Game Over with Max Kellerman & Rich Paul

Episode: Knicks Take the NBA Cup, Details on CP3’s Exit, and Crawford Retires
Date: December 17, 2025
Host: The Ringer

Episode Overview

Max Kellerman and Rich Paul dive into three major topics shaking up the sports world: the Knicks’ triumph in the NBA Cup, the inside story behind Chris Paul’s departure from the Clippers, and the legacy of boxing great Terence “Bud” Crawford after his retirement. The episode is packed with in-the-moment analysis, insider stories, plenty of banter, and sharp cultural references.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Knicks Win the NBA Cup

[04:22–24:49]

• Chris Broussard’s Mea Culpa on the NBA Cup:
  Chris openly admits he underestimated the NBA Cup’s potential:

  “The distance between my perception of how good it is and how good it actually is was pretty wide.” (05:09)

• Rich Paul on the Cup’s Impact:

  “It’s great for the league… You’re excited to watch whoever’s there, which is always a good thing.” (05:20)

• Finals-Preview Vibes:
  The hosts debate whether the Knicks-Spurs final could be a real preview of this year’s Finals, with shoutouts to the Thunder and Houston as other contenders.

• Format Improvements & Adam Silver’s Credit:
  After past criticism, Chris concedes that Adam Silver’s structure works. The incentive for players is highlighted:

  “If they play the All-Star game like they played the NBA Cup, we’ll really be smoking. Then we’ll be cooking strong.” (08:09)

• Player Motivation:
  Rich notes the importance of the financial reward, especially for bench players:

  “It’s not only about the money for the starters... for the end of the bench, it’s definitely only about the money.” (08:46)

• Mitch Robinson’s Clutch Play:
  Chris lauds Robinson:

  “Mitch Robinson is one of those dudes… he is a clutch defensive player.” (09:34)

• Coach Mike Brown’s Game-Changing Decisions:
  Broussard singles out Brown’s late-game lineup—especially bringing in Kolik for ball handling—as the true difference maker.

  “To me, that’s what iced that game to the Knicks.” (10:33)
  Rich agrees:
  “Really good coaches could not be afraid to throw a guy… Kolik has showed he’s an NBA player capable of playing in those minutes.” (10:35)

• Wemby’s Limited Impact:
  Both hosts observe that Victor Wembanyama’s minutes restriction changed the game’s flow and San Antonio’s rhythm. Rich breaks down the tactical implications of “posting Wemby at the nail.”

• Spurs’ Future Potential:
  Chris sees massive upside if young wings like Castle and Harper can reliably shoot.

• Knicks’ Evolution under Mike Brown:

  • Rich and Chris discuss Brown’s influence versus Tom Thibodeau's, emphasizing improved pace, bench usage, and playoff readiness:

    “What I saw yesterday, different than what I saw before... was he was able to get Brunson off the ball… The ball is moving a lot more than it did in the Tibbs offense.” (20:04)

• Knicks’ Remaining Needs & Trade Deadline Speculation:
  Rich calls the Knicks “surface-level trade away from really being able to cement themselves.” (15:24)
  The importance of Josh Hart improving his shooting and potential bench tweaks are dissected:

  “Josh Hart needs to shoot it better from long range… Otherwise, the starting five isn’t exactly what you want.” (23:06)

Key Quotes:

• “It was great basketball. Great basketball.” – Rich Paul (05:26)
• “If we had more people with that mentality to be able to say, you know what, I was hating a little bit, but I was wrong, the world would be a better place.” – Rich Paul (04:48)

2. Chris Paul’s Clippers Exit (Ramona Shelburne Reporting)

[26:12–40:48]

• Setup:
  Chris summarizes Shelburne's reporting: CP3 was brought to the Clippers as a low-maintenance veteran, expected to provide leadership more than minutes. However, his competitive fire, strong influence in practices, and vocal presence created friction.

• Accountability & Culture Clashes:
  Rich points out that “all ideas are good until they're bad,” and CP3 couldn’t simply turn off his drive, regardless of organizational expectations:

  “The fact of the matter is, we’ve known who Chris Paul has been his entire career, and you can’t change a tiger’s stripes.” (28:19)

• Coaches, Players, and Communication:
  Chris wonders if CP3’s assertiveness was necessary on an underachieving team, or if it was disruptive. Rich stresses shared accountability—front office, coaching, and the player must all be clear on the role:

  “If they say to you, ‘Chris, we want you to be the sixth coach,’ and you agree to that, then that’s the deal.” (30:01)

• Locker Room Dynamics:
  They discuss how NBA players don’t like confrontation and how Chris Paul’s take-charge style can bump heads with both players and coaches, especially if he's not “the guy” anymore.

• Beware of Undermining the Staff:
  Chris brings up reports that CP3 changed coverages; Rich argues that such leadership can be a double-edged sword if it conflicts with coaching authority.

• CP3’s Basketball IQ:
  Chris: “Chris Paul is like the platonic ideal of a Larry Brown point guard.” (36:28)
  Rich: “It’d be hard to say that he’s not right about basketball things… but it could have been the wrong time for him to say who he felt was right.” (36:11)

• Agents’ Role:
  Rich (as a super-agent) details how clear communication about expectations is crucial:

  “If I represented Chris, and I was talking to the Clippers about him joining the team, the first thing that you’re asking is: what type of role is this?” (38:43)

Memorable Exchange:

• Chris: “So you’re saying it’s Chris Paul’s fault? That’s how I hear what you said.” (38:07)
• Rich: “No, I’m not saying Chris Paul… I’m saying there’s shared accountability in all of it and…there’s no winner.” (40:48)

3. Terence “Bud” Crawford Retires

[41:49–59:43]

• Bud’s Legacy:
  Chris argues Crawford was probably the best pound-for-pound fighter of the last decade but lacked mainstream opportunity because he was “so dangerous, other stars didn’t want to fight him.” He lauds Bud’s undefeated record and dominance.

• Contextualizing Greatness:

  “There are some athletes that come along in different sports where the people who watched them through that era... you will never be able to tell them anything about that player.” (50:24)
  Bud is one of those rare talents, alongside LeBron, Kobe, Floyd Mayweather, and Sugar Ray Robinson.

• Industry Challenges for Black Fighters:
  Chris describes how Bud’s principled, humble style made it hard for him to break through:

  “If you were a black fighter and you didn’t have an over-the-top personality, and you weren’t a heavyweight, and you were as good as Crawford… how are you going to get them in the ring with you?” (56:01)

• Bud’s Approach:
  “I’m just gonna be me, and I’m just gonna keep beating everyone they put in front of me.” (56:03, quoting Bud)

• Rich’s Assessment:
  Rich laments that Bud was “a little cheated in his career” because most eyeballs have left boxing for other sports, noting his career would have been bigger in a different era.

  “Everything about Bud… I think Bud was a little cheated in his career.” (51:39)

• Personal Stories & Role Models:
  They share sparring stories, with Chris relaying Tim Bradley’s awe for Bud’s boxing IQ and adaptability (54:35). They compare Bud’s steely authenticity to Wu-Tang Clan’s uncompromising path from underground to legendary status (57:36).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “You have to be enamored by everything [Crawford] brings to the sport of boxing and how he went out.” – Rich (58:09)
• “Cheers to Bud. For sure.” – Chris (58:28)
• Chris: “He’s one of those dudes, and they’re not that common.” (51:33)
• Rich: “The thing about Bud: there’s no fear.” (52:54)

4. Quick Hitters & Cultural Banter

• Olympics Teaser:
  The hosts set up a future debate: Team USA vs. Team France and Victor Wembanyama at the 2028 LA Olympics (58:30–59:43).

• NY Style – Timbs & Uptowns:
  A fun closing debate over sneaker culture—what it means to have “halfway new Timbs” and flexes back in the day (60:00–62:08).

• Rich’s Obama Dinner Story:
  Rich humorously narrates the social challenge of sneaking out of an intimate dinner with Barack Obama (46:04–47:28).

Important Segment Timestamps

• NBA Cup deep dive & Knicks analysis:
  04:22–24:49

• CP3 Clippers story, player/coach dynamics:
  26:12–40:48

• Crawford retires, boxing culture, athlete greatness:
  41:49–59:43

• Olympics preview, sneaker and NYC culture sidebar:
  58:30–62:08

Overall Tone & Language

Rich and Max (Chris) keep things authentic, knowledgeable, and conversational, blending inside stories, social context, sharp basketball analysis, and humor. There’s playfulness and plenty of cultural flavor, especially in their sneaker talk and back-and-forth on who gets the credit for on-court success.

Summary Takeaways

• The NBA Cup has enriched the season’s drama and shown the Knicks’ growth, particularly thanks to coach Mike Brown’s adaptability and the bench’s depth.
• Chris Paul’s release from the Clippers reveals the perennial challenges of integrating aging superstars into shifting team hierarchies and the necessity for clear communication.
• Terence Crawford’s retirement cements his place as one of boxing’s elite, despite systemic obstacles and limited mainstream exposure. His career stands as a model of authenticity and excellence.
• 2028 Olympics looming: USA faces a new status as underdog, with the rise of Wemby and France—a subject the hosts will revisit.

This episode is essential listening for basketball and boxing fans alike, offering fresh perspective, candid analysis, and the inside stories only these two voices can provide.