My Momma Told Me – "NBA Magic Tricks" (with Josiah Johnson) RE-RELEASE

Podcast: My Momma Told Me
Hosts: Langston Kerman & David Gborie
Guest: Josiah Johnson
Date: February 19, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the enduring conspiracy theory that the 1985 NBA Draft was rigged in favor of the New York Knicks, a topic delivered with comedic flair and deep basketball knowledge. Langston, David, and their guest, NBA Twitter legend and meme king Josiah Johnson, unpack the credibility of draft manipulation, the financial and entertainment motives of the league, and the broader idea of how much control big organizations really have over sport outcomes. The show also explores tangential topics including NBA culture, black athleticism and spectacle, loopholes in league discipline, and the crossover between wrestling, entertainment, and sports.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Guest Intro

[02:43–09:16]

• Langston and David riff on the "vibe" of wings and strip clubs, setting a laid-back, irreverent tone.
• Discussion about LA’s cute sidewalk delivery robots and how their design leans into humans' tendency to protect cute things rather than see them as threats:

  "We need ugly robots, bro." – David Gborie (05:42)

• Josiah Johnson ("king of NBA Twitter") is introduced, described as a meme king with deep NBA roots ("my dad played in the NBA back in the day").

2. The 1985 NBA Draft: Rigging Conspiracy Explored

[11:58–18:54]

• Josiah lays out the familiar theory:

  "My mama told me the 1985 NBA Draft was rigged." – Josiah Johnson (12:04)

• Explanation of the process: the draft moved from guaranteed worst-record pick to a "lottery" involving envelopes, leading to suspicions ("the envelope was frozen or a little bit lighter").
• Connection to modern draft outcomes benefiting the league’s narrative and financial health:

  "It always seems to work out that way. You got LeBron James coming out of high school, Akron... Cleveland Cavs get the #1 pick." – Josiah (13:49)

3. NBA as Sports Entertainment (Not Pure Sport)

[18:54–21:36]

• Josiah argues the NBA is fundamentally an entertainment product, similar to pro wrestling:

  "NBA is entertainment... I think they do it entertainment because it gives them a little bit more leeway..." – Josiah (19:05) "That's lawyer talk. They hired a very powerful lawyer." – Langston (19:16)

• NBA leadership is lawyer heavy; both David Stern and Adam Silver came up through legal backgrounds rather than basketball.

4. League Manipulation & Loophole Stories

[21:37–23:30]

• Discussion of Gilbert Arenas's infamous locker room incident, using legal loopholes to minimize suspension:

  "Gil is a loophole expert, right?" – Josiah (19:45) "Before he brought guns... he researched: What's the longest I can get suspended?" – Josiah (19:54)

• The NBA's disciplinary process is discussed as performative and determined by perception.

5. Modern Lottery 'Magic Tricks' and Market Motives

[23:31–26:14]

• Scrutiny of the 2025 lottery, with Dallas winning against statistical odds:

  "That's nuts... not a word. The only word that happens is a magic trick. Trickery." – David (26:06)

• Discussion of team ownership changes, city market values, and “cui bono” of rigged results; cynical trading activity following rumors Texas would block a new casino.

6. Magic Tricks, American vs. European White Players, and NBA Entertainment

[26:15–31:01]

• Friendly debate about players (European vs. American "White hopes"), personalities (Jokic’s nonchalance), and how the league’s preferred narratives shape public experience.
• Digressions into tattoo stories, the cultural wave of Chinese tattoos in the early 2000s, and Jackie Chan vs. Tom Cruise as "I-do-my-own-stunts" actors.

7. Draft Rigging, Playoff Manipulation, and the WWE Parallel

[32:09–56:52]

• Do small market teams ever stand a chance? The consensus is that for ratings, big city teams are always going to be pushed when possible.
• NBA’s approach to competitive balance is contrasted with the NFL’s straightforward “worst team wins” draft model.
• Refs’ subtle influence ("superstar treatment," timely foul calls to stretch series), likened to wrestling’s predetermined but plausible outcomes.
• League doles out just enough hope to smaller markets to maintain audience interest.

Notable exchange:

"How rigged do you think the NBA is?" – David (18:45)
"The NBA is entertainment. Similar to wrestling, entertainment." – Josiah (18:54)

8. The Entertainment Value of Self-awareness and Conspiracy

[56:53–59:19]

• Langston muses on the fragility of fandom when one becomes too cynically self-aware:

  "When I really loved wrestling was when I believed in wrestling. ...Now it's this era of wrestling where nobody believes in it. Even kids don't believe in wrestling." – Langston (57:02)

• Is overexposure to the mechanics of conspiracy and manipulation costing us the ability to just enjoy the sport?

9. Voicemail: Black Boys Flipping for White Audiences

[63:12–74:47]

• A listener voicemail brings up the theory that "White people love to see Black boys flip," referencing halftime tumbling squads and the "spectacle" dynamic.
• The call goes sideways mentioning a specific criminal case ("Flippo") and the tension between legitimate youth gymnastics and exploitative practices.
• Langston shares his own family connection:

  "My former stepfather was Benny the Bull at one point...he was a part of the Jesse White Tumblers, which was the famous group of little black boys that do flips in Chicago." (67:22)

• Group reflects on why Black boys are underrepresented in formal gymnastics and recognized for “spectacle,” not as world-class athletes.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "We need ugly robots, bro." – David (05:42)
• "NBA is entertainment. Similar to wrestling, entertainment." – Josiah (18:54)
• "Why not just: worst team in the league gets the number one pick? Why do we go through all this shit – ping pong balls, King Kong balls, all these different things?" – Josiah (48:03)
• "When I really loved wrestling was when I believed in wrestling..." – Langston (57:02)
• "Black men are the only ones...I’ve seen fat guys flip. I ain’t never seen a fat white dude do a flip." – David (71:43)
• "Flippo got crazy." – Langston (66:54)
• "If you flip in this town, you give me my kickback. You let me get my beak wet." – David as Chicago fixer (69:40)
• "I want that propofol. I need my milk." – Langston, on Michael Jackson’s sleep aid (44:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• NBA rigged draft theory explained: [12:29–13:49]
• NBA as “entertainment” not just sports: [18:54–21:36]
• Modern draft/Luka/Dallas conspiracy: [23:31–26:14]
• Voicemail: Black boys flipping for white audiences: [63:19–74:47]
• Closing & how to follow the hosts and guest: [75:10–76:13]

Tone & Language

The show is irreverent, profane, and self-aware. Hosts and guests speak candidly, drawing on their own lives and the absurdities of sports fandom. The humor is quick and biting, but insightful—often using black culture, sports history, and personal anecdotes to critique deeper societal patterns.

Summary Takeaways

• NBA conspiracy theories persist because outcomes often align too conveniently with what is best for ratings and financial health.
• The league’s emphasis on being an entertainment product, not just a sport, allows for leeway in shaping narratives—sometimes through subtle manipulations (like draft lotteries and refereeing).
• Awareness of manipulation does not always ruin the experience; sometimes, knowing about the “magic tricks” is part of the fun.
• The scrutiny of black athleticism as spectacle (especially outside formal fields like gymnastics) reflects ongoing issues of representation and exploitation.
• Ultimately, the show both pokes fun at and finds value in the intersection of conspiracy, entertainment, and community storytelling.