he's like. You can still push if. If, like you say, if Wemby drop steps, you know, if he's.
Sleep Number Announcer
If he.
Dan Bernstein
You can still move him. You can't do that to Giannis, especially at full speed. When he's coming right at you, there's nothing you can do.
Jason Bernstein
Giannis is faster, I would say. I think full speed. He's probably.
Dan Bernstein
Maybe faster, maybe once he gets up to speed. I don't know if he's as quick.
Jason Bernstein
No, I don't think he's as quick, but I think. I think he's faster.
Dan Bernstein
I think that's reasonable. But. And Giannis got better at free throws. Wemby's going to have to. He only hit, what, like he went.
Jason Bernstein
10 of 10 from the line last night.
Dan Bernstein
Well, but what's his. What's his season number?
Jason Bernstein
I don't know, but he went 10 of 10 last night. Yeah, but let's check his season number.
Dan Bernstein
Check it. Was he. 80%.
Jason Bernstein
He's. He's shooting 84% from the line.
Dan Bernstein
Oh, is he? Okay, forget that.
Jason Bernstein
I thought he was just heavy in 30. In 34 minutes a game, he's averaging 25.7, 3.9 blocks, 1.2 steals, 12.8 rebounds on 50.6% from the field. He's only shooting 32.6% from three right now, but I think that'll come up A little bit. He's also averaging 3.4 assists and three turnovers a game.
Dan Bernstein
All right, let's. There's a couple more things I want to do before we get to the showdown. I want to look real quick.
Jason Bernstein
We have a lot to. No, I think this might just be a long episode.
Dan Bernstein
Well, the upcoming schedule.
Jason Bernstein
We've barely gotten to the Cavs, and we've barely gotten to the Bucks. Well, this has just become Wemby Glaze time.
Dan Bernstein
All right, well, the Cavs game. The Bulls ran around with a lead for the whole game until Donovan Mitchell went crazy. That was the story of that game star. Oh, yes. Yeah. This guy's. This guy's an all NBA level player. And just. It didn't matter who was on him. It didn't matter. He was just taking another step back and draining it. And when we were looking at some of the percentages at halftime and looking at where the threes were and were not coming from, and I think there was plenty of smart money that knew that Cleveland was going to pull away. I'll say this, too. Another guy who I don't like, Dean Wade.
Jason Bernstein
Okay.
Dan Bernstein
He's kind of a. Because he's just kind of throws himself around. I'm. He's on my watch list. I've got Jalen Duran, and now I'm adding Dean Wade.
Jason Bernstein
Oh, my God.
Dan Bernstein
No, I mean, watch. I mean, for dirty play.
Jason Bernstein
And I know you got Lou Dort on there.
Dan Bernstein
Well, Dort, absolutely. But I'm just. I'm just. I don't like some of the stuff that Dean Wade. You're.
Jason Bernstein
I'm gonna sound like an old head here.
Dan Bernstein
You're.
Jason Bernstein
You're such a wimp.
Dan Bernstein
Why?
Jason Bernstein
I mean, okay, Dean Wade, fine. And it's not just because he's white. It's because he's not the same level player that during. Or Dort are.
Dan Bernstein
Duran sticks his foot out in your landing spot.
Jason Bernstein
Me.
Dan Bernstein
Well, no, no, no. That's a huge deal.
Jason Bernstein
You cannot be that guy. Casting threes consistently. Dort kicks people.
Dan Bernstein
Yes. I. I don't.
Jason Bernstein
Every team needs one of those. Every team needs one of those guys. I like a little bit of dirty play. Pause. But I like. I like some of that. Teams need it, and I. Jalen Duran is one of my favorite players, actually. I love Jalen Duran.
Dan Bernstein
I love his athleticism and his size and his power. I just. I don't think.
Jason Bernstein
If you were a bull, would you want him to be a bull In a hypothetical world?
Dan Bernstein
Yes. Yes.
Jason Bernstein
Thank you.
Dan Bernstein
Absolutely. Hypothetical or actual?
Sleep Number Announcer
Great.
Dan Bernstein
Yes. Honestly, but he's also.
Jason Bernstein
That's a dude. You could throw him Wemby. Honestly, I just think he does some.
Dan Bernstein
Dirty stuff that I don't like. He does some.
Jason Bernstein
George. Paul George said it was a story when Duran was a rookie. Jalen Duran set a screen on him as a rookie and Paul George ran into him and he fell and he was like, what the fuck just happened? And he looks up and it's a rookie. Like, oh, what in God's name.
Dan Bernstein
Well, what should have happened is a teammate should call it out like, dude.
Jason Bernstein
Jalen Duran is a beast. Although he went to Memphis and I'm not really a big fan of Memphis Roll Wave, by the way. Big win the other day. I think they took my article to heart. So we'll see.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, as I said, after you wrote a column telling them to prove you wrong, that was, I guarantee, was written on every dry erase board of the football facility. That's all John Sumral talk talked about is our entire identity must be based on proving Jason Bernstein wrong. Well, why Coach?
Jason Bernstein
Maybe. Maybe they did read it. Some. Some of the football guys follow me on Instagram and I reposted on my story. Maybe, maybe they read it. I don't know.
Dan Bernstein
Who knows? I don't know. It's fun to think that they did. But then you mean that we have to be concerned about a guy who concussed himself while playing Nintendo Wii tennis?
Jason Bernstein
Yes, that's exactly what I'm seeing. That's true.
Dan Bernstein
There was an article and I don't know if you saw. Do you subscribe to the Defector, which is old Deadspin? It's like the old smart, good Deadspin guys. Patrick Redford, who happens to be a Sacramento Kings fan, wrote the funniest article you've. Every Bulls fan should read this article by Patrick Redford.
Jason Bernstein
And what is it about Levine and DeRosa?
Dan Bernstein
It's about the Kings. It is about the Kings.
Jason Bernstein
It's gonna feel very good. The Kings makes sense to us. Cause we're the same.
Dan Bernstein
It says Kings. They're comfortably. It's the most useless anachronistic hoops being played anywhere in the NBA. The Kings have made a remarkable speedrun directly into the toilet. The specific nature of their bustedness is interesting, though slightly hazardous to pay close attention to, as the operative question of their doomed season is not will they win games? But are the people in charge capable of recognizing reality? And he lists the names of the players. It says, so many all star appearances, so many bucket getters. Surely the talent level is such A group would ensure a minimum viable level of competitiveness, Right?
Jason Bernstein
Wrong.
Dan Bernstein
This is a stupid person's idea of a good NBA team. Not only are each of the supposed stars becoming increasingly obsolete as the game evolves, but they can only function effectively in specific contexts with their considerable flaws accounted for by careful feats of roster construction. Instead, they're tossed alongside each other on a roster otherwise populated by players who can neither shoot, defend nor pass, which are mission critical skills. It means the King's washed stars skills are redundant to one another while their flaws are multiplicative. Nobody can defend. Everyone needs the ball to score, a task made impossible by the presence of several other players who all need the ball, clogging up the spacing and preventing anyone from scoring. Jesus. It is absolutely hysterical.
Jason Bernstein
Hysterical. I'm just glad the Bulls have gotten away from that though, right?
Dan Bernstein
Sometimes the Kings will play an amazing 23 zone that involves the five players standing perfectly still in their respective spots, hoping an offensive player will dribble the ball directly at them.
Jason Bernstein
I mean, yeah, Levine, DeRozan, Sabonis, I think in the right situation could be really effective players for a good team. Levine on the Nuggets, I think that's one because I don't think Jamal Murray is that good. And now that they don't have Michael Porter Jr. To hit a bunch of threes and Cam Johnson has been underwhelming, I think that Levine could thrive there. DeRozan on some team could work. Honestly, really, this might sound like an insult, but how old is derezo now? 35, 36, something like that? He's old.
Dan Bernstein
Yes.
Jason Bernstein
Use him as a sixth man on a good team, on a championship team.
Dan Bernstein
Second unit scoring guy.
Jason Bernstein
Yeah. And the things that I think his ego and you know, him being DeMar DeRozan and multiple time all star would prevent that. But I think that could be a very viable role for him. I think he would be great because that's when it's second unit versus second unit. I think two pointers are okay. And the occasional and one and foul wizardry. I think that works. And Demonis Sabonis, honestly, he's so bad at defense that I really don't know.
Dan Bernstein
All right, let's do a real quick. Organizations win championships in memoriam. We have a couple NBA stars to remember. One of which we just found out passed away earlier today and that is Michael Ray Richardson, who was 70 years old. I don't know what you know about Michael Ray Richardson, but He started in 78, 79 with the Knicks and he made three all star teams with the Knicks. Later in his career as a Net, he was once again an All Star. In 84, 85, he'd gotten some. He'd made two All Defense teams. He had gotten voting as defensive player of the year. Really, really good player. In his era, he had some off the court issues. But Michael Ray Richardson, who at least this old head certainly remembers back in the day.
Jason Bernstein
There's one more thing I want to cover after this.
Dan Bernstein
Well, Lenny Wilkins also passed away at age 88. And not a Hall of Famer once, not a Hall of Famer twice, three times a Hall of Famer. He was inducted as a player, he was inducted as a coach, and he was inducted as a member of the Dream Team. So there were three separate hall of Fame inductions for Lenny Wilkins. He'll be remembered as the. It was interesting the other night because he was the coach of that 1979 NBA champion Seattle SuperSonics team. He was a young coach at the time. One of the players on that team was John Johnson. John Johnson, who actually is from Wisconsin, by the way. Now that I think about it, I think. I swear to God, I think doing.
Jason Bernstein
An in memoriam and you're cracking.
Dan Bernstein
I think Janssen is actually from Wisconsin.
Jason Bernstein
I hope Lenny Wilkins isn't remembered by this moment in this podcast.
Dan Bernstein
And he is.
Jason Bernstein
I think he deserves a little bit.
Dan Bernstein
John Johnson's son.
Jason Bernstein
I hope you're. I hope you're remembered by. By laughing at other people.
Dan Bernstein
I do too. I do too. I hope that that's how I remembered. And I. I mean you also laughed at.
Jason Bernstein
Do you want to tell that story after that?
Dan Bernstein
Which. What? My what?
Jason Bernstein
Uncle Dick leave you alone?
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, I've told it a million times. To be alone with your thoughts of Dick and I couldn't. Well, I looked at your aunt. It was the problem. I looked at my sister and then it was over. To leave you alone with your thoughts of Dick. There's like 500 people in there and they had to say that. But on that. John Johnson's son is Micah Johnson, who is the coach of the Spurs. So thought that was interesting. Mitch. Excuse me, Mitch Johnson. Yes, him too. Also is also buried with Johnny Red Kerr's children and is the son of Skip. Make that Chip. Somebody's dead. And somebody died in their sleep.
Jason Bernstein
You said something about off the court issues. Yeah, I think it's worth talking about briefly. The. Any. Any. Some of the trade stuff that's been going on with the Bulls. Just the rumors. Yeah. But you. Traffic and so there have been Two names. There have been two names, and it's been John Morant and Anthony Davis. And you've been talking about. And you said hell no to John Moran because he's off the court stuff.
Dan Bernstein
I said it to you off the.
Jason Bernstein
Yeah. My question is, if you're not giving up Giddy or Boozelis, and I know people are gonna say, well, Kobe White. I understand Kobe White's a really good player. His. He's gonna be making as much money as John Morant is next season.
Dan Bernstein
I don't trust John Moran.
Jason Bernstein
What's. I get that he could be a lie. Could be. Is. Could. I don't know. It's the same thing about Jalen Carter. I mean, don't get me wrong. Darnell Wright's great. You know what I mean? But Jalen Carter's a game record different in the NBA.
Dan Bernstein
Rant's still a star different in the NBA, but.
Jason Bernstein
But the thing is that that's a move that still gets you closer to a championship, or at least it shows that you're trying to win a championship. And also, I think Billy Donovan is one of those coaches that can. And I think part of it is his experience as a college coach and winning two national titles at the college level, getting into somebody's head. And I know it's different when they're adults. John rant, still only 26, and he acts like a college kid. I think Billy Donovan could be great for him. And I don't know how he would work with Giddy, but he's a star. He's a star. And another name was Anthony Davis. I think the type of player, the archetype. I think it's perfect. There are just two things, age and injuries. I just think it'd be really tough to. To account for that. That being said, though, Anthony Davis with Josh Giddy, I think could be. I know that sounds crazy.
Dan Bernstein
If he were 28. If he were 20 said that, then you're talking something different.
Jason Bernstein
Well, then it wouldn't just. Then that trade wouldn't be possible if you're 27 or 28. Nor would he be on the Mavericks right now.
Dan Bernstein
All right, let's hit the showdown, shall.
Jason Bernstein
We? All right.
Dan Bernstein
I'll go first this week. Wait for the drop.
Jason Bernstein
It's also really funny that Tiger woods is in the background. We had a whole conversation about him earlier.
Dan Bernstein
Okay. We were talking. We have been about the. For. At one point, we had Josh Giddy, who was going for a consecutive triple doubles, or he got consecutive triple doubles for the first time since Jordan was going for a third and did not get it. But he is rapidly moving up the list of all time Bulls triple doubles. So the other night Russell Westbrook became the first player he's also on the Kings became. And on the Kings became the first player to get a triple double with seven different teams. Wow. So, yeah. So I started looking at the all time triple doubles list. I had no idea there are six active players on the all time triple doubles list. The top 10. There's six in the top 10. I want to see how many can you get of. There's the four retired players.
Jason Bernstein
So I need to name five.
Dan Bernstein
I gave you one, right?
Jason Bernstein
Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
Russ is at the top.
Jason Bernstein
Yep. Obviously. All right. Jokic, Luca, LeBron. That's three.
Dan Bernstein
Jokic is third. Luca is seventh, LeBron is fifth.
Jason Bernstein
Okay. Harden.
Dan Bernstein
Harden is eighth.
Jason Bernstein
So I just need one more.
Dan Bernstein
You need one more? Do you want to you know the four retired players on the list?
Jason Bernstein
Let me. Big o.
Dan Bernstein
That's number two is Oscar Robertson with 181.
Jason Bernstein
I'm going to try to get everything. It's not going to be Kareem.
Dan Bernstein
Nope.
Jason Bernstein
Magic.
Dan Bernstein
Magic is for Bird. No. So you have three players left to retired. One active.
Jason Bernstein
Two retired, one active. It's not going to be Elgin Baylor.
Dan Bernstein
It is not.
Jason Bernstein
Okay. I just think I remember his name came up last Pod. So it was just in my head. If I can remember anything after what happened on Thursday night.
Dan Bernstein
You can't use a concussion as an excuse for being stupid.
Jason Bernstein
For being stupid. I already got most of the list.
Dan Bernstein
I know.
Jason Bernstein
Okay. One more current player. Yes.
Dan Bernstein
No, no, no.
Jason Bernstein
Okay. It's not Giddy.
Dan Bernstein
Nope. No.
Jason Bernstein
And it's not.
Dan Bernstein
Although Giddy's going to get up this list real fast.
Jason Bernstein
Lamello. Can't.
Dan Bernstein
It is not okay. Oh, he's off to a nice start. Assist wise.
Jason Bernstein
Your mic is sounding really weird on my end, by the way.
Dan Bernstein
Really? Oh, yeah, it's fine on my end.
Jason Bernstein
You sound. You sound like a robot.
Dan Bernstein
Maybe it's just me sounding like a robot.
Jason Bernstein
All right. No, don't, don't. No, I'm not.
Dan Bernstein
We're not going to. I'm going to put a time.
Jason Bernstein
Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. No, no, no, no. You hate when I do stuff like this. When I try to give you a hint and rush your answer just. So give me, give me, give me the respect. So shut up. It's not gonna be Steph.
Dan Bernstein
No. His name's been mentioned. His name's been mentioned on the show.
Jason Bernstein
Katie.
Dan Bernstein
No.
Jason Bernstein
Katie.
Dan Bernstein
No. It surprised me.
Jason Bernstein
Mention on the ad? Nope. Tatum?
Dan Bernstein
Nope.
Jason Bernstein
Just trying to think of who's been mentioned. Is he an old head right now or is he still like.
Dan Bernstein
No, not really. He's got 68. He's 10th star, borderline. I wouldn't call him a. Certainly not defensively.
Jason Bernstein
Not defensively. Okay.
Dan Bernstein
Okay. Well, no, I believe earlier in this show you called him one of the worst defenders at his position.
Jason Bernstein
One of the. One of the worst defenders. Am I. I might be stupid. Is he?
Dan Bernstein
No.
Jason Bernstein
Former bowl?
Dan Bernstein
No, not a former Bull.
Jason Bernstein
Give me the position.
Dan Bernstein
Center.
Jason Bernstein
Use a center.
Dan Bernstein
Center. Son of an all time. And an all time basketball great.
Jason Bernstein
Wow.
Dan Bernstein
Damatus Sabonis, 68 triple doubles.
Jason Bernstein
Surprise me.
Dan Bernstein
Jason Kidd is sixth and Wilt is ninth.
Jason Bernstein
All right, well, you didn't even. Let me guess.
Dan Bernstein
I didn't. All right, my turn.
Jason Bernstein
My question's a little bit. I would say a little bit tougher in general.
Dan Bernstein
Okay. But great.
Jason Bernstein
And it's, it's, it's. It's a very, very specific question.
Dan Bernstein
All right, what is it on your phone?
Jason Bernstein
Okay. The two former. Well, I wrote it down on my phone.
Dan Bernstein
Okay.
Jason Bernstein
Can you name the two former Bulls that played at least five seasons with the team. Okay. Have at least 10,000 career points. Okay. And this is the kicker. And scored at least 25% of their career points from the free throw line.
Dan Bernstein
Oh, my God. Five seasons, 25%.
Jason Bernstein
So I mean, realistic. You can narrow it down a lot. Just four bulls that played at least five seasons and scored 10,000 points.
Dan Bernstein
10,000 points with the Bulls.
Jason Bernstein
No career.
Dan Bernstein
Just career.
Jason Bernstein
Career points. But played at least.
Dan Bernstein
How about. This is weird. How about Jimmy Butler?
Jason Bernstein
No, there's only two. Huh?
Dan Bernstein
There's only two players.
Jason Bernstein
Only two. At least from this list.
Dan Bernstein
Artists.
Jason Bernstein
Artis Gilmore is one bang on. The other one is much harder. I would say.
Dan Bernstein
Artis gilmore, but played five seasons with the Bulls.
Jason Bernstein
Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
10,000 points. Is it an old, old timer?
Jason Bernstein
Yeah, I would say he was like. He started his career with the Bulls and that year was the 1974. 75 season.
Dan Bernstein
He started in 74, 75.
Jason Bernstein
And he started as a Bull. Correct.
Dan Bernstein
But that's right before my time. But he probably. And he played five years with the Bulls.
Jason Bernstein
Correct.
Dan Bernstein
To start his career.
Jason Bernstein
To start his career. And after his rookie season, he played at least 81 games. Every single season as a bowl.
Dan Bernstein
Was it Mickey Johnson?
Jason Bernstein
It was Mickey Johnson. Nice.
Dan Bernstein
He was good.
Jason Bernstein
Yeah. Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
Okay.
Jason Bernstein
Everyone's right. He was a beast.
Dan Bernstein
Every once in a while I'm allowed to get one. Yeah. Mickey Dam Johnson. That's a great question.
Jason Bernstein
58.6 win shares in his career.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, he was good. He was really good. All right, nicely done. That was a fun one. That is going to do it. The Bull schedule coming up is going to be a big test for them. We just should note at Detroit, at Utah, at Denver, at Portland. Portland. I know you love them.
Jason Bernstein
Portland is like how Houston was.
Dan Bernstein
That was my thing. I compared them to Houston.
Jason Bernstein
Yes.
Dan Bernstein
I'm younger.
Jason Bernstein
I'm saying for different reasons. I'm saying, for a different reason, I. How Houston was last year and how Orlando was year before. Not because of play style. I just think they're fun.
Dan Bernstein
They're compiling dudes. They're accruing dudes.
Jason Bernstein
They have to say the Bulls are like that, though. That's the thing. They're just not as young.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, they're, they're, they're. Bulls are a different story, and you.
Jason Bernstein
Don'T really know much about this guy. And Ivan's, I think, to Monica, to Moni Kamara.
Dan Bernstein
I know.
Jason Bernstein
Great defender, favorite players in the league.
Dan Bernstein
He's a great defender.
Jason Bernstein
Love him.
Dan Bernstein
All right, that's. That's got to do it for us. We've got that. We've got. Then the Washington Wizards are going to be here trying to grab some. Some organization wins. Champion organizations win championships passes to see if we can go as a. As a. As unit. And I've actually.
Jason Bernstein
I've actually met one of the current Wizards before.
Dan Bernstein
That's right, you have. But that's gonna do it. Thanks for joining us.
Jason Bernstein
Yeah, I said current Wizards.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. Is it the guy the, The. The guy who was on the Lakers? The. The guy who you met at the golf course?
Jason Bernstein
He's not a Wizard. You.
Dan Bernstein
Who is it?
Jason Bernstein
He's on the map. CJ McCollum. You forgot he was there.
Dan Bernstein
Oh, that's right. I forgot C.J. mcCollum was there. That's an old head. All right, that's. Or that is episode 118 disrespect.
Jason Bernstein
CJ.
Dan Bernstein
I'm not disrespecting anybody. I'm trying to get us out of here because Maddie's got coaching to do. He's got to go get his kids to basketball. So it's important. You just have to, like, lie in a dark room for another six hours or whatever it is. And I got. I got. I got therapy in two minutes. All right? Go out for a walk. Do whatever you got to do. All right? Like, subscribe. Rate it. Thanks for being a part of it. It will do. More of the exciting, surprising Bulls when We convene next.
Jason Bernstein
Organizations Win Championships.
Dan Bernstein
A Chicago Bulls podcast with Jason and dan Bernstein on 312 Sports.
Episode: Chicago Bulls Battle but Fall Short
Date: November 11, 2025
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Jason Bernstein (312 Sports)
This episode delivers an unfiltered, energetic post-mortem of the Chicago Bulls’ recent run—highlighting tough losses to teams with NBA superstars, a deep dive into the Victor Wembanyama experience against the Bulls, and spirited debate about modern NBA stars, Bulls trade rumors, and league personalities. Amidst in-depth basketball analysis, the hosts intersperse irreverent, personal banter and classic Chicago sports radio skepticism.
This episode is a must-listen for Bulls fans grappling with the squad’s current ceiling, NBA junkies fascinated by the Wembanyama phenomenon, and anyone seeking real talk (and plenty of laughs) about star power, team-building philosophy, and generational league talent. It delivers the sharp debate, nostalgia, and “no filter” scrutiny Dan Bernstein is known for—making the rollercoaster of being a Chicago Bulls fan that much more enjoyable.