← New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Donovan Mitchell on The Cavs #1 Seed, Career “MJ Moment,” Attending LeBron’s "Decision" & More | EP 135
01:04:28
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A
Wondry plus subscribers can listen to New Heights early and ad free, plus unlock access to exclusive episodes of the show.
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B
Join Wondery plus and the Wondery app, Apple podcast or Spotify today. Do you wear contacts out there?
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C
No.
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B
So you just out there with blurry ass vision shooting?
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A
You're dropping 71 with blurry vision. I gotta give my guy some lasik, man.
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B
This dude's shooting threes while he's buffering.
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C
I can't believe.
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A
Welcome back to New Heights. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, a wonder show produced by Wave Sports and Entertainment and brought to you by DraftKings. That's right, shout out to DraftKings. We're your host. I'm Travis Kelsey is my brother Jason Kelsey out of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, representing the land, baby. The 216 or 440 depending on where you are in the city. Subscribe on YouTube One Tree plus wherever you get your podcast and follow the show on all social media at new height show with 1s for fun clips throughout the week. Jason, let the people know what we got coming up. What do you got there? Little canteen and.
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B
And special episode Trav.
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A
Of course we do.
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B
Obviously from Cleveland. And we got a pretty Cleveland episode coming up.
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A
That's what I'm talking about coming to.
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B
You on a Friday. Hey, I got this from an artist on Etsy.
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A
Oh, nice. You're a big Etsy guy.
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B
Well, I'm a big artist guy. I like tell the people what that is.
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A
That don't know.
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B
So this is Rick Vaught from the movie Major League.
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A
That is not Charlie Sheen.
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B
Well, listen, they did their best and it's close enough to me.
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A
I think it's pretty wild thing right there though.
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B
But yeah, we're coming to you on a Friday with another guest episode. This time we're getting ready for the NBA playoffs with Cleveland's own Donovan Mitchell. That's right, baby. That's right. We're going to get into NBA playoffs this time at Louisville with Lamar Jackson ranked, some throwback jerseys and so much more. You're going to love this episode. Hope everybody's getting geared up for the NBA playoffs outside of Philadelphia because Philadelphia Sixers are not very good this year, unfortunately. But Cavs are.
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A
Oh, baby.
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B
We had Ben recently. The Knicks. The east is exciting, baby.
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A
I'm hoping Kaz Nicks find a way to meet each other in the playoffs because I've been wanting to go to a Madison Square Garden game during the playoffs since I was a kid.
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B
And are you going to remember to wear Cleveland stuff this time?
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A
Travis, what oh, you talk about the Yankees game? Yeah, yeah, no, I'll be. I'll be Cleveland threaded from here on out. Yeah, I'll be rocking Cavs gear. And right now I'm rocking guards gear as well as the MLB season gets gets started as well. It's been a Cleveland day, baby. You guys are gonna enjoy this one, though, man. Donovan's the superstar on the court, a superstar human being off the court. And let's get to it.
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Our guest today is a first round pick from the University of Louisville slam dunk contest champion, six time NBA all star, and the starting shooting guard for the Cleveland cavaliers, the number one seed.
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A
Yes, Mr. Donovan Mitchell, baby.
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C
Sir, I appreciate y'all, man. Appreciate y'all.
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A
Thank you for coming on, big guy. How you liking Cleveland, man? You just re signed out there, man. Is the city treating you well, man?
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C
I love it, man. I. I tell people all the time. This big part of why I came back, obviously basketball is, you know what it is. But, you know, we live here too. Y'all know when you live, you live there. So I. I love it, man. The people are great. City's great. I love the cold, too. So I'm not really tripping on that.
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A
Here we go.
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B
There we go. That lake effect comes in. Not everybody's ready for that lake effect.
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C
That's different. It's different, but. It's different. But I'm not. I'm from New York, so it's not that bad.
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A
Yeah, there we go. Well, as a. As a fellow Clevelander and a Cavs fan since I was a little kid, man, I appreciate you embracing the city, man. It's hard to keep, you know, the superstars of the league and in markets like Cleveland and in the Midwest and stuff like that. So I just appreciate you embracing everything and honestly taking us to new heights and taking us to the next level, man. Because this year you guys have been absolutely on fire, man. And you coming back was a huge, huge part of that, brother.
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C
Sir. I appreciate you guys. I'm excited. I'm excited for the playoffs, too.
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B
Oh, yeah. Hell yeah. All righty. Let's start it off with some new news. Don, I don't know if you know, but we start all of our shows off with new news. We do like to get a new news from our guests. So typically, I'll say it like new.
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A
News, and then I'll come in like new news. So can you give us your best new news with us?
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C
New news.
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B
That sounded like. Like a steamboat.
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A
Exactly, exactly.
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That's. Hey, that's Right there. That's. He knows how to fit within. There we go.
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C
You guys know your roles.
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A
I know your role.
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B
All right. The NBA playoffs are starting today.
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A
Yes, Sir.
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Cavs are the 1 seed in the east is the first time the Cavs have earned the top seed since their championship run in 2015. 2016. Shout out to that season. Trav and I were at one of those games, which was awesome. How do you feel about after 82 games, man?
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C
I feel like, you know, we accomplished so much. You know what I mean? You, you, you. We had the first two years and things, you know, we continue to take a step each year. And now, you know, you look at the evolution of really everybody on the team. Yeah, we got DG back to form. Evan Mobley's been all NBA phenomenal.
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A
Unbelievable.
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C
Defensive Player of the Year, Ty Jerome, six man of the year. We added Dre, who's also six man of year candidate. Sam Merrill's been great. Isaac's taking a step. Dean. Jared Allen played all 82 games.
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A
Unbelievable, man. You get a big dude like that to play all 82. That is insane, man.
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B
That's especially today's.
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A
You gotta love it.
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C
Exactly, exactly. But, like, for him, for us, man, it's just like Max Strusk, after he started the season off, injured, coming back and being great for us to start in the lineup. So it's great, man. Like you said, this is. It's really two seasons. You got the regular season and you got the postseason. So for what we did in the regular season, man, you know, a plus, you know, we did a lot of positive things, learned a lot about ourselves, and now we get to translate all that, you know, to when it really gets going.
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A
Yeah, baby. When it all matters, man. We're all pumped for it, dog. And I tell everybody all the time, man, NBA basketball is cool, but watching you guys play basketball together, you guys are on a completely different wavelength. You guys move the ball so fucking well. You guys get up and down the floor. You have so many different styles of basketball depending on if you guys got your starting five or those two six man of the year candidates that you guys got. So it's like, it's just so fun to watch you guys go to work. And then on top of that, when you guys have home games, I wish I'm on the floor every. Because you guys get the stadium rocking, man. You guys make sure that. That the Cavs fans are, man, and I just love it, man. I can't wait to get back for a game in this playoffs, man.
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C
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And I. We appreciate that, man. If the crowd, man's unreal, bro. Like, you know, like the game. I didn't play that game when y'all came.
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B
I know we got to get back this year just so we can see my man get out there.
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C
It's just different. The city is different. The fans are different. I was here during one of the finals games in 2017, maybe my first year. I got drafted in. It really don't nothing beats it. You got the white out jersey or the blackout, you know, it's just different.
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B
What's the announcer? Cleveland Heights.
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C
Yeah, yeah, he been there. Before I got to the league, I was like, man, like, when I got traded here, I was like, man, like, I'm excited for that.
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B
He gets it rocking. He gets it rocking.
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C
He's. He's. Every year, every. Every game, he's. He's always good. He's good with it for sure.
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A
Crump's been doing it for a while, man. I actually played basketball with his little brother up at Heights, man. At the. In high school, man. Ye funny. It's funny. I was all tied in, but we're recording this a little early, so we don't know exactly who the Cavs are playing yet. Do you like the play in format? You know what I mean? Because I feel like it's almost like half of the league gets a chance to make the playoffs now, instead of like just the top eight teams in both conferences.
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C
I think it's good from a viewing standpoint, from like an intensity standpoint, from a. You know, every game, like, you look at the last game, the Warriors, Clippers, like, all eyes were on that game. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, so I think from that standpoint, it's phenomenal. As a 1 and 2 seed, not so much, because then we gotta wait till Friday to kind of figure out what we're doing. Cause last year we were four, so we knew all week who we were playing. We knew we were playing Orlando. A year before that, we knew we were playing New York. But from a 1 and 2 seed, I wish we knew all week we know who we were playing. But I think from a fan standpoint, it's definitely like, that was a high intensity game, man, that Warriors, Clippers game, doing what he does. Kawhi James, like, guys, you know, competing at a high level. So from a viewer standpoint, it's awesome. So I think that's the cool part. But, you know, selfishly speaking, I wish we knew all week for sure how.
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B
Much does it change up based on the opponent that you're going to end up seeing? Like, for us, it's similar. You know, let's say somebody has the one seed locked up and you're waiting to see who's going to win that first playoff game. You end up preparing a lot of times for both teams and seeing kind of the different structures of both of them because you're trying to, you're trying to get ahead of that. But it changes up a lot in football. How much does it change up? As somebody who. I don't know nothing about strategy for basketball, to be honest with you. How much does it change up based on the opponent you're playing, what you guys are going to do?
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C
Yeah, I think, I don't think you plan right now. I think you kind of let the first game happen. I think you kind of narrowed down to two teams. I think you don't let it go to four. This is my second time doing this. The first time was in Utah when we were the one seed and we prepared for just two. I think we're doing something similar right now. I think you kind of let tonight's game happen and then you are cool. It's going to be either Orlando or Atlanta. You narrow that down and wait till Wednesday. That game happens. Then it's like, all right, I bet, you know, you prepare for those two, those two teams and kind of just leave it at that. But it's kind of similar to what you're doing. But I don't think you prepare for all four because that's, that's shaky. Yeah, that's a lot.
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A
The majority of our fan base is really football and all that. I know you were a multi sport guy playing, I believe, baseball, right? You were a baseball, basketball guy. Heck, yeah, man. And you went to Louisville, the, the Mecca for, for baseball. Really? The Louisville Slugger and everything. Did you, did you ever, like, think about playing baseball at Louisville?
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C
Yeah, I mean, not at Louisville. Coach Patino was enough.
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A
Man. I had Patino. I had Patino making a run in my, my bracket this year, man.
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C
Not gonna lie. I had, I had them winning the whole thing. To be honest, that kind of, that kind of hurt me.
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A
I had him going all the way.
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C
I did, you know, but like I said, those Patino practices, dog, like you didn't want to do else after that. I don't think I had much time to do that. Our team, you know, that year I was there, we had two guys I think made the league or three, or three, you know, Corey Ray, Played for the Rays.
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A
Yep.
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C
Will Smith, who just won the World Series at. For the Dodgers. He's a catcher. Wow. Brandon McKay. He was there as well. Starting pitcher. I forgot where he's at now. Maybe Detroit. Josh Rogers was on the Yankees. We got a lot of guys who are really talented. When I was there, I'm definitely missing a bunch. Yeah, so I wasn't that level. I wasn't that good at that point. You know, I took two years off, but I definitely didn't want to play basketball. That was not my man, not my joke, my route.
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A
When did it really set in that that was what you wanted to do?
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C
My 10th grade year, I broke my wrist, and junior year, I was like, you know what? I just miss playing basketball. Like, just as a kid, it's like, you know, you just want to hoop, like, you know what I mean? And that's when I really started taking it seriously. With my junior year of high school and that point on, you know.
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B
Well, there's only one thing to do, you know, you got to win three NBA championships in a row, and then you just go start playing bass. Baseball.
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A
That's how you do it right there.
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B
What. What position did you play again?
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C
Pitcher and shortstop. I was nice. Like, I. I'm a humble person, but I was.
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B
No, we know. We know the deal.
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A
Yeah.
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Yeah.
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C
I don't want to take away anything from the guys who, you know, play baseball because it's the hardest shit to make the league anyway. But I felt like my chances, you know, were you were.
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A
You were looking left and right, and you were seeing the guys that you were playing with, you see them in the league, and you're just like, yeah, I probably couldn't.
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B
Yeah.
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C
If I would have dedicated myself, I think I would have had a shot for sure.
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B
Anybody with the nickname Spider is going to be a damn good shortstop. I know that.
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A
All right. That's. I love a way to put it. Yeah.
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C
The one thing I couldn't do was I couldn't play football.
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A
No, no, come on, man. I've seen. You're one of the most athletic guys I've ever seen on everybody on the floor.
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C
Everybody got the body forward. I got all that. But, like, I can't take a hit from.
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A
We'll keep it moving here. I was telling you, a lot of people listening to this that are football, you know, lovers. But in terms of the basketball storylines going into the NBA right now, we got the. The Lakers trade for Luca. They got, you know, all these. All these crazy John Morantz celebrations. The. The Nuggets actually fired their coach right before the postseason started. And even the Houston Rockets absolutely do a 180 from last year to this year and are the two seed in the West. And, you know, quiet Leonard just. He's healthy for a playoff run. What are the. What are the craziest. Like, what does it feel like being in this crazy melting pot of, like, the NBA storylines and. And you guys being the number one seed in the East?
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C
Yeah. I mean, it means our league is in a good place. You know what I'm saying? Like, you know, at the end of the day, this is a sport. We, you know, like, we play the sport for the sport, but it's also business, too. Like, this is good for business. Like, you know, I mean, there's a lot going on. There's a lot of positive things going on in this league. A lot of talent in this league. You know what I mean? So I think that's. That's something that, you know, we truly appreciate. We enjoy. You know, waking up to seeing Lucas traded is crazy. That was. That was wild.
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A
I mean, that's got to be on the. On the team group chat right there.
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B
Do you see Mark Cuban's facial expression when Luca drops is like, oh, like, of the season?
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C
I know. I know he is, but it's just like, nobody's safe. Like, you know what I mean? Nobody's safe. Y'all know it, and y'all. And y'all support. Like, nobody's safe. And, you know, it's. I'm speechless still to this day. You know, we've been watching him go.
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Back like, you know, their GM can't even do interviews with microphones or cameras right now. He's. He just feels like he's in such a hot seat that he has to do it a specific way, but who knows how that's going to end up shaking out in the West. I know we got the best team in the East. I will say this, though.
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B
You.
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A
You mentioned. You. We mentioned the Luca trading going back and him dropping 45 on. On in. In Dallas. How was it for you playing back in Utah? Because you started there. You had such an awesome start to your career there. When you came to Cleveland and went back there for the first time, how. How did that feel? Because me and Jason, we've only played on one team in the NFL, so I'm just curious, how did that feel going back into a place that you had called home?
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C
I was excited for that game, to be honest. I think just because, you know, the only other return, like, you know, the. The. The. The goat of return games, I guess you want to call it, Is Bron coming back here, right? Like, you know, like, so, like, for me, it was like, man, like, this is going to be fun. At that time, I didn't know if I was going to get booed. I didn't know if I was cheer. Like, it wasn't dead. Like, Lucas was. Like, we knew they were going to come cheer. Like, I didn't really knew. I didn't really know what was going to happen. So I told my teammates, like, look, I'm an unselfish guy. I know I like to pass the ball and whatnot. But there's one game I promise you I'm going to shoot every time I touch. Back in Utah, that was fun. The reception was great, you know, and you just feel like you're playing at home for real, because you. You're used to the rims, used to all that. You know, the background you see in familiar faces and the people are great around the organization and whatnot. So it was. It was definitely one of those moments where it was great to go back and see everybody. I didn't know what to expect, but, you know, had a lot of fun, for sure.
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B
Yeah.
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A
Hell, yeah.
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B
It's awesome. What's up with the John Morant celebration? Is that the finger guns thing again?
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A
Oh, he took it up a level. He took it up a notch.
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B
I gotta see what was up a notch. It wasn't just like a pew pew. Wasn't like a little.
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C
He done got the grenades now. I say this. The celebration is hard, though. I'm not gonna lie.
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A
The celebration is hard.
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C
Like the whole. You know what I mean? The whole. All that.
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B
I. I saw Dirk doing it in the suite. He was over here. He was. He's feeling it.
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C
Like, to me, I'm like, that's. That's dope. You got kids doing it now. But, you know, I mean, I don't know. I. It's a lot like, you know, it's. It's been a whole.
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A
It's a lot.
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C
You know, my message. Leave guns alone, kids. Everybody leave guns alone.
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A
Yeah, yeah.
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C
It's, you know, for the celebration, do.
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B
What you do in the con. Like the, The. Sorry not to go up. But in the. In the idea of like a basketball game, like, shooting is more like I'm. I'm killing. Like, I'm shooting the basketball. Like, Pistol Pete is one of the most iconic NBA players of all. Name is a. Is a gun.
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A
Right, right, right.
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C
It's context. Like I mean, it's basketball. Like, you know, I mean, like, nobody's.
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B
Saying, let's go play with guns outside. That's not what we're advocating for.
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A
I feel you. All right, now that does it. News. We did our homework, though. Outside of the playoffs, we do want to ask you about an insane career milestone. You dropped 71 points against the Bulls, man.
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B
So crazy.
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A
What is that? The most, like, in terms of high school, college? That. That's got to be the most you've ever scored, right?
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C
For sure. Yeah. The most by. By far.
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A
You did it at the highest level. That is insane, man. What does it feel like?
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C
I tell people? Like, it didn't feel crazy until overtime. Like, because we were down 20. People don't understand. We were down 20 at halftime. I had 16 points. I had 16 points at halftime.
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B
Time out. You had 71 and 16 and a half.
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A
This is crazy.
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B
Wow.
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A
This is the craziest part.
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C
I was in a shooting slope about like a week and a half, two weeks before that. I mean, like, couldn't make a shot. And it was one of those times where, like, you know, like, when you're supposed to catch a ball and it's like, damn, you drop it. It's like you're just going through one of the moments where it's just like, damn, it's not rolling. Like, it's just not going well right now. So, like, that was the week and a half stretch. It was for me. I'm getting good looks, not falling. And I never forget. And I. I don't. I don't know if I even told Brad Dougherty this. Who's right over here somewhere.
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B
Here we go.
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C
You know, I told him, like, he told me. He came out, sat down, he was like, keep going. You know? And then he brought up mj. I'm not saying that's what got me going, but, like, it was very. He brought up MJ in the sense of, like, just the way he competed or just comparing it to me in some. In some way shape or form. And then after the game, I was like, like, holy. Like, you know, I mean, like, I had my little, like, oh, yeah, my MJ moment. Like, you know what I mean?
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A
Hell, yeah. You were in the zone throughout that.
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C
Process, throughout the game. It didn't feel crazy until I looked up and I saw, like, 68 or 69. I was like, this is.
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A
Oh, that's what I'm doing right now.
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C
Yeah. And I'm, like, smiling and I'm looking up, like, my team, like, almost the free throw like, that was really. When it really, really hit me what I was doing. For real.
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A
You're breaking the Internet, man. You had social media going nuts. Yeah.
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B
The closest thing I've ever felt to that was beer pong. You just locked in and I'm just draining them. It's like, yeah, next on the table, you, like slap the water off of it, the beer off of it, and you're freaking rolling.
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A
Somebody's walking in the door, you're bouncing it on them.
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B
It's just everything's going in. God, I'm the man. That's got to be insane on the NBA court.
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C
What's a good feeling on bear pong?
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A
Oh, man. What would be the equivalent in the NFL to 71 points? I'm asking both of you guys that. What do you think it would be? I mean, the Randy Moss.
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C
It's got to be the touchdown record.
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B
No, I would say either touchdown Russian. Russian yards in a game or touchdown. I think if you. If you get over like like 2:30 on the ground in a game, I feel like that's a. That's a milestone.
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A
I think Randy had like three catches for over like 100 or like 200 yards or something like that. Didn't he have that? Like, it was like three touchdowns, three catches for like 180 yards. It was something stupid like that.
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C
What about the touchdown record for quarterback? Like, what if the. Like seven touchdown Nick Foles.
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A
I knew that whole game.
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B
He had six in a game. We installed a brand new, like set of passing plays with Chip Kelly's offense and the Raiders had no idea what we were doing. Deshawn Jackson's running all over the place. It was unbelievable. It was so fun.
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C
Yeah, I feel like that's definitely rushing. Rushing yards for sure.
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B
What's the single game rushing record? I don't even know.
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A
I think I saw Jamal Lewis break it as a Cleveland Brown.
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C
Really?
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A
I think Jamal Lewis. I think it went for like three.
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B
It might have got broken since then, but Travis is right. When Jamal was in Cleveland, I think he did said it. This is why we pay these guys.
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A
Adrian Peterson.
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B
296.
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A
No way. That is not it.
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B
One game. That's amazing.
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A
We mentioned you went to Louisville at the same time as Lamar Jackson. You guys were like the football and basketball, like icons at that point in. In college sports. How was it? Did you guys. Did you always go to the football games when you could? I mean, seeing that man live in college was probably unreal. Real, right?
- [21:31]
C
It was crazy because like you watched the progression. You Know, like he came in, he backed somebody up. Freshman year. Yeah, no, excuse me. He was third string, I think. Shout out to Reggie. He's at Louisville now. Reggie Bonafon, he was there. He got hurt, then the backup to him got hurt. And then he played through an interception. Didn't look like running around. Didn't really look, you know, like he had it all together, trying to figure it out, you know, freshman year, like, you know, try to figure it out. Yeah. And then that next season, man, it was just like, I don't know what clicked, but you see it now on the field. Like he's, he's, he's a pro. He goes about it like, you know, he's proven his throwing, he's making his reads, you know, different things. He's. When to run, when to pass. And I don't know if it was that year he won the Ivan or the year after. You just watching, like, what do you call, like, Showtime, Lakers. You just watching Showtime. You watch, right? Well, when Florida stayed out by 40, like, you know what I'm saying? Jumping over people against Syracuse. But yeah, it was his. It was his school. Like, it wasn't like, Louisville's a basketball town.
- [22:31]
A
Oh, yeah.
- [22:31]
C
But those years, it was like it was him. Like, even though Christina was there, we was doing. It was him. Like, it was. It was one of the craziest things I ever seen. Everybody was hyped. Every. Every game. Every game was lit like it was. To see what he's doing now, I'm not shocked. Like, you know what I mean? You just saw it. And then we used to hoop, too. That's why people don't know we used to hoop.
- [22:49]
A
He could hoop a little.
- [22:50]
C
He's nice. Like, he got bounce and he could really. He could really hoop.
- [22:53]
B
So.
- [22:54]
C
Okay. It was crazy. We would have done contests and different things, and he was definitely one of the most athletic guys I've ever seen.
- [23:03]
B
What's he doing? Dunk contest. He going in between the legs.
- [23:06]
C
360, a few windmills. We have some guys on that team, too, who, who made the league. I don't know if you know John Granard, who's on the Texans. Oh, yeah, absolutely. He was on that team. I'm missing names, but there's a bunch of guys. We had a talented team, we had a talented group, but. But yeah, he was obviously, you know, the lead for sure.
- [23:26]
B
He's another level man. I still even. I tell this story a lot. You know, we're in a tag off period in a practice and he gives A juke move to a linebacker makes this dude fall down. Not even trying to tackle him, just trying to touch him. Like they're playing tag, basically. And my man falling all over the place. Both sidelines, like, that's how you know when you're good. You're at a joint practice and both sidelines are like that.
- [23:49]
A
Oh, he's got that. He's got both teams going.
- [23:54]
C
Oh, yeah, He. He's different. I could. I've always wanted. I saw him play when he played out here. Cleveland fans did not like that I wore his jersey. Didn't realize that that was a personal connection. Didn't realize that that was a big thing. But they. They got it. But he's watching him play live, and obviously y'all play against him, but, yeah, you know, I was pissed when y'all beat him, Trav. I ain't gonna lie to you, man.
- [24:17]
A
That dude. That dude is a stud, man. It takes. It takes all 11 on the field to tackle that man or try and stop that guy. He's there, and every time we play him, it's always an instant classic. It's always. Literally, he don't. He's doing something crazy. Every single game we played him. And we've gone back and forth, man. That was the ACC at that point, right? You guys were in the acc?
- [24:39]
C
Yeah, we're still.
- [24:40]
B
Still.
- [24:40]
A
When we. When me and Jason were in college, Louisville was still in the Big East. So I wasn't sure if you.
- [24:47]
C
Yeah, yeah.
- [24:48]
A
Back in the day, back when the Big East, Madison Square Garden, especially for.
- [24:53]
B
Basketball, man, it was never a conference, but that basketball conference was so awesome.
- [24:57]
C
That basketball, like the Syracuse, y'all, Louisville, Georgetown.
- [25:03]
B
Did you ever go to the Big east tourney up in New York?
- [25:06]
C
I've went to. I want to say, one time, maybe. Maybe one time, but that was. That was really it.
- [25:11]
B
Who was your team growing up?
- [25:12]
A
I was gonna say, yeah, once you. Once you knew basketball was your Carolina.
- [25:18]
C
When I. When I was getting even before that, like Michael Jordan, Carolina, I was. Until I committed to Louisville.
- [25:25]
A
Yeah.
- [25:25]
C
I was waiting until I got an offer. I was putting schools to the side. I was like, no, if I get an offer from Carolina, I'm going. I don't care if I sit. I don't care if I play. I don't care if I walk on. I'm going to Carolina. This is what I'm doing. And then I visited Louisville, and I was like, well, fuck all that. But, no, that was. Carolina was the school.
- [25:50]
A
It's funny, we had the same Dream man. Except for I only got an offer from the Mac in basketball. Shout out to the Mac, though. Maxing all day.
- [25:58]
C
That's not. That two, two sport athlete.
- [26:00]
A
There you go.
- [26:01]
B
Well, he could have played at Cincinnati if you wouldn't have got hurt. That was kind of in the running.
- [26:07]
A
There was. I think there was a lot of stuff that was. That was. I don't know, needed to get ironed out for me to play on the basketball team. One was me going to class. I had to actually go to class if I wanted to play on the basketball team.
- [26:17]
B
Didn't West Virginia come in late, too, with Bob Huggins?
- [26:21]
A
I listen, the Hugs. Hugs came in. There was a chance for me to be on the team and then earn a scholarship, I think. Right. But that whole situation was weird because Hugs had just got there and all that is. Whatever. But that's cool, though, man. So do you never. You never got the call from Carolina?
- [26:35]
C
Never got the call.
- [26:36]
A
They're kicking himself.
- [26:37]
C
Coolest thing. The coolest thing that I. In college, we played at Carolina. We lost. I had one of my career highs at the moment, at that time, and Roy Williams said, man, I made a mistake in the handshake line.
- [26:50]
A
That's respect.
- [26:51]
C
I'm telling me that. I was like, you know what? That was probably, at that time, that was the coolest thing to me. I didn't really care. I was like, all right. Like, I may not be there, but, like, I got the respect.
- [27:01]
A
That's awesome.
- [27:02]
C
You got the respect. And he told me that, and I was like, all right.
- [27:04]
B
Like, hell, yeah.
- [27:05]
C
You know, especially for, like, you know, you want to go somewhere. You hear that? That's. That's the ultimate. That's the ultimate respect.
- [27:10]
B
We were talking a little bit about Cleveland being upset with you for wearing the Lamar jersey. We got to talk a little bit about you attending the decision in person.
- [27:19]
A
How about that?
- [27:20]
B
The most controversial, crazy thing in Cleveland history, to be honest with you.
- [27:24]
A
No, I remember when this happened.
- [27:28]
B
Forgiven. It's all been forgiven. But at the time, it was insane.
- [27:32]
C
Yeah, so I went to. I lived in New York. I went to school in Greenwich, Connecticut, and everybody was just like, yo, like, Bron's doing the decision at the Boys and Girls Club. I'm like, here, like, why. Why is he like. You know what I mean? Didn't believe it. And then this time, I'm a. I'm a Knick fan, but, like, I love Bron, but I'm a Knick fan. Like, if I had to choose a team, I'm A Knick fan.
- [27:56]
A
New York was in the running for it, right?
- [27:58]
C
So at that time, yeah, they were in the running. I'm like, mom, it was like one of those things, you know, you get dropped up at the mall to hang out with friends. You get like, ma, you got to drop me off here.
- [28:07]
A
I'm going.
- [28:08]
C
So we go. There is. I don't. Maybe drag. Maybe dramatic. When I say there's probably, like, a 2,000 people outside at this place, that's crazy. No idea where he's coming in from. And I never forget, we see a car come down the hill. It's like a regular car, like a white Nissan. Like, he tried to blend in smart in the back. I wasn't inside. People think I was inside. People try to point out that I was one of the kids. That wasn't me. I wasn't inside. I was outside. And when he said I was probably the only person that wanted him to go to Miami, in the crowd. In the crowd, I was like, probably the only person. Everybody else is Nick fans.
- [28:48]
B
Okay, gotcha. Okay.
- [28:49]
C
So I'm like, all right. Like, I would Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh. I'm hyped. So once he decides it, it was like a riot. Like, I tell you the level. It was not safe for any children to be outside pouring bottles.
- [29:04]
A
You're gonna do this in the New York Boys Girls Club and say you're.
- [29:09]
C
Going down south, right? Like, that was I. I was in danger. Like, I was like, all right, I need to figure out how to get out of here, because people are really pissed off. Like, people are, like, trying to get to the. Get to where he entered from and all that. But I'm hype. I'm screaming, like, Miami. Like, yeah, you know, all those different things. But it was cool, man. It was. It was a cool experience. Full circle moment. I'm here now. Like, you know what I mean? Like, it's. It's one of those life moments that it's just like. Like, you can't script these things. You know what I'm saying? And I hope Cleveland fans are okay with me saying I want him to go to Miami.
- [29:40]
A
I did.
- [29:41]
C
I'm sorry. But, you know, it was. It's. It's one of those things, man. It's just really cool to really be here now and, you know, kind of do our own legacy in that regard as well. I think it's pretty dope.
- [29:52]
A
And you're doing it, man.
- [29:52]
B
You know, Cleveland, at the time, it was crazy. I mean, it was another level of, like, People mad and, like, hatred.
- [30:01]
C
Yeah.
- [30:01]
B
But it. Like Trav said, it's all been, you know, water under the bridge at this point. He ended up coming back. It ended up being awesome for LeBron's career. Like, what ended up transpiring ended up being great for everybody involved. Cleveland still got their championship, except for the Knicks.
- [30:16]
A
The Knicks didn't get the.
- [30:17]
B
That's right. The Knicks definitely lost out big time.
- [30:20]
A
Now a moment brought to you by American Express.
- [30:23]
B
Trav, what's your restaurant vibe?
- [30:26]
A
What's my restaurant vibe? I like, you know, I like a good steakhouse. I do. I like a steakhouse or, like. Like a. A burger diner.
- [30:33]
B
I mean, I am in on burger places.
- [30:35]
A
Yeah.
- [30:36]
B
Burger diners.
- [30:37]
A
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- [30:45]
B
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A
Ooh. That's the powerful backing of American Express.
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B
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- [31:05]
A
Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate first.
- [31:11]
B
Like, you know to check your gas tank before heading to your. Your morning commute.
- [31:16]
A
Yeah, like, you know to check if you have your keys first before shutting your front door.
- [31:21]
B
Like, you know to check if you've saved a big project first before closing your laptop.
- [31:26]
A
Like, you know, to check if you packed your running shoes first before heading to the gym. I don't get you.
- [31:32]
B
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- [31:36]
A
You're in good hands with Allstate Savings. Vary though subject in terms conditions and availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty insurance companies and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. Let's talk a little bit of Cleveland, baby. What was your. What was your first impression of the land, man? Did you know anything about Cleveland before coming to it?
- [31:57]
C
Not a damn thing. That'll be honest. I never left the hotel. But that's me in general. I don't leave the hotel. So all I saw from that Ritz was what's the area where they're building a new practice facility now?
- [32:10]
A
Oh, the water. Yeah, right there on this.
- [32:12]
C
All that. Not the water. It's where all the con. What is it?
- [32:16]
B
Tower City, right?
- [32:17]
C
Yeah. Yeah.
- [32:18]
A
Oh, you're just talking about. Yeah, Tower City and everything. I'll tell you what. Tower City can. It could be A city.
- [32:24]
C
Exactly. So, like, that's all. I saw something. Okay, that's. That's. That's what they got. And then they got the Guardians and the Browns and, you know, that's it.
- [32:30]
B
Yeah.
- [32:30]
C
Then, man, when I got here, I. I moved to the west side and just being around, like, the energy that is in this place, for real, like, the people, they're cool. They leave. They rock with you. They leave you alone. Like, they let you be. There's so much more here than I thought, to be honest. Like, from the food standpoint, Playhouse Square is dope. I'm. I don't want to give away all locations I'll be going to, but, like, the beach football is probably fire. I'll be there a bunch.
- [33:00]
B
Right there. You're coming over to the east side?
- [33:01]
A
Oh, yeah.
- [33:02]
B
All right. Yeah.
- [33:03]
C
I take the long drive over there. Please don't come follow me over there. On random Tuesday, my hoodie up. Then I go to a lot of. I actually, I go to a lot of, like, high school games. Like. Like try to, you know, show love and community in that regard, I think is cool. But, you know, I don't really, you know, I don't be outside. I don't really do too much. I'm really just a homebody. And, you know, for me, this place is this perfect for me.
- [33:23]
A
You said Playhouse Square. You going up there seeing some ballets or some plays.
- [33:27]
C
Yeah. So now it was. I went to see Alicia Keys's show. Oh, nice, nice. In New York. So then I ended up, you know, we ended up doing something to get together again here in Cleveland. And then we have. We have team events there and whatnot. And just seeing it all lit up at night, it was. Is. Is. Is. Is pretty fun.
- [33:45]
A
It's magical.
- [33:46]
C
Man, the food scene is really good. I. I really enjoy eating downtown. I've got a few spots I gotta shout out to my. My favorite spot. I can't eat there much. I gotta stay in shape. It's Zanzibar.
- [33:57]
B
Oh, yeah, Zanzibar. I gotta check this out.
- [34:00]
C
Right by the arena.
- [34:00]
A
Yeah, right.
- [34:01]
B
Bye. Like what, six or.
- [34:04]
C
See, now you get. I don't know the streets.
- [34:06]
A
Jason doesn't know either. I don't know.
- [34:08]
B
Don't let me with you. I was in Cleveland High all growing up. I barely ever went downtown.
- [34:13]
A
Exactly. Why do you think Cleveland gets a bad rep?
- [34:15]
C
I think because people only go downtown and they see. They see what I saw, which was not Tower City. I'm thinking of all the construction area. I don't know, the Mining. I don't know what it's called.
- [34:25]
A
I know what you're talking about. Like, the outside of it.
- [34:27]
C
Yeah, right there. So they see that and they think that that just represents the entire city of Cleveland, which is not the case. And it also is cold. And some people just don't like the cold. I like the cold.
- [34:36]
A
There we go.
- [34:36]
C
I prefer it to be cold, you know what I mean?
- [34:38]
A
And I'm right there with you, man.
- [34:39]
B
I think you hit the nail on the head. Like, Cleveland isn't like a big downtown city. It's just not like a lot of the. A lot of what happens happens on, like, the outskirts. And unless you know where you're going, it's hard to kind of like, it doesn't have like that thriving area. Like a lot of other places do that. Like tourists, like, but once you know people and like, you know spots, like, it's great people. It's very community driven. There's like a personal connection that the city has that I think think is charming. It's just hard for tourists to feel that you pretty much are saying that.
- [35:12]
C
Exact same thing they make you feel. You feel the love, too. That's my thing. Like, you feel the genuine love. Like, it's especially from the. And you feel it in the arena, but that's natural anywhere you play. You feel the energy in the arena, but when you leave, you feel like. Like you're one of them. Like, you know, you feel like, you know, you feel that. And I think that's something that is really underrated, especially in our. In our profession, because, you know, we're professionals. Like, this is business. Like, you're not college. This isn't high school. Like, you know what I'm saying? But, like, the love you feel feel from the community is top tier. You know what I mean? I think it's something that really drove me to stay. I keep telling people that, and people didn't believe me until I resigned, man. I kept trying to tell everybody because.
- [35:49]
A
You just don't see that out of. Out of all the superstars, man.
- [35:53]
C
And.
- [35:53]
A
And as a Cleveland kid myself, man. Thank you for coming back again, bro. Yes, sir. The tourist destinations, though. Have you been to the Rock and Roll hall of Fame?
- [36:01]
C
You know what's crazy? I've never been. And I've drive by a lot. I've never been.
- [36:06]
A
You have more fun. Yeah. I'll tell you, it's fun to go to, man. It is. It is shocking. It's all the. All the. All the memorabilia they have in there, all the experiences. That's. It's pretty dope.
- [36:15]
B
That one's good. The science museum's good.
- [36:18]
A
Oh, that was.
- [36:19]
B
That was.
- [36:20]
A
I'm a nerd, so I love that type of. It's right next door. It's right next door. Yeah, it's right next door. It's in between the football stadium and the rock and roll.
- [36:30]
C
Oh, so that's that gray building. That's like. They got the little. Okay, I know you're talking about. Okay, I didn't know.
- [36:34]
A
Yeah, that's. It's right there. I used to go there. Used to sign up every year for that field trip, baby.
- [36:40]
B
Have you been Cedar Point or. I guess now it's Six Flags, right?
- [36:44]
C
I gotta go. I really want to do that. I really want to do.
- [36:49]
A
Cedar Point's the best in the world, man. I'm telling you, you gotta do it.
- [36:53]
C
I got it. That's the one I really. I really got to do.
- [36:55]
B
But also, roller coasters.
- [36:56]
C
No, but I got it. I'm afraid. I'm afraid. I'm afraid. But I'll do it because I really want to go. And everybody keeps talking about it. Everybody. But, like. Like, I. I'm afraid. I'm afraid of fl, let alone roller coaster.
- [37:10]
B
We got to get you a Millennium Forest.
- [37:12]
A
We go on Millennium Force. He said, I'm afraid.
- [37:16]
B
I can't wait to sit next year on Millennial Forest. We're going.
- [37:18]
C
I can't do it. I'm telling you, I'll go. I'll observe, and I'll just go, you know, be supportive to my plans.
- [37:24]
B
Wherever I go, I'll be chilling on the bench with the dipping dots.
- [37:27]
C
Exactly. Exactly what I've been doing. Exactly.
- [37:30]
A
So when we were growing up, there were the Cleveland Rockets. There was a WNBA team in Cleveland. You said you would love to see the WNBA team return to Cleveland. Have you heard any updates about this? Any murmurs throughout the. The facilities or anything like that? Can you give us a little insight? If we could actually get a WNBA.
- [37:49]
C
Team back in Cleveland, I won't give too much. I've heard, you know, different things, but I won't say what I've heard. You know what I mean? Obviously no more than probably what you guys have heard, to be honest.
- [38:00]
A
Yeah.
- [38:00]
C
Yeah. But, you know, I think it'd be dope. You know, I mean, I. I love just to watch the W in general. First of all, they're in a phenomenal place, and they're only going to continue to get bigger and bigger and better. I think Cleveland is the perfect place for it. Just like I said, everything I just said to you about the community, the vibe, the support, the love.
- [38:19]
A
Oh, yeah.
- [38:19]
C
You know, I think this is, you know, a perfect place for it. And on top of that, the season's in the summer. I mean, this is. Yeah, this in the summer, man, is thrive elite. Like, we need more teams in the league for sure. And, you know, Cleveland's the perfect place.
- [38:32]
A
I'm with you on that. All right, you want to get to some blind rankings?
- [38:36]
C
Blind rankings. Let's do it. Let's do it.
- [38:38]
A
Let's do it, man. Something we like to do on this show is something called blind rankings. We show you 10 things, and we rank them 1 to 10 without knowing what's coming next. I'm sure you've played before. Do we want to do dunk contests, or do we want to do NBA throwback jerseys? I'll let you pick.
- [38:53]
C
We do throwback jerseys.
- [38:54]
A
Throwback jerseys. All right, let's do some throwback jerseys.
- [38:56]
B
We're doing blind ranking 1 to 10.
- [38:58]
A
Hit us with the first one, Brandon.
- [39:00]
B
Oh, Orlando Magic from the Penny Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal era. These jerseys are awesome.
- [39:06]
A
Classics.
- [39:07]
C
I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go classics. And I'm gonna go 10, though. I'm not gonna lie.
- [39:11]
A
You're gonna go 10. The pinstripe.
- [39:13]
B
I do think there's gonna be a lot above this.
- [39:15]
C
I do agree. That's why I'm gonna go 10. Because I don't want to put. Yeah, I feel like this is 10.
- [39:19]
A
I'll ask you this. What do you think's better? The all black ones are like the Tracy McGrady blue.
- [39:23]
C
The ones with the little blue. Little blue is hard. The short still needs to go crazier than the top.
- [39:28]
A
I'm star side.
- [39:30]
C
Yeah. The shorts go crazy in the top.
- [39:32]
A
All right, starting off with.
- [39:34]
B
Oh, the Miami Heat Retro.
- [39:36]
A
That's clean. It's just a clean jersey.
- [39:39]
C
Let's see. Here's the thing. The problem with some.
- [39:41]
B
Not one of my favorites.
- [39:43]
C
The bottoms are better than the top. That's that, you know.
- [39:45]
A
No, we're doing the whole. It's a whole outfit. We're ranking. We'll definitely rank the whole house.
- [39:49]
C
I'm going to go nine, man.
- [39:51]
B
We are.
- [39:51]
A
We're. We're hoping right now that we get.
- [39:55]
B
Please. We're going more throwback than I thought maybe here. Okay, let's go. What do we got next, Brandon?
- [40:01]
C
Yeah, now we're talking to me as top three. Easy, man.
- [40:07]
A
I'm trying to think what? Oh, man. With the mountains in the background again. The shorts are shorts.
- [40:12]
C
The shorts are elite. The shorts are elite.
- [40:14]
A
Utah jazz from the 90s. And the thing is, if it's a 90s jersey, I'm probably going to be biased towards that jersey for whatever reason, man. I just.
- [40:23]
B
Well, 90s had some good color schemes. And the only thing I don't like about this is that Jazz has nothing to do with mountains. When I think of Jazz, I don't think of mountains. I think in New Orleans or something like that. I don't think about it.
- [40:35]
A
I don't know. Have you ever listened to this? To some Jazz up in the Rockies?
- [40:39]
C
I have not.
- [40:40]
B
I have not.
- [40:40]
A
There you go.
- [40:41]
B
But. But these are dope. I love this color scheme.
- [40:43]
A
Do you want to throw it at three? Let's go two. I'm with it. I'm with it. That's a solid two, right?
- [40:51]
B
These ones. Hey, these Raptors. Oh, my gosh.
- [40:54]
A
They're good, man. That's a good one, dog. Does it get better than that?
- [40:57]
B
This one might be one of my all time favorite hats.
- [40:59]
C
I'm hoping the Grizzly jersey I'm thinking of is the one.
- [41:03]
A
All right, so we want to go three with this one because these Raptor jerseys were.
- [41:07]
C
I go three.
- [41:08]
A
Unbelievable, man.
- [41:09]
C
Three should be two, I hear.
- [41:12]
B
Do we want to switch them? I guess we can't.
- [41:17]
A
It.
- [41:17]
C
All right.
- [41:18]
B
Philadelphia Sixers, Iverson era.
- [41:20]
A
Not. I don't think it's even their. Their best jersey, but I don't think so either.
- [41:24]
C
I'm gonna go seven.
- [41:25]
A
Yeah, I'll go seven.
- [41:26]
C
Era.
- [41:27]
A
I'll go.
- [41:27]
B
Just because it was. AI.
- [41:29]
C
Honestly, is really. Because he's wearing the jersey, to be honest.
- [41:31]
A
No doubt that number three with his name.
- [41:34]
B
Anybody else in that jersey is like, that's one of the weakest jerseys I've seen.
- [41:37]
C
It's the same kid.
- [41:39]
A
Oh, a throwback Nets jersey right there.
- [41:43]
B
So is this.
- [41:44]
A
Is this Dr. J?
- [41:45]
B
Which nets is this?
- [41:46]
A
That's a great question.
- [41:47]
B
So now it's obviously Brooklyn.
- [41:49]
C
Is this aba. Aba.
- [41:51]
B
Aba. Okay. These are really cool.
- [41:53]
C
That's new Jersey. Still.
- [41:54]
B
Is that still jersey?
- [41:55]
A
That's a good question. I wouldn't even.
- [41:57]
C
That is jersey. That is jersey. I'm gonna go. We got 10, nine, eight. I'm gonna go five. I really like these. I like the red, white, and blue. So I'm gonna go five.
- [42:06]
B
There's something nice about it being clean. The colors worked well. The design is. Is unique. I like it.
- [42:13]
A
And on top of that, it's Dr. J, baby.
- [42:15]
C
As I said, it's about the person who wearing it. You know what I mean?
- [42:18]
B
That afro gives it at least two bump.
- [42:21]
C
What?
- [42:21]
B
I mean.
- [42:23]
A
The thing was aerodynamic, man. This was crazy.
- [42:27]
B
All right, here we go.
- [42:29]
A
And my dog Ron Harper in the building.
- [42:31]
B
Cavaliers throw back.
- [42:33]
C
I'mma go. The socks are crazy.
- [42:35]
A
The socks into the. Are those the Reebok pumps, bro?
- [42:38]
B
Those socks?
- [42:39]
A
No, no, no. Those are nice. Those are nice.
- [42:41]
B
They look like the Jazz are sizing socks.
- [42:44]
A
One guy Hartford like that, man.
- [42:47]
C
The socks are crazy. I'm gonna go. I'm gonna. I don't know any other jersey besides. I'm gonna go four. I'm gonna go four here.
- [42:56]
A
Keep it up there. Yeah. I actually think I have the Brad Daugherty version of this jersey.
- [43:01]
B
You do? For sure.
- [43:02]
C
I don't even think these are the best ones, to be honest.
- [43:03]
A
Oh, no. My favorite ones are like the Sean Kemp and. And Bobby Sura era.
- [43:08]
B
The black and blue is. Is the best Cavs jersey in my opinion.
- [43:12]
A
The paint splash.
- [43:15]
C
With the little. The paint.
- [43:17]
A
The paint, like swipe. Like the paintbrush, like, deal. Yeah, the splash jersey is what they call it, I believe.
- [43:23]
C
No, the. The main color is yellow or whatever. Yellow or maroon.
- [43:28]
B
Oh, yeah, like that.
- [43:32]
C
Yeah.
- [43:32]
A
We're talking about a completely different jersey. Those are fire, too. I'll tell you. I think those are the Austin car joints.
- [43:37]
C
Yeah, acj, too. They got it on right here. Up top. Yeah, they got them. They got on up top. They got it on top of the classics. If you haven't noticed, we got the Cleveland wall back.
- [43:48]
A
Oh, yeah. Yeah, baby. Get some history right there, man.
- [43:51]
B
All right, so we got Cavs at 4. What are we going with next? Oh, the Detroit Pistons. These ones are actually freaking sneaky.
- [44:00]
A
I actually have this jersey myself. I love this jersey, man. This thing is fire. Old school Pistons.
- [44:05]
C
That should have been. Sorry. I'm sorry. That should have been four. I'm sorry.
- [44:10]
A
I think everybody tell you that regardless. Yeah, we got to go six if.
- [44:14]
B
It'S a bad Memphis jersey still back.
- [44:17]
A
It's not. Memphis isn't even going to be in here, man.
- [44:21]
B
Oh, dude, you can't not put that jersey in here.
- [44:25]
A
I don't think it's up to us. I don't think it's up to.
- [44:29]
B
I forgot about these.
- [44:30]
A
Ah, the Wolves.
- [44:32]
C
What numbers do we have left?
- [44:34]
A
Eight and one.
- [44:35]
B
It's not good. It's not good. It's going to be way lower than it should be. These Timberwolves jerseys were sick.
- [44:40]
C
So we go eight.
- [44:41]
A
We Got to go eight in hopes that. Come on, man. Don't disappoint us, bro.
- [44:45]
B
It's going to be like a Bulls jersey or something. Don't disappoint us.
- [44:55]
A
Again with the shorts, though. The 90s shorts.
- [44:57]
C
That's what I'm saying. A lot of these jerseys are hard, but the shorts be like the shorts I still wear to this day. Like, you know what I mean?
- [45:04]
A
And get the old school short.
- [45:05]
B
What is it about these jerseys that just like go like. It makes it so awesome. Like, everybody loves this jersey. Is it the color? Is it the way the Grizzlies is written out? Is it the Bear?
- [45:16]
A
The outline, the pattern, the outline of the jersey? The.
- [45:20]
C
The way Grizzlies is typed. The Vancouver small. You got the Grizzly. The big ass Grizzly on the.
- [45:24]
A
Looks like it's coming out of the 3D. Shout out to Mike Bibby, child.
- [45:28]
B
There we go.
- [45:29]
A
We did it. That was a solid one.
- [45:31]
B
I'm not that mad about bad.
- [45:32]
C
Not bad.
- [45:33]
A
You know, move around a few of them. But overall we. We got it done. All right, let's get to. Our last segment here is called we gotta ask. That is we always end our segments with we gotta ask. But you don't have to answer. So you can either answer or tell us to off Donovan. We'll just roll through a few of these. Does a. What does it. Oh, Jason. Yeah. This is so silly. Hey, do we all. We. We've been back and forth on this. Does a basketball hoop have one hole or two holes?
- [46:06]
C
One.
- [46:07]
B
Yeah. That's the correct answer, right?
- [46:09]
C
Yeah, one.
- [46:09]
A
What about the net at the bottom?
- [46:11]
B
It goes in the top hole and out the bottom hole. I yeah, I see what people are doing. I see what people are doing.
- [46:18]
A
That was.
- [46:19]
B
What about a straw? What about a straw? Does a straw.
- [46:21]
C
You me up with that one. Now I'm sitting here like, nah, because it's warm.
- [46:28]
B
It's one continuous hole. So does the straw have one hole or two holes?
- [46:34]
C
See, this is. This is a debate again.
- [46:38]
A
You can tell us the off too.
- [46:39]
C
I'm the two guy.
- [46:40]
A
There you go.
- [46:40]
B
I'm a true guy too. There we go.
- [46:42]
C
I think it's two. I don't think it's one. I don't think it's.
- [46:44]
B
My mouth goes on. And the hole that goes in the liquid.
- [46:47]
C
Exactly. I'm the two guy for sure.
- [46:49]
B
It's lamb dug contest. What are your thoughts on it now?
- [46:51]
C
I think it's tough because a lot of the dunks that we. We have social media, it's like, you see it all. And then on top of that, the best dunkers in the world aren't NBA players.
- [47:06]
B
It's the reality of it.
- [47:07]
C
They're not. So they make their own videos, their own content that we see, and we're like, oh, that's crazy. But then, you know, it's hard for us to replicate that because they're professional dunkers. Like, you know what I'm saying?
- [47:18]
B
Like, they do.
- [47:19]
C
Exactly. And I know a bunch of the guys who are professional dunkers and they try to teach guys, but people understand, like, guys don't have time to work on these things. Like, for real. Like, we. When I. When I won, I only had two weeks. You know what I mean? Like, you know, I mean, and then the last dunk that I did to win, I did. I hadn't made that dunk since high school. So I was just playing the guys that it went in, like, you know what I'm saying? So I think it's tough. I think it gets a bad rap because people are, like, expecting something crazy. But it's like, we, we live in an era now where you can see the craziest dunk by whoever I plugged, like J. Brown for trying continue to go out there and do their thing. I won't personally be out there again, to be honest.
- [47:57]
A
You won it. You did it.
- [47:58]
C
Undefeated.
- [47:59]
A
There you go.
- [48:00]
B
There you go.
- [48:01]
A
I guess that's right. Like, if you would have saw Jordan jump from the free throw line on social media before he did it, like, it wouldn't have been as exciting.
- [48:10]
C
Exactly. What. And you. Are you also seeing. Seeing, like people you don't know. So to people, they're like, oh, these. If so and so random person can do it. John Moran should definitely be able to do it. Like Zion Williamson. She doesn't. You know what I mean? It's just not. It's not. Not a fair. That's why I don't think guys do it, because it's not necessarily a fair. A fair shake, to be honest.
- [48:31]
B
There's guys that. All they do is work on Duncan and different ways to make that. And that's just not what everybody in the NBA has time for. So what. What's a way that they could. The NBA can, I guess, make the All Star Game and all this stuff? Because that's really. The dunk contest was what everybody got.
- [48:46]
A
Ready for growing up.
- [48:47]
B
You already know that's all anybody cared about. The All Star Game was. Was fun, but people really wanted to watch the dunk contest. So what can The NBA do to make it exciting again to get the fans engaged.
- [48:59]
A
It's a tough question.
- [49:00]
C
I think that's tough. I feel like. I mean, I'm a fan of Duncan. I've been a fan my whole high school career. So, like, maybe you get professional dunkers to come in and do some things that people haven't seen. I don't know. Know, like, we.
- [49:11]
B
You can elevate those individuals.
- [49:13]
C
You elevate those. Like, we had a guy come in during halftime, one of our games, and do it right. Like, we. We. He was between the legs, dunking it like this way, like, behind, like, stuff that is just crazy. But, like. You know what I mean? But people haven't seen, I think. I don't know. I don't. Especially for the dunk contest. I don't know.
- [49:28]
A
What do you think about. What do you think about slam ball? You get some trampolines in there.
- [49:32]
B
Oh, dude, somebody's gonna get hurt. You can't be on. People do that.
- [49:36]
C
I don't even think the owners of GMs. Nobody, nobody go for that one.
- [49:40]
B
What do you think about, though, what the NHL did where they had, like, the Four nations tournament this year instead of the. And I like, there's like. Because how do everybody gets hyped up for USA Basketball, right? So all of a sudden you got USA Basketball, maybe even just versus the world. Maybe it's like all the foreign players combined on one team, USA on another team. And then there's like an actual competitive reason because you're playing for your countries. That might be exciting right there.
- [50:05]
C
I think so. I think that the NHL data really. I watched it. That was. That was really dope, that what they did. I think that's something that could definitely, you know, elevate it for sure. We did that in the Rising Stars game my first two years. It was USA Verse world, you know, like I said, it's. It's. It's tough, man. It's. It's. There's so much that goes on throughout the. Throughout the Sunday that, like, to get to the game, it's just like, oh, we made it. Like, we made it there. Like, there's like, you know. You know how it goes. Like, there's always. There's always different things you standing around. So, like. Like, man, guys don't want to get hurt. And then guys. Some guys do. Some guys get to work on it because they're able to. Some guys don't have appearances as long as others. It's so much. But I think if you do The USA versus World. It definitely bring up the intensity for sure.
- [50:50]
B
You could even do it where, like, you could still do the slam dunk contest, but now it's not like, you know, Donovan Mitchell competing for himself in the slam dunk contest. He's trying to get points for Team USA's overall total.
- [51:02]
C
Oh, you're saying the whole weekend he's.
- [51:06]
A
On his own wavelength right now? He's on his own wavelength right now.
- [51:10]
B
That'd be fun. Like, I don't slam dunk, but I want to watch USA beat the rest of the world. Slam dunk contest.
- [51:18]
A
I'll ask you this, though. Who. Who is the one guy in the NBA that you would love to see in the dunk contest?
- [51:25]
C
Zach lavine.
- [51:26]
A
Oh, all over again.
- [51:27]
C
Yeah.
- [51:27]
A
You already know right away, watching him. I mean, he's the previous champion.
- [51:31]
C
I got, like, five. Zach Zion.
- [51:35]
A
Zion would be crazy. See, that's the thing. I mean, I want. I don't want to say back in the day, it used to be different, but, I mean, those, like, the superstars of the league definitely were in the dunk contest. Not to say that you're not, because you still got Jalen Brown and you still got guys, you know, with very familiar and, you know, contributing a lot. But it's like, I'm with you. I'm with you. Seeing the guys like that, Anthony Edwards, guys like that just go in there and do something crazy or just do a regular windmill but jump out the gym doing it.
- [52:04]
B
Have they ever done horse at the All Star game? Want to see?
- [52:07]
C
They did it during Company.
- [52:08]
B
There we go.
- [52:10]
C
During co. They did that. You know what? I think this will never happen. Ever happen. But I think we should get guys to line up and try to dunk and guys to try to block the shot.
- [52:20]
A
Slam ball, one on ones.
- [52:21]
C
Let's go. I'm talking about just straight up. Straight up. It'll never happen. It'll never happen.
- [52:28]
B
I am so into this. We got to get it to go. How do we get this?
- [52:31]
A
I'm taking Jay Allen all day.
- [52:33]
C
I told Jay Allen would dunk the. Out of him. I'm sorry. See my language.
- [52:39]
A
Who bleeped that out for you?
- [52:40]
C
I told. I told. I told J. A. We had a discussion about this in the locker room. Actually. Yeah, it was me, F. DG Karis. We were all talking. It was before I dunked on Porzingis the day before. They were like, you don't more. And I'm like, look, y'all, I promise you, if I saw y'all down There I would dunk, and they were like, we gonna see. And then we saw against. I dunked on Porzingis, and that's why you saw me look at the bench and go talking to both of them. I make the jokes with Ev all the time. I get defensive player of the year. Rah, rah, all that. I would. I would dunk. I would dunk.
- [53:17]
B
How hard is it to dunk on somebody, though, when they know it's coming and they got, like, that much space?
- [53:22]
A
You're talking to a guy that's never dunked in his life, so you gotta fe.
- [53:27]
B
I've dump. Dumped a female basketball before. I've got that because I can pull with female basketball. I can't palm the.
- [53:35]
C
The. I didn't know you can get up that high. Forget the palmet.
- [53:38]
B
I didn't know Travis knows I get up high enough. I just don't have the form down. I cannot. I'm gonna. I'm gonna dunk. I'm gonna do this the way to do it.
- [53:47]
C
When you know, a guy, like, for me, like, I always go at the guy's body because I'm strong.
- [53:51]
A
Sure.
- [53:52]
C
So if I can. If I can eliminate, like, you going like this.
- [53:55]
B
Yeah.
- [53:55]
C
Take body away. I'm fine once I get, like, up here. So, like, with j. A and Ev, I would just try to go at them. I mean, it sounds really easy. Like I said, it sounds. I'm making this sound.
- [54:05]
B
Very sure it's easy for you, but.
- [54:06]
C
Like, you know, when a lot of guys have tried to dunk, both of them, a lot of guys have failed. I feel like I'd be one of the few successful people. We'll never see it, you know, I mean, because I'm not gonna try to practice, but, like, you know, I promise at some point, maybe during training camp, I'll try it.
- [54:23]
A
It's out there.
- [54:24]
B
We got electric. It sounds so electric. I want to see this.
- [54:28]
A
Well, we. We kind of got into this earlier, but let's. Let's go ahead and hit it easier for an NFL player going to the NBA or NBA player going to the NFL. It's obviously been a huge debate on. Well, not obviously, but on this show for sure.
- [54:42]
B
On the show for sure. Yeah.
- [54:43]
A
And I guess around the. The sports world, guys crossing over, what do you think about the n. NFL to NBA? NBA to NFL Debate.
- [54:52]
C
I may get hated for this. I think it'd be easier to come over into y'all world at certain positions.
- [54:58]
B
Yeah. There's no question.
- [54:59]
A
At certain positions for sure.
- [55:00]
B
Yeah. I'M with you.
- [55:01]
C
I'm with you. I don't think I could be a running back.
- [55:03]
B
What position you coming over?
- [55:04]
C
Anything on defense? I think not the line. I think for sure I could not a corner. Take that back corner.
- [55:10]
B
Corner's real hard.
- [55:11]
C
I got big feet and my feet don't move like that. So I'm not, I'm not reacting to. I tell you got safety, safety, safety. I think I got okay with time. I don't mean I could just walk on the court. You know what I mean? With time.
- [55:27]
A
Jay Tatum came through and he mentioned that as well. He said if, if you would have gave him time because he was a high school football player, if you would have gave him time through high school and he dedicated that to that lifestyle, he thinks he could have done it and it makes sense.
- [55:39]
B
So who's. Who's got the better chance? You. Who had the better chance, you of playing in the NFL? NFL or Lamar Jackson to playing in the NBA? Having seen Lamar play basketball, could he have played in the NBA? If you would have dedicated all his talent to NBA?
- [55:54]
C
Are we playing each other positions? Like, am I quarterback?
- [55:56]
B
Like, no, just any. Just make it. Let's say we're back in high school and a young Donovan Mitchell says I'm going to focus on football. And a young Lamar Jackson says I'm going to focus on basketball. Who has a better chance of making it into the NBA right now?
- [56:10]
C
NFL, I would say probably me making it. Yeah.
- [56:16]
A
You hear that, Lamar? Shots fired.
- [56:18]
C
I hope he sees that too.
- [56:20]
B
We gotta get Lamar's take on this. We gotta get Lamar's take on this.
- [56:23]
C
We definitely got to. We definitely got to. I saw him dunk. I didn't really get to see him hoop much. I don't know, but I definitely feel like, you know, maybe a tight end, you know, maybe, you know, I mean, come out, you know, grab it, fall. Who's the guy that falls on Seattle every time he catches it?
- [56:38]
B
What's his name?
- [56:39]
C
Every time he catches the ball? He, he, he.
- [56:41]
A
You talking about Tyler Locket?
- [56:43]
C
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [56:44]
A
He's. He's avoiding some hits. Yeah, you already some unnecessary hits. I'll say. Cuz he's a tough guy, but he's like, yeah, if I'm not gonna. I don't need to take this hit. I'm. I'm not going.
- [56:54]
C
Oh, you throw me an out route. I feel like I could, you know, nothing down the middle.
- [56:58]
A
Nothing over the middle.
- [56:59]
C
We going down the middle, Trav. Nothing.
- [57:00]
A
Come on, man. That's when you catch an out, that's when you turn.
- [57:03]
C
Guaranteed interception. Guaranteed interception.
- [57:06]
A
No, not the guarantee.
- [57:07]
C
As soon as I hit you with the right here and get back that way, middle, I'm not going for it. But I'm sorry.
- [57:15]
B
Outbreaking routes only outbreaking routes.
- [57:17]
A
I respect the take. What's the hardest arena to play in?
- [57:26]
C
Because I can't see well. Dallas.
- [57:30]
B
Time out. You can't see.
- [57:31]
A
Oh, like the depth perception is crazy in Dallas.
- [57:33]
C
I'm not. I'm not. Dallas's depth perception is not the best for me.
- [57:37]
A
So there's not. There's not a lot, like behind the back basket, basketball hoop, or. It's just a weird.
- [57:41]
C
The way the lighting. Just the way the light is set up in there. Like, that's the only arena where I'm in there. And it's like, it may go in today, it may not go in today.
- [57:49]
A
That's a crazy scenario.
- [57:51]
C
This is like one of those things where it's just. Your eyes just play tricks on you.
- [57:53]
A
You ever thought about wearing the Rex packs?
- [57:56]
C
Never.
- [57:56]
A
The old Grand Horses.
- [57:57]
C
The year I tried to wear contacts because, you know, I don't wear glasses.
- [58:00]
B
I was about to say, you work contacts out there?
- [58:03]
C
No.
- [58:03]
B
So you're just out there with blurry ass vision shooting.
- [58:05]
A
You're dropping 71 with blurry vision. This guy's crazy, man. We gotta give my guy some Lasik, man.
- [58:13]
B
This dude shooting threes while he's buffering.
- [58:23]
A
That's incredible, man.
- [58:24]
C
Nah, for real, that's. That's the one arena where I'm like, my eye. Every time, it's like. It's like. It plays tricks on me in that arena. I don't know what it is. I don't know if it's a certain light.
- [58:32]
A
In terms of atmosphere, though, it's tough.
- [58:34]
C
Because the tougher arenas. I love the playing. So it's like. I don't really know if you want to consider it. You know what I mean?
- [58:40]
B
Let's rephrase it. What's the most electric atmosphere arena outside of what?
- [58:45]
C
Outside of here? Yeah, both Gardens.
- [58:47]
B
I was about to say the Garden.
- [58:48]
A
Oh, yeah. Nice. No, both of them.
- [58:51]
B
But I was thinking Boston just because, like, you guys have had so much, so many big games against Boston. It feels like.
- [58:56]
C
I love that crowd. That crowd is fun. I mean, I'm from New. I'm from the east coast, so Boston and New York, the. The Knicks arena, both of them feel like my people are. Are there watching anyway.
- [59:07]
A
Close.
- [59:08]
C
But those are probably my two favorites. And I said here, too. I said before I got here, I love even. When was it? 30. 30 wins, 20 win seasons. Like, was jumping like, you know what I mean? And you're on the road, you're on the east coast trip. You're like, ain't nobody going to be here. This sold out. Yes, they are definitely, definitely wrong. So I definitely, you know, got a lot of respect for fan bases that show out through the down years as much as they do during the. Oh, in Utah. Sorry. Try to put Utah in there.
- [59:37]
B
For sure.
- [59:38]
A
I'm excited for Utah's hockey team, man, because Utah, they're. They seem like a fan base that would go nuts for hockey.
- [59:45]
B
No, no, I just know that name out.
- [59:48]
A
Yeah.
- [59:50]
B
I ain't trying to hear this. The hockey club, you know, they want to do Yetis, but apparently the Yeti.
- [59:55]
A
Somebody bought all the trademarks.
- [59:57]
B
The Yeti Coolers got the trademark.
- [60:01]
C
They won't let them yet use it.
- [60:02]
B
They might, but I think there's like, they probably want to own it outright, I bet. I don't know. Somebody. That was the rumor going out there why they weren't picking Yeti, and I'm like, bro, you got to go with yeti. Partner with them yet. He's fine through the whole arena.
- [60:14]
C
Facts tell Ryan Smith. Ryan Smith, he was. He was with me when I was in Utah. Let him know, hey, the Yetis, you.
- [60:20]
A
Got to get them going.
- [60:21]
C
Those arenas electric for. For sure.
- [60:23]
A
What city should have an NBA team that doesn't?
- [60:28]
C
Louisville, Kentucky, Man.
- [60:30]
B
What college?
- [60:31]
C
Louisville.
- [60:33]
A
No way. You think they're packing?
- [60:35]
C
Everybody's gonna say. Everybody's gonna say Vegas and they're gonna say Seattle. No, Louisville, Kentucky. Vegas and Seattle.
- [60:42]
A
I've never heard of Louisville.
- [60:44]
C
They got the arena for it, too. And there's no professional sport team there, so it's just the perfect, perfect place.
- [60:49]
B
A lot of sense right now spitting a lot of facts. You're gonna get some support in Louisville.
- [60:53]
A
They work for OKC, that's for damn sure.
- [60:55]
B
LeBron James has said Gianni Giannis would score over 200 points in the 1970s.
- [61:02]
A
That's hilarious.
- [61:05]
C
200 points is great.
- [61:07]
B
How many points are you scoring in the 70s? We get a little hot tub time machine at action back in time.
- [61:17]
C
It's hard to compare errors, but it is.
- [61:19]
A
It is extremely hard.
- [61:20]
C
It's hard. But I'm. I'm always going to give myself the benefit of that. I'm going say 30. 30. Say 30, 40, 50.
- [61:26]
B
You get averaging with scoring, I think. Scoring, yeah, like you're scoring in a game. You put up 71 in this era. What do you, what's your 71 in the 70s?
- [61:37]
C
Did they have the three point line in the 70s? I'm genuinely asking this, I'm not trying to.
- [61:40]
B
That's a great question that I do not know.
- [61:42]
A
I, I, I want to say they did.
- [61:44]
C
I don't think they're saying, they're saying they, they did it. 1979 they're saying is when it started.
- [61:51]
B
So this is no three point point line.
- [61:52]
C
So no three point line, all twos. Oh, that's nasty. I don't like that. I give myself, you know, 40, 50.
- [62:01]
A
You got to think in the 70s as well. There's not, I mean, the rim protectors around, you know.
- [62:08]
C
Maybe, yeah, I mean maybe the 80s they started hitting you, but like you keep going in there. Time after time, they knocking you out the air, you know what I mean?
- [62:16]
B
So that's a little bit more physical.
- [62:17]
C
A little bit more exploders come in, the jumpers coming. You're not just attacking the rim the entire game, you know, I mean, trying to preserve your body. So I go about 50, 50 for sure, I think.
- [62:25]
B
All right, that's a very realistic answer.
- [62:27]
A
We got one more for you. Pick your, pick your all time starting five.
- [62:32]
C
Am I on the team or no?
- [62:34]
A
Yeah, you can put yourself on there.
- [62:36]
B
I will say, typically when we do, these people do not pick themselves.
- [62:39]
C
What?
- [62:39]
B
Unless your name is Travis Kelson. Travis picks himself as one of the top tight ends of all time. But I'm just trying to manifest it.
- [62:47]
C
Jason, he has the, he has the, the stats to prove it for sure.
- [62:50]
B
I mean, it's definitely legit.
- [62:51]
C
I'm still working my way, you know, I mean, I'm still trying to still try to get one ring, let alone three, you know.
- [62:56]
A
Oh yeah, we gonna get it this year though, baby.
- [62:58]
C
Let's go. Exactly. I won't put myself in here. Steph at the 1, Kobe the 2, MJ the 3, Ryan at the 4.
- [63:11]
B
I'm seeing no misses so far at all.
- [63:15]
C
My 5. Man, I'm, I'm playing in 20, 25 basketball, so I'm not really going to tradition position. I'm going small ball, KD at the five.
- [63:21]
A
I mean, that's a hell of a starting five, I think, I think that five takes, anybody's starting five, they're running, they're running.
- [63:27]
C
No matter if you're playing the floor. Case in space, running floor. That's it.
- [63:34]
A
I respect it. Well, Spider man, we appreciate you jumping on, man. We won't take any more of your time. Thank you very much, everybody. Mitchell. Good luck in the playoffs, Big Dog. Thanks for always representing Cleveland, man. And let's go get us one, man.
- [63:48]
C
Okay.
- [63:49]
B
Yes.
- [63:50]
C
I appreciate y'all boys. Thank you. Appreciate y'all.
- [63:52]
B
All right, that wraps up another episode of New Heights.
- [63:55]
A
Thank you, sir.
- [63:56]
B
Donovan Mitchell.
- [63:57]
A
Yes.
- [63:58]
B
For joining us. Make sure you're subscribed on YouTube to the new Heights channel and follow New Heights on the Wonder Reaper wherever you get your podcast. You can listen to new episodes of New Heights early and ad free right now by joining Wonder plus in the Wonder or on Apple Podcasts.
- [64:11]
A
Once again, New Heights, a wonder show produced by Wave Sports and Entertainment and brought to you by DraftKings. Follow the show on all social media at new height show with 1s for fun clips throughout the week, guys. And thanks to our production and crew. Thank you to the 92 percenters. And thank you, Donovan for coming through Spider. Bring us home another championship, baby. Go Cavs.
- [64:30]
B
Hell yeah.
- [64:41]
A
Follow New Heights on the Wonder app or wherever you get your podcast. You can listen to New Heights early and ad free plus enjoy exclusive episodes of the show by joining Wondry plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts or Spotify today.
- [64:55]
B
Before you go, tell us about yourself by completing a short survey@wondery.com survey Whole.
- [65:01]
D
Foods started in the counterculture city of Austin, Texas, and it took pride in being anti corporate, separate and outside the mainstream. But like the city itself, Whole Foods has morphed over the years for better and perhaps for worse, and is now a multi billion dollar brand. In the latest season of business wars, we explore the meteoric rise of the Whole Foods brand. On its surface, it's a story of how an idealistic founder made good on his dream of changing American food culture. But it's also a case study in the conflict between ambition and idealist realism, how lofty goals can wilt under the harsh light of financial realities and what gets lost on the way to the top. Follow Business wars on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge Business wars the Whole Foods Rebellion early and ad free right now on Wondery plus.