Best of NBA News Part 1: Steph Curry signs 10-YEAR DEAL with Chinese brand Li-Ning + PARALLELS between Wemby and Tim Duncan's age 22 seasons + SGA's MVP season a FAILURE?!

Summary

Nightcap Podcast – NBA News Best Of (Part 1)

Date: June 3, 2026
Hosts: Shannon Sharpe, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, (with recurring input from Joe)
Podcast Theme:
The unfiltered sports legends break down the NBA’s hottest topics: Steph Curry’s groundbreaking Li-Ning deal, stunning Wemby-Duncan playoff parallels at age 22, and whether SGA’s MVP season is truly a “failure.” Discord leads to deep dives, player insights, and classic Nightcap energy.

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Episode Overview

This episode covers the most compelling NBA storylines from early June 2026, including:

• Steph Curry's historic 10-year endorsement with Chinese brand Li-Ning
• The uncanny similarities between Victor Wembanyama’s and Tim Duncan’s age-22 breakout seasons
• Shea Gilgeous-Alexander’s candid self-assessment following the Thunder’s playoff exit, and the broader standard for MVPs

Shannon, Ocho, and Joe bounce from technical breakdowns and NBA storytelling to authentic, sometimes hilarious, competitive ribbing, maintaining their trademark unfiltered tone. The conversation is rich in player perspective, insider anecdotes, and incisive analysis of basketball culture—on and off the court.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Wemby vs. Tim Duncan: Parallels of Young Greatness

(02:19–07:55)

• The hosts are struck by how closely Victor Wembanyama’s playoff run at age 22 tracks with Tim Duncan’s legendary first Finals:
  • Both beat the Blazers, Wolves, their main rivals (Shaq/Chet), and the Knicks in the Finals.
• The Spurs’ meteoric rise defied expectations; the young, talent-laden roster came together "faster than anyone expected" (03:29).
• Team Construction Worries:
  Ocho: “It’s hard to construct a team like this, to have all this talent on one team... In two or three years, key pieces gone, but the core—Winbinyama, Castle, Harper, Vassell, Champagne—they intact for the next at least decade" (04:00).
• Debate on maintaining team chemistry as individual stars develop, referencing the Shaq/Kobe Lakers on handling pecking orders and egos (07:15).

Notable Quote:

Ocho, on Wemby’s leadership:
“They understand how unique Wimby is, man. If he on your damn team, he gonna be option one and you gonna be two, period, point blank.” (08:10)

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2. Team Culture, Coaching, and the Pain of Facing Your Past

(13:20–17:13)

• Mike Brown’s “I love them, but I want to kick their ass” remark sparks personal stories about facing former teams (13:20).
• Athlete Mentality:
  Joe and Ocho recall heightened focus and motivation: “Every time they seen me, they knew it...my energy alone let’s you know...man, we gonna have to send that double.” (14:01)
• Shannon describes the emotional edge and vindication when performing well against his former team—the Broncos—and the lingering sense of being undervalued (16:46).

Memorable Moment:

Joe: “It was the fact that you thought you’d be better without me.” (17:13)

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3. Coaching Diversity in the NBA Finals

(24:19–27:16)

• Recognition of Black head coaches winning NBA titles—a rarity in league history.
• Recap of winners: Bill Russell, Casey Jones, Lenny Wilkins, Doc Rivers, Ty Lue, Joe Mazzulla, Al Attles.
• Noted the significance of playoff matchups involving Mike Brown and other former Sacramento Kings contributors (28:14).

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4. The Sacramento Kings: An Organizational “What If”

(28:14–31:36)

• Hosts roast the Kings’ front office for letting multiple All-Stars (Fox, Halliburton), Coach Mike Brown, and Luka Doncic slip through their fingers:
  • All have made Finals while Sacramento lags with “a first-round exit to show for it.”
• Ocho: “It ain’t the coaches and the players. It’s the organization, it’s the infrastructure, bro...the Kings, bro, they’ve been in dumps Uncle O hill since C-Webb left.” (28:39)
• Discussion about their assets, the Sabonis era, and a mock draft that leaves Ocho hoping for better organizational decisions.

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5. Steph Curry’s 10-Year Li-Ning Deal: Why Curry Left Under Armour

(35:08–43:51)

• Major News: Curry signs a decadelong endorsement with Li-Ning, “ending recruitment after leaving Under Armour” (35:08).
• Reasons:
  • China’s massive market; Li-Ning offers Curry a “signature brand” with the ability to sign other athletes (“what Lee Ning is trying to do”).
  • U.S. giants (Nike especially) are “not trying to do that”—they want to avoid “another Jordan situation” (36:37).
• The sneaker game’s decentralized new reality:
  • “Cooper Flag went to New Balance, guys doing Puma, Skechers...” (37:20)
  • Brands now go after young stars, with richer offers than traditional giants.
• Nostalgic Sneaker Talk: Childhood memories of yearning for Jordans, the hustle for expensive kicks, and sacrifices families made for those “hundred dollar shoes,” full of humor and relatability (38:57–41:09).

Notable Quote:

Ocho: “I was in Payless with my mama, XJ900s—they look like Jordans, but they weren't no damn Jordans.” (39:08)

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6. SGA’s Brutal Self-Assessment – MVP Season: Success or Failure?

(58:53–66:06, extended to 81:32)

• SGA after Game 7 loss:
  • “I failed at my goal... I did not achieve what I wanted...I learned the most about myself and make the greatest amount of increase in my career when I fail” (58:53).
• Statistical dip in the series:
  • Regular season: 31.1 PPG on 55% FG, 39% 3PT; Playoff series: 26 PPG, 41% FG, 29% 3PT
  • Ocho and Joe agree: Spurs bottled him up, and he didn’t play to his usual standard.
• Debate on MVP-level expectations:
  • Are we too hard on SGA for falling below his own peak? Does a true MVP overcome even historically elite defenses?
• Both argue MVPs earn higher, sometimes unfair, criticism (“Great players get compared to their younger self...is it fair? Whether it’s fair or not, it is what it is.” – Joe, 86:37)
• Analysis of OKC’s lack of consistent No. 2 scorer and the limitations it placed on SGA.

Notable Quotes:

Ocho, on SGA’s accountability:
“That’s what the great ones do. They don’t deflect, they don’t blame. They point right at themselves: ‘Man, I gotta be better. I should have been better.’” (60:46)

Joe, on MVP standards:
“You compare him to his great self. He could have been marginal and averaged 19 to 20...we wouldn’t even bat an eye.” (86:37)

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7. Broader NBA Culture & Playoff Themes

• On Modern NBA Defense:
  • San Antonio/OKC praised as “two of the best defensive teams in the NBA this year” (80:23).
  • Series highlighted the premium on versatile, switchable defenders and lineup construction.
• On “Role Player” Value/Liabilities:
  • Extended debate on OKC’s Lou Dort—a defense-only player poses offensive problems vs. elite playoff teams (81:32–84:56).
• MVP and Elite Teams Debate:
  • Repeatedly return to the pressure and expectations elite players face, and how playoff series reveal supporting-cast gaps.

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8. Classic Nightcap Banter: Competitions, Wagers, and Ribbing

(44:49–53:06)

• The hosts’ sharp chemistry shines as they escalate hypotheticals around three-point shootouts, trophies, and memorabilia.
• Playful trash talk about golf, cornhole, and fishing competitions.
• Discussion about memorabilia value (“this basketball is $400–$500 on StockX...you never gonna see this, man,” Joe, 47:16).

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Timestamps & Notable Segments

• Wemby/Duncan Comparison: 02:19–08:10
• Former Player Revenge Games: 13:20–17:13
• Black Coaches in the Finals: 24:19–27:16
• Kings, Missed Opportunities: 28:14–31:36
• Curry’s Li-Ning Deal: 35:08–43:51
• Sneaker Culture Stories: 38:57–41:09
• SGA’s Season & Accountability: 58:53–67:27
• OKC Lineup Issues, Playoff Lessons: 77:03–84:56
• Playful Banter, Wagers: 44:49–53:06

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Memorable Quotes

• Ocho (on Wemby’s ascendance):
  “They gonna give people hell for the next decade for sure.” (04:00)

• Joe (on Curry’s brand power):
  “Li-Ning plans to build Curry brand stores in the United States and in China.” (35:14)

• Ocho (on tough shots):
  “Analytics say those 18-, 19-foot jump shots—those are the worst shots in basketball. But sometimes you just gotta say, you know what, I did all I could do. I ain’t got nothing left.” (74:27–74:38)

• SGA Post-Game Quote, read by Joe:
  “I failed at my goal. I did not achieve what I wanted to achieve, but I learned the most about myself and make the greatest amount of increase in my career when I fail...” (58:53)

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Conclusion

This episode balances incisive NBA analysis, real talk about team building and superstars, and the signature warmth and competitiveness of Nightcap. The hosts don’t just react to the news—they embed it in the lived experience of athletes and lifelong fans. Whether you missed the episode or want to relive its best moments, this summary captures the rapid-fire debates, memorable stories, and cultural flavor that set Nightcap apart.

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For Next-Time Listeners

Episodes flow quickly from technical NBA chat to personal storytelling and playful challenges. The direct, conversational style brings both laughs and genuine insight for basketball fans and pop culture aficionados alike.

Transcript

[News Commentator]

I turned off news altogether.

[Joe]

I hate to say it, but I

[Ocho]

don't trust much of anything. It's the rage bait.

[News Commentator]

It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Joe]

We got clear facts. Maybe we could calm down a little.

[NBC News Announcer]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the Facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America.

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[Joe]

Warning.

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This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

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[Chad]

All?

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[Joe]

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[Shaq]

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[Lilly Medicine Company Announcer]

Lilly, a medicine company.

[Joe]

Now streaming on Paramount. The acclaimed series from executive producer Lena Waithe reaches its final chapter. The Shy. For seven seasons, these stories, these streets, this community have stayed with us. Now it all leads to this. As friendships are tested, families evolve, and secrets refuse to stay buried, one thing is certain. The shy is more than just a series. It's a legacy. Don't miss the final season of the Shy now streaming on the Paramount Premium plan. Hey guys, it's your favorite unk here. Go ahead and click that subscribe button below so you don't miss a single episode of Nightcap. That button right here. Come for the sports. Stay for the stories. Parallels between Tim Dunker and Tim Duncan and Victor Wembanyama first playoff run are insane. 22 year old Tim Duncan, first playoff run, beat the Blazers, beat the Wolves, defeated the Lakers. His rival was Shaq, beat the Knicks in five games in the NBA Finals. Wimby beat the Blazers, beat the Wolves, defeated his rival Chet Faith in the Knicks in the NBA Finals.

[Ocho]

That's scary. Nah, it is for real. It is for real. Like I, I think you know, seeing San Antonio because I don't think we, we thought San Antonio would be here this fast.

[Joe]

No, we thought they're gonna probably be another year away. Cause we talked about, we talked about it. I said Joe, you remember okc? They had, they got upset by the Mavericks, came back the next year.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

So I was thinking, yeah, Thunder do it and then they come back next year.

[Ocho]

Absolutely. And for them to be on the biggest stage right now, man, this young team is so scary, bro, that like potentially seriously fellas, I don't know if they could keep all those guys together because you know everybody gonna want to get paid. But it's hard to construct a team like this, to have all this talent on one team. So I figure in about two or three years, yeah, you're gonna have a lot of these key pieces gone. But the core obviously Winbinyama, Castle, Harper, I guess for sale and champagne like they intact for the next at least decade. I'm just being realistic, you know. They gonna give people hell for the next decade for sure.

[Joe]

I think their core three, I think their core three is Harper, Castle.

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah.

[Joe]

And I know they would like to keep Vassell, I know they'd like to keep Champagne. I just don't think it's going to be possible. And I think they're going to probably end up moving off of Fox because Harper's too good to keep on the bench. Joe, you can't keep him on the bed. Joe, you remember that, that overtime game, Game one.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

He and I love Fox. Fox has been amazing this last game.

[Ocho]

I do too.

[Joe]

It showed you why they got him.

[Ocho]

Yeah. You just can't keep all those guys, man.

[Joe]

You can't.

[Ocho]

It's hard to have all that talent on one team. It's just too much. And you Right. I'm. Look, hey, if I'm the Spurs, at some point, Dylan Harper is gonna be my starting point. When would that be, Joe?

[Joe]

It probably gonna be next year. O. Yeah, it's gonna be. It's gonna be either next year or the year after. He ain't got more than two years there. I can see a scenario happening now because he. You got a great situation. Fox, you can learn from a veteran player. Fox is still unbelievable. But this kid is. I can't, Joe. I can't keep him on the bench. I can't.

[Ocho]

I think you can play both of them if you just want me to be honest with you.

[Joe]

It's hard to play three guards, Joe, Even though you got Wemby and that kind of. That kind of hurt him a little bit. I mean. Cause you got. When you play three guards, you got to have a conscious like, hey, we got to hit the glass. We got to. Yeah, we talked about this with the Dallas Wings. When they play week and they play backers and they play a fud.

[Ocho]

Yeah, it's tough.

[Joe]

It is, it is, but it's. And I think the thing, you can keep teams that come up together, as long as they understand the pecking order, I don't think there'll ever be a situation. I could be wrong. You don't know what the mindset is. Is that right? Harper, Castle think they are better than Wimby. That's when you run into problems.

[Ocho]

I don't think they gonna run into that. I think they understand the pick and order and they know by having him, he makes the game so much easier for those.

[Joe]

How was that picking order in la? Hey, how was that picking order in Cleveland? Hey, Joe, I be using NBA when it happened. Now I'm listening. Go ahead, fill us in. Tell OO and I about this cuz you was around it at the time.

[Ocho]

What?

[Joe]

What? What?

[Ocho]

What you talking about?

[Joe]

With the Lakers when they won three championships in a row. How did that pecking order.

[Ocho]

I know that cuz you got you, but that's cuz you got two damn alphas. You got two damn alphas.

[Joe]

How you think Castle do. Do you not think Castle think he'. Did you see this man? Dylan Harper. Yeah. Yeah. Come on. Come on, bro. Come on, bro. Come on, bro. Hey, come on, bro.

[Ocho]

And you need that. And you need that, bro. You need that from him, Unc. But what I'm saying is I think they understand how unique Wimby is, man. They ain't you. You ain't gonna. If he on your damn team. He gonna be option one

[Joe]

and you

[Ocho]

gonna be two, period, point blank.

[Joe]

Kobe said, no, I don't want to be too no more.

[Ocho]

Well, we. We know Cole was a little different. Yeah, man.

[Joe]

Man, Bill looked different. Guess what?

[Chad]

Was he ever too? Was Kobe ever a two?

[Joe]

Yes.

[Chad]

Not in his mind.

[Joe]

Okay, bro. When Kobe got there in 96, who thought Kobe. Who thought Kobe was better than Shaq?

[Ocho]

Nobody.

[Chad]

Nobody.

[Ocho]

When he first got there? Nobody.

[Joe]

He's been in the league four years and he was a top 50 player all time in his fourth year. Come on. What Kobe turned himself into with that relentless drive and work ethic. Yes, he became that. But, bro, let's not fool ourselves. When they arrived in LA at the same time, it wasn't close. No, it wasn't close.

[Chad]

But what Kobe worked and turned himself into.

[Joe]

Yes. Yes. His mind.

[Chad]

I'm not no.

[Joe]

2.

[Chad]

I'm the one.

[Joe]

You saw. Every year you saw Kobe get better, it was like. Like, oh, man. Every year, same thing. When you watch the ar, you watched AR or the undrafted free agent, and every year you see his points increase. You see him getting better. You see him getting better. You see him getting better. You watch Kobe, and every damn year he got the guy that was laughing at that when he air balled that shot.

[Chad]

Yeah.

[Ocho]

Hey, hey. Could be the same turning point for Chick now. You know, we. Everybody been talking.

[Chad]

Oh, no, no.

[Joe]

Kobe always had that in him.

[Ocho]

We don't. We. We don't. We.

[Joe]

You.

[Ocho]

It just take a moment. It take a moment for them for that dog.

[Joe]

I saw it. Well, I'm never gonna let a Chihuahua Pomeranian guard the flock. That's. He gonna sit on my lap and he gonna bark at the doorbell, and when the mailman stick the bell in the slot, he gonna go tear it up. Yeah, that's what I got him for. I will get an alibi. I'm gonna get a kangal. I'm gonna get a barbell. I'm gonna give you one of these big ass Caucasian mastiffs. I'm gonna let them guard the floor.

[Chad]

Yeah.

[Joe]

That ain't check makeup, though, Joe. That's in you, Joe. Ain't nobody gave you that. It wasn't a situation that it was. It was your upbringing that caused you to be Joe Johnson. It was Ocho's upbringing that caused Ocho to be Chad Johnson. It was my upbringing that was in me. That ain't on me.

[Ocho]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Chad]

There's certain things you can't. You can't coach, Joe. Certain things you can coach. You have an it factor. Everybody has that it's factor. Some people got it, some people don't. You can't coach it. It just you. You born with it.

[Joe]

Yes.

[Chad]

You born with it.

[Joe]

Yes. I, I look, he go. But here's the thing, though, Joe. That's his demons. Chad is cheddar. If you're an alcoholic, ched is the drink. If you got a gambling problem, cheddar to see. Wimby is the casino. If you got a. A girl addiction, Wimby is the model. So whatever your weakness is, he's it.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

How do you face it? How do you stare it down?

[Ocho]

Gotta go through his ass.

[Joe]

Because guess what, Joe? If you have an addiction to alcohol, guess what you gotta do, Joe? I gotta go buy every liquor store every day for the rest of my life and not go in there. I got to be able to go back, go to a restaurant and order water or drink or, Or a soda and not a drink. I go out with the boys to watch a game. I gotta walk by the bar and go sit in the back and have a good time while everybody else is drinking, I gotta be able to go, hey, man, we going to Vegas, bro. I don't know if I can go to Vegas. It's like me and Houston. I gotta go to Houston. Every time I gotta go to Houston,

[Ocho]

man.

[Joe]

Me and Joe. Hey, There's a saying that says we create our demons, only we can chase them away. Yeah, we going to Houston, damn it. We going to Houston. I will chase my demons away. I'm going to Houston, and I will be outside.

[Ocho]

Yeah. Yeah. That's what I'm talking about.

[Chad]

Hey, that's good energy, huh?

[Ocho]

Yeah,

[Joe]

I said that out loud.

[Ocho]

I like the language you talking, man.

[Joe]

That's what I'm talking about.

[Chad]

I like it. Hey, you. And you know what? And you said that with some conviction. That's how I know you meant it.

[Ocho]

Yeah. Oh, Lord. Yeah.

[Chad]

That's all.

[Joe]

I'm with you when you write I ain't bothered nobody. Mike Brown was asked if it's difficult to separate his connection to the spurs organization and Dear and Foxx ahead of the NBA Finals. They definitely want to beat me and I want to kick their ass. I love them. And you could always love them before and after. Joe, you ever. When. So how was it when you played, when you played when you were Atlanta and you played Phoenix or you went to the Brooklyn and you played Atlanta and you played Phoenix. How was that?

[Ocho]

I tried trying to get at 30.

[Joe]

Every game

[Ocho]

I tried, and I damn near succeeded. A lot of times I Ain't saying I did it every time, but a lot of the times I was trying to get a ass. Hell, especially Phoenix. When I left Phoenix and came here, I tried to get them boys. Hell, every time they seen me, they know it. They knew it. Hey, hey, what we talking about? I ain't gotta say a damn thing, but my energy alone lets you know. Oh, he ain't. He ain't messing around today. He ain't. Man, we. Hey, hey, we gonna have to send that double on his ass. Cause he think he finna come in here and give us 35, 40 points. Hell no. Yeah, that's how my energy was.

[Joe]

Ocho, did you play the Bengals when you went to New England?

[Chad]

No. No, sir. Remember?

[Joe]

I was only that.

[Chad]

I was only that one season. And doing. When they ran that gauntlet that year, I. I didn't shoot. I think they might. They. Them boys might have lost but two, three, maybe three games that season.

[Joe]

We.

[Chad]

Nah, we ain't playing.

[Joe]

I played. Man, how funny is this, man? I leave the Broncos, I go to the Ravens. Our first playoff game. Guess who it's against, Joe? Who? Broncos.

[Chad]

Ravens. Oh, the Broncos.

[Ocho]

Oh, man, the Broncos. You trying to get. You trying to get ass. Hell, when you are.

[Joe]

My first catch. My first catch, they call the pass. It's kind of windy day. I know Jamal. I used to call him the big mister. It's a derogatory term. It was derogatory at the time, but since, you know, I've been known. Little people say it's derogatory, but let's just call them. I called him a little person. Right?

[Ocho]

Right.

[Joe]

He had an average sized body, but he had little short arms. We call the pass. He goes into the plant. I see Trent rear back to throw it. I said, ain't no way in hell Big Ma gonna catch this. Yeah, I said, let me go ahead that way. So I start getting me a little light jog. I head that way just in case it bobbles up in the air. I'm gonna have to catch. I'm gonna have to chase somebody down, right? What happened? Sure enough, he bobbling up in the air. A defender tip it. I catch it. Go down the sideline 58 yards for a touchdown. Joe in front of the Broncos bench.

[Ocho]

Hey, hey, you know what it is? It's Cause when you playing your former team, bro, you be so in tune, you know what I mean? And it's like the littlest things that can happen for you. It's like. Cause I done had games to where I played against former Teams, and it didn't go so well. But for the most part, you be so locked in. Cause you want your damn get back, you know, you just.

[Joe]

You feel away.

[Ocho]

You know what I mean?

[Joe]

Absolutely.

[Ocho]

And you want to come out and put on a hell of a performance. I know exactly what you're talking about.

[Joe]

And my thing was, it was because I still had a lot of friends over there. It was the fact. And I told. And I ended up having a conversation with Mike. And I said, mike, I'm not upset that you tried to trade me and you end up not even offering me a contract. It was the fact that you thought you'd be better without me.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

I said, there are so many things that I do outside of the football. You just look at what I do on the football field.

[Ocho]

Right when all.

[Joe]

That's when I left and the locker room went to chaos and all that other stuff was going on. Had a conversation like 84, you're right. But I got. I didn't catch with three passes. Had like 78 yards. But it was that one play. And then every big play that we needed to get to the Super Bowl, I made it. Yeah, that made me feel good. Because they didn't think I could play at that level. And even though I didn't get the opportunities that I got younger in my career at Denver, give me an opportunity, I'll make a play.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

Knowing that defense once Marvin Lewis said, hey, Shay, because it was a running joke. We started joking like, marvin, how many points you need today? Marvin, say, we give us this. So we playing Tennessee, so we beat the Broncos. He's like, we say, broncos not gonna score anything on us. I said, what you need in Tennessee? He say, he said, shay, give us 10. I said, Marvin, they got the best record in the NFL. They got. Statistically, their defense was better than ours. He said, like shady knuckles, give us 10. Give it to us early. They scored. Place going crazy. They bust the coverage. I go down, I catch a 58 yard pass. Go down to the one. Jamal score. They kick a field goal. We kick a field goal. Then they try to pick another field goal. We block it. Running back for a touchdown. They throw a swing pass to Eddie in the flat. Ray Pickett go back for a touchdown. So we beat them.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

So we feeling good. So we going out. We going out early. We going out early to the Raiders because we playing they in Oakland. My best friend Sharon, she passes. She was supposed to meet me in Tennessee, but she ends up passing. So I end up having to go out There I have to go out there to. To Denver, to obviously to her home going, service. So I don't ride on the plane out there because normally I'm up the front. So the veteran players, if you got 10 years or more, you sit up front with the coaches. Everybody else in the back. So, yeah, I didn't get a chance. So when I get to the hotel that Saturday, I say, marv, what we looking like? He says. He say, shay, give us seven. I said, marvin. I said, marvin, they got the number one offense in football. What you mean? He said, shay, give us seven. Give it to us early. So I say, suge, be honest now, because we always sat at the table. We always said, me, Suge, Woody, Rod Wilson, Corey Harris. We always sat together. I said, sure, Boucher. I said, sure. What we looking like? What we lookin tomorrow? He looked me dead in my eyes. He said, shay, give us seven. The first quarter, it's over.

[Ocho]

Mm.

[Joe]

I say, what? I ain't telling what Marvin had told me. I said, come. Go ahead over there, man. I say. I say, you know, big play, Shay good for seven. I say. I say. I say Stover gotta kick in. So that's 10. So you said, if we get the 10 points. He said, Shay, if we get the seven points and y' all don't turn it over, they done.

[Shaq]

We good.

[Chad]

Hey, hey, hey. Joe, I don't think people understand how good that 2000 Ravens defense was.

[Ocho]

They would like that, Ocho.

[Chad]

Joe, I don't even think. I think if the 2000 Ravens defense was playing today, everybody on that team would be suspended.

[Joe]

Oh, hell, yeah. You could. You could. You can't play like that now.

[Chad]

Hell no, Joe. The way they played, are we knocking

[Joe]

your quarterback out of the game? Yo, back up. Get your backup ready to play. Cause they gonna knock your starter out.

[Chad]

There was no weakness, Joe. You know, every. Every time you play a team, there's always a Fish. We call them the Fish, Joe.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Chad]

You know, when we go through our game plan, we go through our scouting report, you find who the Fish is, you find who the weak league is, and that's. That's what you pick on. You pick on the Fish, Joe. Ain't no Fish out there with them back then.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

And stop playing, Joe. You got to realize they gave up 3 10, 3 0.

[Ocho]

Damn stingy.

[Joe]

Every offensive play other than the last player of the game that was a kneel down ended in a punt or turnover for them. They had 16 possessions. It ended in a punt or turnover.

[Ocho]

Hold on.

[Joe]

But what.

[Shaq]

What What.

[Ocho]

What made that defense so great? Obviously, we know, Ray, but what. What really made it great couldn't run the football.

[Joe]

They made you one dimensional at all. In 16 games, they didn't give up a thousand total yards rushing. You couldn't run him, so now they know you got to throw it. All they played was cover two. But your third foot, that ball better be at your hands. Oh, they're gonna knock your quarterback out. Go back and look at the hit that Rob Burnett put on a Kelly Smith.

[Chad]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ocho]

Landliner. Did he.

[Chad]

Hey, that was.

[Joe]

If he would. If you would have hit a quarterback like that today, you are getting suspended. Chad, go look at that shot that Rob Burnett put on a Keeley Smith. If you hit a quarterback, I mean, he took two steps and got ready to throw, and Rob Burnett put his helmet right up under his chin.

[Chad]

I remember that.

[Joe]

Boy. Look here, you got a real. Hey, Joe, in 20 games, they didn't give up 200 points in 20 games. As a matter of fact, they didn't give up 190 points in 20 games.

[Chad]

But them boy was good

[Ocho]

putting it down.

[Chad]

But, hey, you know who didn't. You know who ain't seen them boy, Joe.

[Ocho]

Who, me?

[Tab Ramos]

Huh?

[Chad]

I ain't see the boy.

[Joe]

Joe Ocho.

[Ocho]

I mean. Oh, how many yards you had against the boy?

[Joe]

No, he wasn't in the league. Did you.

[Chad]

Nah, I came in the next one.

[Ocho]

Oh, okay.

[Chad]

Okay, Joe. I still ain't see them boys, Joe. Yeah.

[Joe]

With that little. You know, we had a little something at the Wild Wild west on Ocho.

[Ocho]

What y' all have done, you know, Little.

[Joe]

Little, we can't say. You're not supposed to. It start with a B and end with a Y. We put a little money on his head.

[Chad]

Hey, hey, they had. They already had money over here anyway, Joe, and I ain't see that.

[Joe]

Look, Mike Brown wants to win a championship. There ain't very many of us of color that have won an NBA title. Yeah, Joe Missoula, Lenny Wilkins, Bill Russell as a player, coach Al Adams, Doc Rivers. Yes, sir. I mean, the NBA been going on for 80 years. I think that's it.

[Ocho]

What is? Mitch Johnson.

[Joe]

He blamed, ain't he? But I'm saying. I'm saying, yes, they want to win, and it's a rarity. Guess what? That they go against each other.

[Ocho]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Joe]

Hey, y' all looked at that hit. Oh, there it is. Y' all looked at that hit that Robert, that put on Achillesmith.

[Chad]

You put. You pulled it up.

[Joe]

Pull it up. We can't show it.

[Chad]

We allowed to play it. You're not allowed to play it, huh?

[Joe]

But you can pull up Jack, take a look at it. I mean, bro, he didn't even get fully in. His drop ball was gone. Yes. Casey Jones. So Bill Russell. Coach Russell did it. Al Adams, Casey Jones, Joe Missoula, Doc Rivers, Ty Lue. Did we leave out anybody? And now we about to get another one.

[Ocho]

Yeah. It's gonna be interesting, though.

[Joe]

So what is the six? Because I out of one with the warriors, obviously. We know Russell and, and, and Casey Jones won with the Celtics. Doc run with the Celtics. Joe Missoula won with the Celtics. Ty Lou won with the Cavs.

[Chad]

Hey, youngest Rod is Rod Barnett or Rob, rb.

[Joe]

Rob. He and I came out together. He's from Syracuse. We came out 90 together. Goose came out. I think Goose might have been a seventh, a 12th round pick. Goose might have been the 12th round. Or Goose might have been a free agent. We check. We asked about to check. Text the link to you.

[Chad]

Yeah, I got, I got it. 1999, week five, 2000.

[Joe]

Man, we put a hurt on y'.

[Chad]

All.

[Joe]

Hey, hey, Joe. I couldn't, I couldn't, you know, hit it. You know, I got a little touchdown. You have. Hey, see that touchdown I put on your boy? Daryl Williams, Joe Shook. Oh, Oh, I shook him. Ooh, did I?

[Chad]

Hey, hey, D will get hit, boy.

[Joe]

I, I, you know, then I come back, then I went back down to Cincinnati, put two on his head. Bill russell.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

Casey jones, lenny wilkins, doc rivers, joe missoula. Tyloo. Seven. You miss anybody? Yes. So we said russell, al adams, casey jones, lenny wilkins, doc rivers, joe missoula, tyloo. Did we miss anybody? Chat.

[Chad]

Hey, that was, that was a nice little stunt, man. That was a nice stunt. That was a very nice, man. That bad.

[Joe]

I would too. Was it if. Ocho, you know, if you hit a quarterback like that, now you get suspended, right?

[Chad]

You put all your weight on him like that, you out the game. That was a nice stunt. That was a nice little stunt. I'm not even gonna lie.

[Joe]

Well, we have a brother. Sacramento has watched Luka Doncic, Tyrese Halliburton, Darren Fox, and Mike Brown all reached the NBA finals within the last two years. They passed on Luca, traded Halle, fired Mike Brown and moved on from Fox. And all they got in return was a first round exit in 2023. Joe, what's going on with the Kings?

[Ocho]

Damn infrastructure. Bad fella. Ain't no way around it. I don't even know how you cut it and slice it. Halle played in the finals last year, Mike Brown in the finals, Fox in the final. Come on, bro. Yeah, I'm. Yeah, it ain't, it ain't the damn coaches and the players, obviously we see that now. It's, it's, it's the organization, it's the infrastructure, bro. It's obviously it's bad started, huh?

[Chad]

I say it started at the top, huh?

[Ocho]

Yeah, it got to, bro. Like when you look at all these situations, these guys going to different teams, coaches coaching different teams and they've. And they are having success. And you look at the Kings, bro, they've been in dumps Uncle O hill

[Joe]

a sea web them left

[Ocho]

and bibbing them left on.

[Chad]

They.

[Joe]

They've been bad ever since Seawell left.

[Ocho]

And so I don't know, man, I don't know how you get what pick they got this year. I think they got like they need

[Joe]

a bunch of picks.

[Ocho]

I think they got.

[Joe]

It's being reported, Joe, that they're thinking about moving on from. What's the big tall guy? Chrissy. No, no, no, no, the player, the Lithuanian. His dad, his dad played the lengthy. Sabonus? Yes.

[Ocho]

The bonus.

[Joe]

Yes. I told. Oh, they believe that he was 7:1.

[Ocho]

Hold on, I thought, I thought Sabonus was already gone. He ain't already.

[Joe]

No, he ain't still.

[Ocho]

Yeah, they probably. Hey, he gonna, he gonna help some damn body.

[Joe]

He ain't. He ain't. Look, Sabonis is good, but his dad was a hell of a player. He. I mean his dad was by the time he got to the got the States and played with Portland, he's old and beat up, but boy, you talking about pass the basketball. He would yoke his passing before Jokic,

[Ocho]

he used to get Shaq some. He used to get sha. Three could shoot the three.

[Joe]

Hey, Joe, the mock draft got auff going to the Kings.

[Ocho]

Oh, man, they got, they got my. I don't want auff to go to the Kings, bro. Hey, but you right, Sabonis, I think he was shooting threes back then. Centers wasn't shooting threes. He was one of the only, only center shooting threes back then. Probably like him and Sam Perkins. You know them big guys. Big guys want to shoot threes like that back then.

[Joe]

But you go back and look at him when he played for the Unified. Well, I don't know. I think they was called the Russian team. They later became the Unified.

[Ocho]

Oh, here he was. He was serious.

[Joe]

They used to get a man high, high iq.

[Ocho]

High IQ to pass the crap out that ball. I know exactly what you're talking about.

[Joe]

But it was what you call them. It was the Brazilians. And I think they, they beat them in the. They ended up beating David Robinson them when they had the legendary Oscar Schmidt the Brazilian.

[Ocho]

Yeah, Joe, yeah.

[Joe]

Now you talking about a bucket getter. And I think he dropped like 48 on the Americans. And that was when they said, you know what? Enough of this. We bringing pros. Y' all got pros. We bringing pros. Ain't no more college ish going on. And now superhuman shack.

[Shaq]

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[Shaq]

Warning.

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[News Commentator]

I turned off news altogether.

[Joe]

I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything.

[Ocho]

It's the rage bait.

[News Commentator]

It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Joe]

We got clear facts. Maybe we could calm down a little.

[NBC News Announcer]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the Facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America.

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[Ocho]

I don't know if you knew this but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying.

[Chad]

It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have

[Ocho]

one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail]

[News Commentator]

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[Joe]

The next segment is brought to you by Tommy John where comfort is a new power move. Steph Curry made a power move signing a 10 year endorsement deal with the Chinese company Li Ning, officially ending a recruitment process following his departure from Under Armour. Part of Steph's ultimate decision was about his comfort. While testing the shoes of two Li Ning signature athletes, Jimmy Butler, his fellow warriors teammate and Dwyane Wade. Li Ning plans to build Curry brand stores in the United States and in China. Joe thoughts of signing Li Ning over bigger brands like Nike and Adidas

[Ocho]

leaning obviously they paying that cheddar but they gotta, they make a pretty good damn shoe Ojo. Yeah, they do make a pretty good shoe. And the fact that they're over there in what, China?

[Joe]

Yes.

[Ocho]

You know I don't think, I don't think, I don't think the brands here in the States meaning like the Nikes and the Adidas and, and things of that sort of, I don't think they really doing too great and I think Li Ning is actually they've been great over the years bro. And to get Steph Curry to get him a signature shoe, a signature brand to where he can sign these other guys under his brand I think is what Lee Ning is trying to do

[Joe]

and I'm not so sure other brands was going to give him that opportunity. Nike is very conscious about that really if you think about it. Who's up under Nike? Jordan?

[Ocho]

Yep.

[Joe]

They had Lebron hadn't been able to do that yet. Because LeBron said, I want. I went to Nike about trying to sign Luca.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

Jordan.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

KD had yet. And maybe KD doesn't want that, but I know LeBron wants to sign athletes under his. Under his.

[Ocho]

Absolutely. Absolutely.

[Joe]

And he hasn't been able to do that. And I'm not so sure Nike is trying to do. I don't think they want another situation like Jordan where they giving up 4, 5, $600 million a year.

[Ocho]

No. And they gonna go young. They getting these young guys. Curry got about three, four years left to where he's probably gonna be playing. They going younger, man. These. These top brands going to get these young cats and they gonna build them up.

[Joe]

But you also, Joe, these guys are not like when we came out, Nike was everything. But you see Cooper Flag, he went to New Balance. You see guys going to Puma. Guys doing Skechers, Guys. Look, hold on. How much you offer Nike New Balance? How much you say you got? Man, give me that New Balance, you know. Hey, let me get that Puma.

[Ocho]

Hey, hey. Them folks writing checks long as Peach Street. You hear me? They ain't playing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So them. Hey, hey. Them folks going with all these brands, the New Balances, the Pumas and all that. Yeah, you're right. Everybody's competing now. It's not just one brand like it used to be Nike or Adidas. You got so many other brands, bro, who are competing. And they getting a lot of these, a lot of the star talent. They getting them early, too, so they can build it and build it and build it, man. Y' all know this thing all about money, man. Bro, why we playing?

[Joe]

Nike gonna offer you nine, Gonna offer you five, six million. And then here come new battle. Gonna give you 15, 20. Come on now, let's be real. And you know, hey, our life, like childhood, growing up, Nike was everything. Was that Jordan shoe drop in 85. It was a.

[Ocho]

It was over.

[Joe]

I ain't. I ain't even think about no Converse no more. I ain't think. Look, I, I. I had a. I had a Converse because everybody had come. I had the weapons, Magic Johnson Labor. Had the Dr. J. Yeah, they were heavy as hell. Had the city with Pony, Spud, Web. Yeah, man, let me go get that 100 shoe.

[Ocho]

It took. It took me a little while before I get them. Before I get them Jordans. I ain't gonna lie to you. Hey, I was in Payless with my mama xj9 hundreds. They look like Jordans, but they weren't no Damn Jordans.

[Chad]

From XJ900, Joe.

[Ocho]

Yeah, man. Yeah. When I was.

[Chad]

You know, if I saw you, know what I would hit you with, boy? What are those?

[Ocho]

I'd have whooped your ass, too, huh? I'd have whooped your ass.

[Joe]

Hey, I got. I got them Jordan twos, man. My mama waited last, paid 100. My mama said, boy, you wouldn't wear these shoes to you 25.

[Ocho]

Hey, they a hundred dollars back then for some shoes was a lot of money, bro. Hey, look, I'm gonna tell y' all something. When my mama started paying that type of money, 120 for them, for them Nikes, them Jordans, them Webbers, them Barkleys. Cause we were getting team shoes. You best believe that the following couple weeks, them lights or that gas bill was gonna be off. One of them gonna be off. I promise you. One of them gonna be off.

[Joe]

Hell, yeah, they. Oh, man, I got them shoes in today. I hit them feels. I started buying my own. I wasn't the. I wasn't the borrower. Hey, my sister tell you I spent all my whole check on one side shirt, one pair of Lee jeans, one pair of Calvin Klein, one. Man, I spent my whole damn check. And by that time, Joe, I had started making like 16 to $20 a day. Yeah, you couldn't hit Shane ass with a Red Apple, Man, I was hell when I wear. I had a eyes on shirt, eyes on belt, eyes on socks to match, and Darksiders check. If y' all my age, y' all know exactly what I'm talking about.

[Ocho]

Had them Calvin Klein, right?

[Joe]

Had some Sergio Rigolettos. Man, I would.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

Oh, Shay. Hey, we're doing it.

[Ocho]

Hey, I know what you mean. That didn't happen to me, unc, until I got to. Until I got to college. Boy, I started getting that pale grand uncle Ojo. They 2900 a damn. I sent my. Send my mama by 11. 1200. Yeah. Hey, the fellas don't see me in the cafeteria for about two, three weeks. I'm not free. I'm out here balling. I'm out here balling. Listen, I done bought me two, three pair of shoes. I done ran all that little money out, huh?

[Joe]

What? Hey, man, y' all get. We got. Cause we got that little work study we got. We got. We didn't get. We got work study, Joe. But you had to work. But, you know, you had to get a little job. Maybe you like stuff. I work for Coach Davis.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

Hey, and Coach Davis, I was the only one that didn't really have to Work. I. I come over there with my homework. I said, coach Davis, I ain't going to lie to you, Coach. I said, I ain't going to do no work. I said, I'm not going to go. Hey, home. I need you to go get my. My dry cleaner. I said, coach, I ain't gonna do that. Yeah, I said, coach, I'm not gonna do that. I'm not gonna go put no gas in no truck. I'm gonna come here, I'm gonna do my homework. He said, I at home. Damn. Don't tell nobody else. Yeah, I don't work enough, but I ain't trying to do. Hey, I'm trying to do as little as possible. I'm gonna get that 400. Now, some people. What, you ain't got to work, but you got to shoot me a hundred? Man, I wish I might. You ain't get but 400. I shoot you a hundred, right?

[Ocho]

Right. Nah, nah. Yeah, Nah. Hey, I know what you mean, boy, but I've been there.

[Joe]

Steph, look, I thought maybe Nike would circle back, but, Joe, I see your point. Them, boy, they like, hold on, Steph got two, three more years.

[Chad]

Hey, Unc, Nike shouldn't have had the circle back. Yeah, they shouldn't have had you. Make me. Make me an offer I can't refuse. And obviously, the fact that they had to circle back means that they played with it, man.

[Joe]

But look here. Well, I bet that money, though, Joe Ocho and they gonna give him things. They're gonna create a golf brand. Remember Nike got out of the Golf?

[Chad]

Yeah.

[Joe]

You know, they. You remember Tiger Wood, they used to have irons and have all that stuff. Now they do a little bit of apparel, but I think Steph trying to go all in on the night on the golf and stuff.

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah. I bet Nike did offer him something, but it wasn't to his liking. You know, I bet you Lee Ning came with a sweet deal like uncle say, you know, he's super into golf. I bet you gonna come out with a golf line and all that, but being able to have the Curry brand and to be able to sign guys under that, I bet you that was probably a. A deep value into what.

[Joe]

I really believe it, Joe. I absolutely believe that's it. Yeah, I believe that's it.

[Ocho]

And leaning on and leaning gonna get it done.

[Chad]

Oh, yeah, leaning.

[Joe]

That Chinese market is you. Because when those guys go on tours, where they go, Joe, you see James Harden with Adidas when you used to see rested. So Kobe Bryant, you see LeBron, you see D. Wade, you see all these guys, where they go, China, Thailand, Taiwan. Oh, yes. That Asia. Yep.

[Ocho]

And then people. Them people are wearing them shoes over there, bro. Yeah. So smart move.

[Joe]

Congratulations, Steph. Senior boy, player size 13.

[Ocho]

Yeah. I need 16. I got these.

[Joe]

I got these Steph Curries. So I have a whole lot of these.

[Ocho]

You ain't never bought. You ain't never got a pair of under armor? Steph Curry,

[Chad]

he signed. He signed him for him.

[Ocho]

Oh, did he?

[Chad]

Yeah, I remember that.

[Ocho]

Damn. It might be worth something, huh?

[Joe]

Hey, Joe. I mean, Ocho might not do it, but I put these on. Joe, I'm telling you. Now

[Ocho]

you what? You telling me now what?

[Joe]

I might have these on when I shoot that three point competition against your ass.

[Ocho]

Bring it on out. Bring it on.

[Chad]

But Joe going to lose twice. He going to lose to me and he going to lose to you.

[Joe]

As a matter of fact, I'm gonna put the shoes up and the ball.

[Ocho]

That's what I'm talking about.

[Joe]

That's what I was gonna say.

[Ocho]

I ain't want it to look like I was robbing you, but that's what I was. I was gonna suggest that.

[Joe]

Why about. I think I go kill a 10 and call it a day. And call it a day.

[Ocho]

You.

[Joe]

You.

[Ocho]

I'm gonna tell you to compete, you're gonna have to at least go 8 for 10. For show, though, you got to go 8 for 10. Because if I miss one, it's gonna be luck.

[Joe]

I'm putting. That's how confident I am. Look at this chat. That's a Louis Vuitton basketball official, NFL Louis Vuitton ball. And I'm gonna put up the Steph Curry shoes that I personally got after he. They beat the Lakers. I took him off his feet, he signed them.

[Ocho]

Hey, hey, Chad, Chad. I already ordered a little ring for that ball to sit in. I'm gonna put it. I'm gonna put it right behind me. I'm gonna put it. Matter of fact, I'm gonna put it right up there. Yeah, yeah.

[Joe]

You ain't gonna get it. I got the flow.

[Ocho]

I got the little floating ring. It's gonna mount to the wall right here. I'm gonna mount it to the wall.

[Chad]

Come here.

[Joe]

Hey, who sing that song? Never gonna get it. Never gonna get it. Never gonna get it.

[Chad]

Hey. Hey. It's my baby. It's my baby. Birthday.

[Ocho]

Happy birthday.

[Chad]

Yeah. In two minutes she turned 11 and she graduate tomorrow.

[Joe]

Okay, okay. Graduating on your birthday. That's what I'm talking about.

[Chad]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Joe]

Is that the One that play tennis. Whoa.

[Chad]

No, that's.

[Ocho]

That's her sister. Okay, okay.

[Joe]

Congratulations. Congratulations. Enjoy. Yeah, yeah.

[Chad]

And matter of fact, I ate a chat. I'm gonna give y' all her cash app, and everybody sent her the thousand dollars.

[Joe]

You gonna be pretty good if you said 10.

[Chad]

Okay, 10. Matter of fact, let me see how much y' all love my child.

[Ocho]

Yeah, man, that's it.

[Joe]

I don't know, Ash. How much this basketball cost? Don't you worry about it, Joe. Cause you won't get it.

[Ocho]

You know, it don't matter how much it cost. It's gonna look way better over here.

[Joe]

I can't let you do it.

[Chad]

Hey, Joe, you gonna look. Hey, Joe. Hey. Hey, Uncle Joe. Just be talking and don't realize what it. What's he got in.

[Joe]

I mean, you must be. I keep telling you, I was born in 68. I came out of good stock, not Woodstock.

[Ocho]

Yeah, what. What. What that mean?

[Joe]

Hey, Ocho, on StockX, this basketball is 4, $500. Joe, you never gonna see the date. You never gonna see this, man. Please.

[Ocho]

I can't. Hey, I can't wait for it to be posted up right here.

[Chad]

Definitely ain't winning.

[Joe]

You see that rotation, Joe?

[Ocho]

Oh, yeah.

[Joe]

You see that rotation?

[Ocho]

I got. I, I, I, I see it, but I got you.

[Joe]

You hit a three on you.

[Ocho]

Oh, no, no, no, sir. No, sir. I can't wait for this here, boy.

[Chad]

Hey, look.

[Ocho]

Yeah, you, Ocho, you. You and Ultra already know. I made believers out of y' all already. I hate that to keep doing y' all like, because I really like both of y'. All. Y' all really. Both of y' all really some cool dudes. But I have to. I had to. I had to make a point to set an example with you boys, man,

[Chad]

you're not gonna say nothing? No, you ain't gonna say nothing here, Joe.

[Ocho]

Yeah, okay. All right.

[Chad]

I'm letting you know. I'm letting you know right now.

[Ocho]

Would you let me know?

[Chad]

You know what? I'm done talking. I don't even want to talk about it.

[Ocho]

Yeah, okay.

[Chad]

I just want. I just want to play.

[Joe]

I just want to point anywhere from 6,000 to 26,000. So I got. I got 12,000, 12, 14, maybe 12 to 20 something thousand dollars worth of merchandise that you not gonna get, Joe.

[Ocho]

Hey, thank you in advance.

[Joe]

Thank you for what?

[Ocho]

Thank you in advance. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm gonna take that off your hand, man. We already know that.

[Joe]

I can't.

[Ocho]

We already know that. We already know that. Hey, hey, hey. And I want my. I want my rematch. In the cornhole, Joe.

[Joe]

That baby wasn't even close, though. Joe.

[Ocho]

No, no, don't do that.

[Joe]

You want a rematch on golf, we go to the real golf course. If you want, we go to topgolf.

[Ocho]

You can't. You only now. Got you. And you, you, you got you, You. Ocho got lucky with that. Just a little pudding thing. Y' all really can't. Y' all really can't beat me in golf neither.

[Chad]

Oh, my goodness.

[Joe]

You started all this talking. I wasn't even talking about no golf. I wasn't even. You started this.

[Chad]

Hey, when we. When we going outside? That's all I want to know.

[Ocho]

Look, look, look, look.

[Chad]

When we going outside,

[Joe]

would you wanna. Would you wanna. We gotta find something because look, we taking a vacation. We're gonna take a two week vacation and we come. When we come back, we might come back outside.

[Ocho]

Hercules.

[Chad]

Hey, now we talking. Hey, I'm gonna be. I'm gonna be in hella shape too.

[Joe]

Cause, you know, we got dark. We got what you call them

[Ocho]

pool, pink.

[Joe]

I already know pool. I. I said, hey, I'm a combination of emperors and Earl Strickland. That's. I'm. I'm a combination.

[Ocho]

He, he, he, he go, oh, come on, man. Come on, man. Come on. I'm trying to be cool with you. I'm trying to be cool. Y' all don't listen, boy.

[Joe]

Okay, wait, hey, I'm sorry, Joe. I mean, I mean, if you just. If you want the ball, I'll give you the ball. But you can't.

[Ocho]

No, no, no, no.

[Joe]

You can't shoot.

[Ocho]

No, no, no, no. When I beat you for it, I'm gonna feel better about having it. And then Chad that, you know, that damn ISO ain't nothing to be played with. The way he whoop Ocho ass. The way he done went over there and whoop Unc ass.

[Chad]

Hey, let me. Hey, Joe, you're not getting past me. So your best bet is to play Unc first. That's your best bet.

[Joe]

No.

[Ocho]

Huh?

[Chad]

Hey, get your confidence up before you.

[Joe]

I'm so confident, I put the shoes that Steph signed to me up. He can't beat me in a three point competition. Steph the grave.

[Ocho]

If you just want to give me the shoes, I understand.

[Joe]

Because that, that's basically what you're doing.

[Ocho]

You know what I mean? And I. Hey, hey, I like you, okay? I hate to beat you down like that, man, but I'm gonna have to show you. I'm gonna have to make you a believer. Okay, I see what's going on. I see what's going on.

[Joe]

You gotta make me a believer.

[Ocho]

You and Ocho. Y' all don't think fat me, Grease. I'm gonna show y' all ass, though. It ain't Y. Then I'm. Hit that. Hit that curry that shimmy Curry be doing.

[Chad]

Hey, you gonna hit that for the

[Joe]

first time since 2000. What you say, Ocho?

[Chad]

I say Joe gonna hit that Antoine Walker like he hit that three.

[Ocho]

Yeah, he already know it.

[Joe]

I'm just telling.

[Tab Ramos]

I, I.

[Joe]

Hey, I figure I go 7, 7 for 10. 8 or 10, it's easy. Easy money. Cause I'm a corner. That corner three. That's me.

[Ocho]

Yeah, I made a living off of that. Corner three.

[Joe]

Corner three. Joe,

[Ocho]

I ain't going no less than nine for ten. I'm just.

[Joe]

I just want you to know once I'm gonna let you go first. Cause once I get that groove, I'm gonna tell you like this. If Pete and Repeat was on the fence and Pete fell off, who was left? There it is, right again. Repeat. If Pete. Repeat was on the fence and Pete fell off, who was left? Joe and Ocho. Repeat. I'm just letting you know, Joe. I'm just letting you know.

[Ocho]

All right. All right.

[Joe]

I don't really like to get involved because I don't like the competitive juices to come out, but I. Yeah, you do.

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah. I, I, I get it. I get it. I understand. I understand. I understand. Hey.

[Joe]

Oh, Joe, he ain't gonna be nothing. I'm have him out there looking like Chet. He gonna be looking like Chad when I'm done with it.

[Chad]

Hey, that's what I told him yesterday.

[Ocho]

Hey, hey, one thing about me, boy. I'm fighting back now.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Ocho]

I don't know what the hell y' all think this.

[Chad]

Hey, what's the point of fighting back if you ain't. Can't make. You can't land no punches.

[Ocho]

You see, you seen me go berserk after you and Unc talked stuff to me after that first. After that little golf, Y' all seen me go berserk. You see how I lost my mind? I lost my mind. Couldn't even control myself no more, huh? Don't y' all get me started. Don't worry about it, man.

[Joe]

I'm trying, okay? When we get outside, we get them darts, we get disc golf. Hey, we. Like I said, we got a lot of stuff to do. We got the ax throw.

[Ocho]

Oh, man. Come on, man. Come on, man. It's like taking care of your baby.

[Joe]

I already know you're not gonna beat me fishing so you could get that up. That is a rap.

[Ocho]

I'm telling you. I just look like this. I'm a bad mo fo. I'll just let you know.

[Chad]

No, no, you're not, Joe. No.

[Ocho]

Okay. All right. Okay.

[Joe]

Like I say, I just need to know, are we fishing for whatever bite are we going catching a particular type of fish? That's all I need to know.

[Ocho]

I don't give a damn when I throw it out there. I'll give a damn if I catch a snake. I bet y' all catch something. I bet you

[Joe]

this, man going out there fishing for garfish and all kind of foolishness.

[Chad]

Come on, man.

[Ocho]

I'm fishing with the hell bite. What's biting today? What's biting? Yeah.

[Joe]

Okay. For the first time since 2009, the Larry O' Brien Trophy will be displayed at center court during the NBA Finals. This is the first time since the NBA is using the design since 2009 finals between the Lakers and the Magic. Joe, are you happy to see the NBA? Bring the classic look back.

[Ocho]

I'm very happy. Fellas, listen, the finals are very prestige, and I don't like when we watch the finals and it look like a regular playoff game or regular NBA game. Put, put, put the big decal out there of the trophy to where we can really immerse ourselves into the finals and what the finals is really about. Knowing that we're watching, you know, you know, the greatest event that basketball has to offer. I think this is. This is fantastic, bro. For them to bring this back. Hopefully they keep it for the years.

[Joe]

Why did they take it away? Whether were the guys slipping on the logo or something? What happened?

[Ocho]

I have no idea. I wonder, was that. I wonder if that was a problem or not, actually.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Ocho]

So I wonder what they did.

[Joe]

What.

[Ocho]

What have they done for it not to be sleek now.

[Joe]

Yeah. Hey, you know, whoever win this, they gonna take part of center court. Cuz, you know, Jordan had had it in. In his. In his home.

[Ocho]

You should. Yeah. Yeah, you should.

[Joe]

Damn.

[Ocho]

Damn, this. This gonna be a great one. It's gonna be a great final.

[Joe]

It look good. I mean, it's already painted. Look good. Everybody knows Shaq, but off camera, he's just a regular guy.

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[News Commentator]

I turned off news altogether.

[Joe]

I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything.

[Ocho]

It's the rage bait.

[News Commentator]

It feels like it's trying to divide people.

[Joe]

We got clear facts. Maybe we could calm down a little.

[NBC News Announcer]

NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News reporting for America.

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[Joe]

SGA calls his MVP year a failure after Game 7 loss. I failed at my goal. I did not achieve what I wanted to achieve, but I learned the most about myself and make the greatest amount of increase in my career. When I fail and I don't get what I want, I look at, I look at this no different. I didn't get to where I wanted to go this season. There's a reason for that. Now I have to look for that reason and try to make sure it never happens again. Joe in the regular season, Shea averaged 31.1 per game on 55% shooting, and he shot 39% from three during the postseason. Excuse me. In this, in this series, he averaged 26 points a game on 41% shooting on 29% from three. Now, everybody wanted to jump on me last night because they played well that one game. And I said, okay, Joe, if you, I'll concede that to you. You, not you, like you want to. I want to push back on you a little bit. I said, okay, I can see that. Yeah, I said, but Joe, there's no way people can think that he played well in this series. He shot 14% less from the field than what he shot in the regular season. He shot 10% less from three than what he shot in the regular season, and he scored five fewer points. Under what scenario can you say Shea had a great series take? We'll deal with Chet in just a second. We're going to set him aside just for this because he. I love the way he looked at his approach, where he says, look, my ultimate goal was to win an mvp. Win the championship with another finals mvp. That's my ultimate goal. One of those three things happened after the other two did not. I can't look at this as a successful season, although some might. Joe, what do you like? What did you, what did you think about what he had to say? And what do you think about the series he just had?

[Ocho]

I Love the fact that he, that he took the accountability and put it on himself. You know, that's what the great ones do, bro. They don't deflect, they don't blame. They point right at themselves. Man, I gotta be better. I should have been better. And the fact that he had high standards, I mean, listen, he back to back mvp just coming off winning a title. Yeah, it's a failure, bro, because to him. Cause to Shay, he felt like they were the best team. He felt like they really had a chance to do something special and that was to win back to back championships. But they came up short. Give San Antonio credit, but no, un. He did not have a great series. He did not. I thought San Antonio took the challenge to try and slow him down and hold him below his average, which they did. Give San Antonio credit, they did a great job. But I understand where Shay's coming from. No, this wasn't up to his standards, bro. And the accountability that he put on himself, I respect it so much, which is why I'm a huge fan of him.

[Joe]

Because when you look at it, Joe, you say, well, Shannon, he only scored five points, but look at the percentage that it took him just to get to that.

[Ocho]

Right? Yeah.

[Joe]

Think about it. Let that sink in for just a second. He shot 55% and a lot of his shot are the shots that he was making in this series where you see him making toughs 18, 19, 20 footers. He was getting to the. If you think about it in that. Cuz. Hold on, wait a minute. You mean to tell me this man shot got 14% less for what he normally shoots from the floor, 10% less and he had five points fewer. I can see possibly why they struggle, because even if Chet played as bad as he did, and I'll just bring Chet just for this, and I'm. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. If Shay plays like he plays in the regular season, Joe, I'm still not sure. They don't win this series.

[Ocho]

Hold on, hold on. But you got to look at San Antonio. They ain't got no shabby guards out there. Meaning when I say shabby, I'm talking about from Fox to Castle to Basell to Champion.

[Joe]

Those dudes.

[Ocho]

It's no weak link defensively. They all can score and they all sit in their chair and play defense. Give them credit on what they done to Shay, how they bottled him up, how they made everything tough, how they made his catches tough, how they made all his shots tough. He had to take and make tough shots, bro. And then you got this Alien behind him. If I do get by you, hell, I can't even really look at the goal. You know what I mean? I gotta become a passer. So I think I'm giving a lot of credit to the Spurs. I'm giving a lot of credit to the spurs because they are an elite defensive team and they showed it throughout this series.

[Joe]

But so what about MVPs? If MVPs only succeed against marginal or average players, why are they mvp? Considering he. Think about it, how few times there have been Back to back MVPs? Even more time they've been back to back MVPs with back to back titles. That's what makes them so great. That's why you get a Jordan. That's why you get a LeBron. That's why it ain't that many. You get a Magic Johnson. Think about how many guys have won regular season MVP back to back and finals MVP back to back. There's a, there's a re. That's not, that's not just an arbitrary thing. Yeah, you think about it. LeBron was the last to do it. Then you go Jordan. And I think Magic did it in 87 and 88, if I'm not mistaken. Don't quote me, but I think Magic won 87, 88. Cause he wore his third. He won his third MVP, if I'm not mistaken, in 90. So when you look at it, nah, Jordan snuck one in there. So Magic might have didn't win back to back. He might have didn't win back. He might have not won back to back regular season MVPs and Finals MVPs. I know LeBron did in 12 and 13 and I know Jordan.

[Ocho]

Right.

[Joe]

So we got. Okay, yes, I want to give, I want to give San Antonio deserve a boatload of credit. But the reason why a D an MVP is that a lot of times, more times than not, Joe, he's able to rise above that. That. That's how he gets the award.

[Ocho]

Yeah. Oh yeah.

[Joe]

Go ahead, Joe. Go ahead, finish up.

[Ocho]

I think with Shay, when you look at him though, he's not. He's not a real big physical opposing guy. I think his talent is really from sure will and hard work. Meaning, you know. Yes, he takes and make tough shots, but man, he, they, they, they. OKC ran up into a team bro who was just prepared. And it's different in the post season when I can prepare and study and I. Yeah, and I can prepare and study your movements. I know your personnel super well. I understand patterns and how you move and what you do when you come off the pick and roll what your size up is like in the isolation what you're trying to get to, bro. They studied this man. They studied this man and went out and perfected the game plan against okc. Like, damn, we know Shay, the head of the snake, man. If we could just slow him down a little bit. I ain't saying stop him, you know, just slow him down a little bit to where, you know, we're able to be effective on him. And I thought they'd done a hell of a job.

[Joe]

Ocho,

[Ocho]

huh?

[Chad]

You say he shot 55% during the regular season. Huh? You think about the difference game to game, week to week, city to city, you're always playing somebody different. There's a certain level of comfort you're able to study for a game or a team or a player for that specific week. Now we talk about a seven game series. I think that that would be the difference, I would think, in understanding on why he didn't shoot as well as he did during the regular season as opponent to the playoffs. Now on top of that, he's playing against some of the best defenders in the game collectively as a team. Not just one individual, not just two individuals. You got three of them that he has to deal with on both ends of the court, offensively and defensively. So I think I kind of agree with Joe and a little bit, and I understand what you're saying as well, is there are not very many back to back because regardless of the circumstance, regardless of scenario, they always rise to the occasion. But in this instance, in this series, he just wasn't able to on how great those three, those three players were alongside having goddamn Wimby as well.

[Joe]

I just, I just think sometimes when we, when we, we like players, we give them the benefit of the doubt because of said now Kobe scores 5% less. I mean score 5 point less, shoots 14% less, 10% less. Are we still saying, oh, Detroit's a great team or are we gonna criticize Kobe? Because that's what happened.

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah. Hey, and listen, if you can't, if okc, if Shay doesn't have a consistent number two in this post season, fellas, he has to, you know, hope that guys come along for the ride. He don't know who's going to explode from game to game. He just has to be consistent. I think that was the toughest part for him because it's like, damn, I'm going to have to take a lot of these tough shots. But I got to hope that somebody Comes along with this ride, somebody catches hot because we need a number two or even third guy to step up and help out with scoring for the productivity of the offensive side of the ball. And I just thought it was a lot of inconsistency in that aspect. So therefore, if I only know, I really gotta worry about Shay, Uncle Ojo and the rest of these guys. I'm gonna live with some of those results, you know what I mean? And I just thought that's what OKC kind of ran into against the spurs team.

[Joe]

If you look at him, and I don't think he was very pleased with the way he played last year in the finals. He mentioned that, he mentioned that he did not play up to his regular season the way he played in the regular season. In the regular season last year he averaged 32.7. So he was down two points in the finals versus the regular season. He was down eight percentage points from the field goal percentage. He was down. What did he shoot from the three? I think he shot like 36, 37% from the three. So he was down 13% from that. So are we gonna. But see, we overlook some. See what we do is that we overlook those numbers that were substantially down because they won. Now we critique them a little more harshly. We like, well, damn, when you really think about it, damn. Okay, look, I don't, I think in the regular season, I mean, I don't really look at Shea as a three point shooter, Joe, do you?

[Ocho]

I mean, I don't think his average is high.

[Joe]

It's like in the mid to the high 30s. Because he's not a volume three point shooter. Say like a Steph Curry or some of these other guys, right? So he makes, I mean, he go three or seven, you know, three or eight. That's gonna keep you at a nice percentage, but you know what I'm saying? And sometimes he might go, he might go 2 for 5. But he's not a volume guy. He's not looking to get up 8 to 10 to 12 threes a game. He's not like the Celtics guys or, or, or the Cavaliers. Some of these guys like that. Look, he's a phenomenal player. And I think the thing is, Joe, what happens is, is that when you critique a player's performance, people automatically assume you're trying to diminish what he's already done. No, he's a two time Finals mvp. I mean, two time regular season mvp. He's done that. He's a final mvp. He's done that. He's a Four time, first team, all NBA selection. He's done that. But I think it's. If in order for us to do our job, Nightcap, collectively, we have to look like. Well, Joe, when you look at it, man, 26 points. And just think, if he didn't shoot that 52, 53% yesterday, Joe, he was gonna be on the 40, which is crazy.

[Ocho]

You're right. He's a. He's a rhythm guy. More. More so midi. And once he get his mid range going and get his, you know, driving to the basket going, the lane starts to open up and guys start to sag off, then that's when he'll sidestep you.

[Joe]

Shoot. Yeah.

[Ocho]

Three step back. He's not.

[Joe]

His first couple shots ain't gonna be no. 3. No, he's not looking to get the three goals. I don't know if I've seen. I don't know if I've seen him, Joe. And I've watched him probably about five to eight times in the regular season, and I watched all the playoff game. I don't know if I've seen him open up with a three.

[Ocho]

Nah, they ain't what he do. He trying to apply pressure early. You know what I mean? He trying to get in the paint. It's almost like a big guy. He want his first shot, a first

[Joe]

touch count, as close to the basket as he can get it.

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Then we open that up. We open that up, and then look, they start sagging off when they least expect it. I sidestep him, you know, and get one off. But for the most part, nah, he gonna make you play him honest. He gonna make you back up first.

[Joe]

And I love the part, Ocho. This. What I. What I love is that the game plan they had yesterday and Shay got it going in that second and third quarter, and they said, hey, if he. If he can take and make enough of those, we just throw our hands up and say we did everything we possibly delivered that. I don't believe with the amount of pressure that we're applying on him on both ends of the court, because we gonna make his ass guard, too. Too. We got to guard his ass. Yeah, we gonna make his ass guard, too. Y' all go at it. Whoever has the ball, do not be afraid to go at shape.

[Ocho]

Absolutely.

[Joe]

And that's why you saw him late in the ballgame. You saw it. You saw that chest going up and down. You saw those hands on those shorts. And yeah, now if you. He realized it. So what do you do? He Start pump faking, trying to get guys to jump, leave their feet. Now he leaves into him to go to the free throw line.

[Chad]

The red, the reflect.

[Joe]

He got him a couple of times and I, you know, I tweeted, hey, he getting tired, so he gonna pump fake. He ain't going to his natural shot where he dive and just go straight up with it. That ain't what he was doing. He would dive and then pump because he felt those legs starting to get a little weary. They did a, they did a great job of hounding him. And if you make four, if you get to 45, making tough 18 to 20 footers, Joe, ain't nothing I can do. Ain't nothing I can do.

[Ocho]

Ain't nothing you can do, bro.

[Joe]

Look at it. Did you see the shots that man was making? It's like if I, if I blitz the quarterback, Ocho and I hit him, and I hit him and I hit him. Yeah, and he completes those passes. They say, guys, we sacked him 7 times.

[Chad]

Got to live with it.

[Joe]

It's kind of like when Joe Burrow had that magical run through the playoffs. The Tennessee Titans sacked him nine times, but when he needed to put a drive together to get them in field goal range, he made every throw. He looked down the battle gun, and then when they hit him on his chin, they hit him in his chest. He stood there. I ain't nothing I can do, guys. Kansas City sacked him, the Rams, even though he lost, look at the pressure that they applied. Sometimes you just gotta say, you know what? I did all I could do. I ain't got nothing. I ain't got nothing. Hey, I fired all my bullets. Hell, I threw the gun and I just took off running. That's all I had left.

[Ocho]

Hey, analytics, analytics say that those 18, 19 foot jump shots, those are the worst shots in basketball. That's analytically. That's why they say they either want a three foot layup or dunk a damn layup, you know what I mean? And I think Unk would coming to. Speaking of Shay. Yeah, I thought he got tired, but he also was shooting such a great percentage that he made them jump, you know what I mean? Like he was making shots last night, like, damn, we gotta get up on them. So that's why those pump fakes started to come into play and they started to work. Yeah, I, I, I thought, I thought Shay done what he could, bro, but I, I, does he deserve the criticism? Yeah, because the standards are high for him. You know, when you're an mvp, Two time mvp, one Time champion. And you a back to back mvp. Yeah, man, the standard's gonna be high.

[Chad]

And you think. You think about it too, Uncle Joe. You think about the accolades and the resume and what he's done so far early on in his career. And we hold him to a certain standard based on what we've seen, based on what he's already done. Well, hell, based on when you hear him talk, how many times do you hear a player take. Take accountability. Accountability. And hold themselves to that exact same standard. And he made no excuses.

[Ocho]

Yeah, no excuses.

[Chad]

And this goes back to when I forgot what game it was. They asked him, what can she do More of you Remember they asked him that question and he didn't really have an answer.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Chad]

And I think having someone else with J Will being out, having shed come along and being able to take some of that pressure off of him, I think this series would have been. They might not have won, but it would have been a lot different if she had just showed up a little bit more.

[Joe]

Now they got some decisions. Joe, you know Casey Walls do an extension.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

We have had a conversation earlier, and Joe, you looked at me like I had four heads and 17 eyes. I said, joe, what you think about if they were to move, if they want to move on from J Dub? You like. Oh, come on. How you. You are? You are. You will let Case and Wallace walk. You can't sign but one of your. You got three first round picks. You could only sign one. You're about. You're a small market team. And I understand. Ocho say when you winning, you keep it. But. But you know them billionaire, they don't like to shell out no 200 million, no 300 million, Joe. Right?

[Ocho]

Yeah, I already know it.

[Chad]

Especially if you're a unc. Hey, Joe, how do billionaires feel if you already won one, you already won a championship.

[Joe]

I'll tell you how they feel.

[Tab Ramos]

How do they feel?

[Joe]

The Celtics felt so good about them winning a championship, he sold a damn team. That's how great he felt about it. He said, let me go ahead and get off. Let me go ahead and get my Ocho. You say when you go to the table, you win a little bit, you take your money.

[Chad]

Yes.

[Ocho]

Oh, yeah.

[Joe]

Oh, yeah. So you bought this guy said, hold on, we just won the championship. I can keep trying to run it back and win more and spend 2,300 million dollars, or I could just go ahead and take my six and a half billion when I only paid 3, 400, 500, 600 million. No, I'm Good. I'll let y' all figure that out. Yeah, he got.

[Chad]

Yeah, he got out while it was hot.

[Joe]

That's the thing. That's the fine line that you gotta walk because, okay, Joe, I'm winning a championship, but damn, I keep staying in that damn secretary apron, man. That thing tear my ass up.

[Ocho]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey, you gotta figure out, I think, for okc, because you gotta have scoring bro, in that starting lineup. As much as I love Lou Dort and as how hard is he? How hard he plays, it's gonna be hard, bro, when you don't have people who can relieve pressure off Shay and you put. Be putting so much on his shoulders for him to carry, and you ain't got but two offensive threats in your starting lineup. That's gonna. That's hard because the west is so tough. The. In the game. The NBA game has changed so much that, hell, if you can't score the ball, if you can't shoot the ball right, it's hard to play your ass. It is.

[Chad]

It is.

[Ocho]

It's hard to play.

[Joe]

Yes, because.

[Ocho]

So they got.

[Joe]

Go ahead, Joe. Go ahead. Finish your point.

[Ocho]

They got to figure that part out because it was so glaring in this series. And obviously, we're giving San Antonio, you know, all the deserving respect, love and respect they've earned. But, man, when you ain't got but two guys in your star lineup who can score the ball. Fellas. Hey, man, you got to reevaluate some things because guess what? San Antonio gonna be here for another 10, 15 years.

[Joe]

Okay, guys, y' all need to refresh or restart your browser because everything is good to go on our end. Joe and I and Ocho and I, we can communicate. So I think it's. Guys on your end. I don't think it's on our end. And the thing is, Joe is getting. Now that it's getting harder and harder. Even if you're a defensive liability, it's getting harder and harder for you to play. Unless you're so extraordinary offensive defensively.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

The thing that. The thing that made that. That made this the series is that everybody really could defend.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Joe]

That was the thing. So just imagine if you can defend and you couldn't defend. I don't know how you play in the series because everybody, for the most part, especially from the guards, could take you out the bounds. Every guard from OKC could take you out the bounds. Bounds. Every guard from San Antonio could take you off the bounds.

[Ocho]

Yes, sir.

[Joe]

If you couldn't defend, I can't play. You. It's really that simple?

[Ocho]

Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, look, fellas, we're looking at the two of the best defensive teams in the NBA this year.

[Chad]

Yeah.

[Ocho]

Staying in San Antonio. Okc. So it didn't surprise me defensively how gritty both of these teams were, how disciplined they were on defense. It was the offensive end that we didn't really know who was like, even for San Antonio. Although Castle was great, Harper was great. You know, Fox was a little inconsistent at times. Champagne made shots a couple games. Vassell made shots, didn't make shots. But the biggest difference for San Antonio, bro, they got so many guys who can score the basketball. So, okay, it's cool. If two, three guys ain't making shots. Well, hell, we got one who can put up up 43 and 24 points. You know, you catch another 25, 30 from Castle or Harper, it's just. It's so much. And they're so young.

[Joe]

Such. Such.

[Ocho]

Such a hell of a series, bro. The Thunder, really? Really. Because they got so many assets. Uncle Ocho. The Thunder, that they got a great problem that they. That they ran into. Yeah, they got a great problem, bro.

[Joe]

I still believe they should have started case on Wallace instead of Dort. They've got to get more. Oh, Joe, they play it. Hold on, hold on.

[Ocho]

More offensively, though, they started Casey Wallace.

[Joe]

They dork. I can't start. Dork. I might have to. I might have to go. I might. I gotta get. I gotta get more production, Joe. I got to.

[Ocho]

Yeah, I agree.

[Joe]

Think about what they going with. They had all five of their guys in double figures, and they cooking from the jump. And so if he's not really neutralizing anybody and he's not giving me anything offensively, Joe, how do. How do I give him those kind of minutes?

[Chad]

Yeah, he's a liability, you know, and that's damn near almost not fair to Door too hunk.

[Ocho]

What you mean?

[Chad]

Because he's never been an offensive weapon, you know, he's always a liability on offense. He's there because of what he's able to do defensively. Now, that comes on the onus of one of your other players who's on a Mac contract, him not showing up now. Because he's not showing up now. We talk about Dort being a liability offensively when that's something he's never been.

[Joe]

I think it's a serious thing, Ocho, when you look at. Okay. How does things match up? Okay, I gotta look. Okay. I'm hoping. I'm hoping that Chad's Gonna give us what he gave us in the regular season.

[Ocho]

Season.

[Joe]

I can hope that.

[Ocho]

Right, right.

[Joe]

Hartenstein is going to be Hardenstein. We don't run plays for Hartenstein. We'll lob it. We'll dish it down to him. He'll hustle. Guy gonna get some extra points. He gonna put the ball. He'll give us some second chance possessions, and he'll give us, you know, he'll get a rebound and dunk it back. But I don't really have to run a set for him. It's the same thing for Dort. I don't really run sets for Dort, but when I got those guys, when I got Champagne and I got Vassell and I got Fox and I got Harper and I got Keldon Johnson, him and I got Carter Brown, they got six guys that can take you off the bounds. All six of those guys can defend. Not all of them can't defend at the same level, but they can defend. The problem is, is that Dort, the. The disparity with the scoring is such a drop off.

[Ocho]

Yeah, it is that.

[Joe]

It's like you get three points, you get four points. Joe, the other night we had. We had a bet when he scored less than five points. He had five points in the second quarter and he scored another one.

[Ocho]

So, hey, I think. Hey, listen, I think with Lou Dork, if y' all remember, y' all know, game one, he started off on Wimby, and Wimby got off to that great start on the. And he ended up having that 41 and 20.

[Chad]

Yes.

[Ocho]

Ever since then, he didn't. I mean, he guarded him at times, but it wasn't his main assignment. We started to see Hardenstein guard him and beat him ultra physical.

[Joe]

That's what they should have started. I don't know. Yeah, Joe, come on now. You gotta see. I don't know how tall. Let's just say six' four. Joe, really, you gonna start a guy that's six foot four on a guy that got a whole foot advantage and a damn and a problem, probably a 10 inch from span to span advantage on that. So what is he gonna do?

[Ocho]

Be physical. Be physical. Be physical with him. Push him around and wear him down. Hell, that's what I think OKC was thinking at first, but then it was such a disparity when he started on the low block, Hell, they were just throwing it up. He was just catching, dunking over, you know what I mean?

[Joe]

I'll come off of the rebound. What was he doing just right on the top Let me. Give me that right there. So look, I love, I love what Shea had. Shea had to say. He put their onus on himself, just like he did last year. He won last year, he said, but I don't think I played my best basketball. My job is to go back to the drawing board and see where I can be better, in which I will. He followed it up with another MVP season. He didn't complete the mission, which was get back. Because now you start getting to that elite, elite company when you start talking back back to back regular season MVPs, back to back finals MVPs. There ain't been a whole lot of them. There have not been a whole lot of them. Back to back regular season MVPs. But to run that garlic, Joe, and to run that thing back

[Ocho]

gotta be special.

[Chad]

You know, it's funny and the fact that it's almost unfair to him how well he's played, Uncle Joe.

[Ocho]

Yeah.

[Chad]

Because now we hold him to a certain standard based on what he's done in the past, we're expecting to look like you've done in the past. So when you don't, as you look this series shooting a lower percentage, 55 in the regular season, and then what was he, what was it this, this series?

[Joe]

41.

[Chad]

41. You know, for hell, some players in the, in the NBA shooting 41, I mean, hey, that'd be good, that'd be great. But the standard that he said is so high, we're being critical of him because he's not getting help.

[Joe]

That's what happened. You compare him to his great self. Yeah, he did that. He could have been marginal and averaged 19 to 20, Joe. And guess what? We wouldn't even bat a knife right. He went to the gym, he got better because he felt that, you know what? Yes, I'm in the NBA and I'm playing, I'm starting to starting, but I think I can get to another level. Let me see. And ta da. So now that is the level that he'll be held to even as he starts to get older. The level he'll be held to is a 26, 27 year old Shea that won back to back MVPs and a Finals MVP. That's what he's going to be. He's not going to be compared to these other guys that's going to come along and be great. You get compared, great players get compared to their younger self. Is it fair? Whether it's fair or not, it is what it is. And now superhuman Shaq, I keep telling

[Shaq]

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