Nightcap Hour 2: T-MAC INSISTS Giannis CAN’T Be Heat’s A1 + Which SPORTS MEDIA Personality HAS TO GO?! + DeMarcus Cousins SPEAKS on LeBron’s FREE AGENCY + 76ers BIG 3 HAVE CONTACTED LeBron

Summary

Nightcap Hour 2: T-MAC INSISTS Giannis CAN’T Be Heat’s A1 + Sports Media Personality HAS TO GO?! + DeMarcus Cousins on LeBron’s Free Agency + 76ers BIG 3 Recruiting LeBron

Date: July 16, 2026
Hosts: Shannon Sharpe (“Unc”), Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson (“Ocho” or “Joe”)
Podcast: Nightcap (Shay Shay Media & Playmaker)

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Episode Overview

In Hour 2 of "Nightcap," Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson dive deep into NBA off-season debates, starting with Tracy McGrady’s contentious comments about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s role as a team’s “1A,” discuss the challenges of building championship cores around dominant single stars, and trade stories about player sacrifices, media beefs, and the latest free agency rumors surrounding LeBron James—including reports that the Philadelphia 76ers’ current stars are actively recruiting him. The conversation is raw, animated, and full of personal and insider perspective.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tracy McGrady’s Take: Can Giannis Be Miami’s “1A”?

[21:09 - 25:15]

• Shannon Sharpe summarizes T-Mac’s position:
  “Tracy McGrady believes Giannis can't be the Heat’s 1A… He’s a guy that can get through three quarters. You can carry our team. I can't give him the ball in the fourth quarter.”
  (21:09)

• Why not? No signature move, free-throw struggles.
  “He ain't got no signature move. I can't throw it to him. And if they foul him, there's a great chance he's gonna miss the free throw. I need somebody that got a move…” (22:26)

• Ocho pushes back:
  “Giannis is a one, guys. He's a one… He is a guy obviously who can get his own, but… in crunch time, he’s looking for someone else…” (21:34)

• The closer issue.
  Giannis tends to defer late: “He ain't looking aggressive to score the ball… that’s when he's looking for a guy like Middleton or Dame.” (23:10)

• Referencing Giannis’ legendary Game 6 but noting it was an exception.
  “You’re sadly mistaken if you think he's going to shoot that kind of percentage [from the line] more times than not.” (23:55)

Memorable Quote

Shannon Sharpe: “As great as Giannis is, he’s still the guy that can’t be my 1A when it counts. You need somebody that gotta move.” (22:26)

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2. Building Teams Around a Dominant Ball Handler

[25:43 - 27:57]

• Challenge for role-players and stars:
  “It takes a special type of person… you’ve led teams, been Finals MVP, and now you gotta come in and sacrifice for a shot at a championship.” (26:37)

• D. Wade’s sacrifice:
  Shannon calls Wade’s decision to defer to LeBron “the greatest sacrifice of any player in NBA history.” (27:28)

• Ocho agrees:
  “He also understood. No ego. Putting his pride aside, understanding what they could accomplish by taking that back seat…” (27:45)

Memorable Quote

Shannon Sharpe: “D. Wade made the greatest sacrifice of any player in NBA history… given what he was at the time.” (27:28)

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3. Superteams, Sacrifice, and the ‘Best LeBron’ Debate

[29:28 - 32:29]

• LeBron’s Miami vs. Cleveland stints & postseason feats
  “For me, 2018 Bron, what he did that postseason… average 34, 8 and 8. Eight 40-point games.” (30:07)

• Comparing Miami and Warriors superteams:
  “[Warriors] It was borderline cheating. You couldn’t double KD, not with Klay and Steph on the court.” (31:36)

• Importance of role players:
  “Draymond was pivotal, being a facilitator.” (32:43)

Notable Commentary

Shannon Sharpe: “That’s the best Bron I’ve ever seen.” (30:34)
Joe: “That Warriors team, it was borderline cheating, man.” (31:36)

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4. Sports Media Beef: KD Calls Out Cowherd & Nick Wright

[33:00 - 34:39]

• Viral Social Media prompt:
  “A graphic went viral asking which sports media personality has to go, KD chimed in…”

  • “He said, pack that lame Colin Cowherd up… and basketball would move forward if Nick Wright wasn’t involved.” (33:19)

• KD’s engagement with media and fans:
  “He embraces that stuff, and I think that’s really, really cool, man, to be a superstar and still engage with your fans.” (34:01)

Memorable Quote

Shannon Sharpe: “No, no, no… Top 75 player. He engages with the media, he engages with the fans. It ain't too many of them do that.” (33:58)

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5. DeMarcus Cousins Speaks on LeBron’s Future in Free Agency

[35:13 - 38:16]

• Boogie on LeBron’s options:
  “If Bron goes to Philly or Minnesota, it’ll get interesting. But honestly, I don’t even like how he was treated in LA… I just want him to go somewhere where he is appreciated and gets his flowers.” (35:13, paraphrased by Shannon)

• Shannon’s frustration with “bias” accusations:
  “But you notice nobody ever said I was on Rob Pelinka’s payroll when I was hyping Kobe. …But if you say something positive about LeBron James or that check here, yeah...” (38:55)

• Unc touches on legacy critiques for greats:
  “When Jordan was averaging 37, dropping 50, they said he didn’t have enough help… That’s why I like being 58 because I’m old enough to remember.” (43:20)

Memorable Quote

Shannon Sharpe: “But how… just because… so if when I speak, I’ve caught it, like I’ve seen it, they do the same thing, Ocho. …But if you say something positive about LeBron James or that check here, yeah, so…” (38:55)

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6. The 76ers Big Three Recruiting LeBron

[55:37 - 57:53]

• Report (via Dave McMenamin):
  “Sixers Big Three, Joel Embiid, Jalen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey, have all been in contact with LeBron about joining them in Philly.” (55:37)

• Ocho weighs in on the pitch:
  “Hell, can you blame them? …But it’s gotta be from Embiid… Perimeter scoring, Bron gonna want to facilitate, but Maxey just came off averaging 29ish…” (55:55)

• Team fit questions, joking about too many mouths to feed:
  “That’s a lot of mouths to feed.” (57:02)
  “This ain’t NBA 2K, man.” (57:30)

Memorable Quote

Ocho: “We could possibly really make some real noise in the Eastern Conference, man. Hell yeah. I’d have been gave that pitch.” (57:53)

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7. Player Mentality, Sacrifice, and Lessons Learned

[47:03 - 54:14]

• On DeMarcus Cousins (Boogie):
  “When he was here, we was having a discussion, who would you rather have, Anthony Davis or Boogie Cousins? Based on what he can give you… Boogie was giving you 55 and 26… phenomenal.” (47:11)

• Sacrifice and player development:
  “It wasn’t enough for me just growing up wishing to be an NBA player. When I got to the league… how the hell you become an All Star? You just got to be consistently dominant.” (49:27)

• The Challenge of Potential:
  “I see guys that have talent, and they just… okay being okay. That drove me crazy.” (51:58)

• Transition from college to pro, difficulty of leaving comfort zones:
  “Growth is scary, bro. It’s very scary.” (55:14)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Giannis as a closer:
  “He ain’t got no signature move—I need somebody I can throw the ball to in the clutch and know what they’re about to do.” —Shannon Sharpe (22:26)

• On Dwyane Wade's sacrifice:
  “He also understood. No ego… understanding what they could accomplish by taking that back seat, allowing Braun to be the number one.” —Uncle Joe (27:45)

• Media beef, KD’s directness:
  “He said, pack that lame Colin Cowherd up…” —Shannon Sharpe on KD (33:19)

• Shannon on greatness:
  “The road less traveled is the road to greatness. Everybody want to be mediocre. That’s why it’s so damn crowded.” (51:30)

• On transition challenges for young athletes:
  “Growth is scary, bro…” —Joe (55:14)

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Important Timestamps

• [21:09] McGrady’s take: Giannis can’t be “1A” for the Heat
• [25:43] The importance and challenge of sacrificing for superteams
• [27:28] Dwyane Wade’s historic sacrifice
• [30:07] Best LeBron: 2018 playoff run, Warriors comparison
• [33:00] The viral “Which Sports Media Personality Has to Go?” debate, KD’s picks
• [35:13] DeMarcus Cousins on LeBron’s free agency, legacy, and “giving flowers”
• [38:55] Shannon on media bias accusations, LeBron vs. Jordan/Kobe coverage
• [43:20] Legacy labels and being “old enough to remember”
• [47:03] Boogie Cousins’ college-to-pro transformation
• [51:30] “The road less traveled is the road to greatness.”
• [55:37] 76ers’ “Big Three” reach out to LeBron; roster fit debate

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Tone & Language

The conversation flows casually, mixing insider knowledge with locker room banter. Both Shannon and Ocho are frank and playful but deeply knowledgeable, weaving in personal anecdotes and lively analogies (“It’s not NBA 2K, man!”). Their style feels like a late-night barbershop debate—raw but insightful, reflective of their own experiences both on and off the court.

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Summary

This episode of Nightcap highlights why fans gravitate to Sharpe and Ochocinco: it's sports talk without filters, where debates range from the technical (late-game closers and ball-dominant stars) to the personal (what greatness and sacrifice actually look like in the NBA). The hosts bring clarity and humor to trending controversies (Giannis's fit as a closer, KD’s shots at media personalities), share hard truths about the sports grind, and dish on free agency rumors—especially LeBron’s next move and the chess being played by the Sixers’ new Big Three. For anyone who missed it, the hour is a brisk, opinionated, and illuminating ride through NBA culture and the personalities that steer it.

Transcript

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[Uncle Joe]

Hey, uncle, you gonna pick who you want?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. That's a yes.

[Uncle Joe]

Okay. Okay. Okay.

[Joe]

So. So.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So what?

[Joe]

So what kind of this? This? Like this? Smack it up, flip it, rub it down, all that?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, Joe, I'm a little more apprehensive about touching now.

[Joe]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So I, you know, I'm just go, you know, hey, what I do, I sit on my hands. You know, I sit on my hand for a little while and then I throw and, you know, just, you know, I don't. I don't do no touching.

[Joe]

Okay?

[Uncle Joe]

Okay. Okay, okay, Okay. I just want to prepare. I want to prepare so I can put that 5,000 to the side ahead.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah. Oh, I've been saving up. I've been saving up.

[Uncle Joe]

Okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I might sneak a little extra in there for y', all. You know what I'm saying?

[Greenies Pet Care Announcer]

Okay.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

Okay.

[Uncle Joe]

I appreciate that.

[Joe]

Hey, depending on if you're doing a good job. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now if you do it, if you doing a real good job.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And you look a certain way.

[Joe]

Hello.

[Shannon Sharpe]

There's a good chance you might get the better portion of half of what I got.

[Joe]

Yeah. Yeah, probably. Hey, hey. She probably whisper a few sweet nuns in your ear or something.

[Greenies Pet Care Announcer]

Yes, sir.

[Uncle Joe]

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know, hey, where you live? You're in Houston now? I just. I just got a place. I just closed on an apartment.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey, Joe. Hey, Joe. You've been to Area 29 before, Joe?

[Joe]

Nah, I ain't never been o. Joe.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey, listen. Hey, baby, I'm telling you, I Ain't trying to get myself in no trouble. All right, baby, I apologize, Joe. Let me tell you something, Joe.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We go talk to him.

[Uncle Joe]

I didn't been in there twice, you hear me? Yeah, one time I did a show in there a long time ago, and then the previous time I just went, you know, for, for on birthday, right? Yeah, Joe, they look a certain way in that, Joe, where at times I want to walk up to people and be like, listen, why are you in here doing this?

[Botox Chronic Migraine Announcer]

Yes,

[Joe]

yes.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey, Joe, like, why you ain't here doing it?

[Joe]

Oh, Joe, she bad. Hey, hey, she bad in the two year old.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey, Joe, man, why, why, Joe, she

[Joe]

bad the two year old.

[Uncle Joe]

And it's so funny. It's so funny to be able to see it, but then I get a better understanding of, of. Well, hell, I got that right at home.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, I had, I had a.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey, I got that right at home. But still, like, why you in.

[Joe]

Yeah, I had a home girl.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I had a home girl. She went to the rival high school. She still, she, her and I still good friends right now. We still talk. All of a sudden right now, she was at a club and shoot in Dallas. Dude walked in, say, what you doing? She said, what? It looked like I'm doing, I'm dancing. She said, come go with me. He's like, nah. She said, you think I'm a dumb, dumb? She said, you know how many times, how many men? He said, I'm gonna change your life. She went and got her stuff, bought a 26 carat diamond. They still married to this day.

[Joe]

Get out of here.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes, my homegirl, my homegirl now, she went to, she went to Arrival High School. I went to the other high school, but as a matter of fact, Magic City. I was like, I remember I went there, I'm like, damn, that girl looked familiar, but I ain't never, I had never seen her naked, so. But I'm saying her face looked familiar and it's dark and I'm looking at her, I'm like, I say, excuse me, what's your name? She said, shannon. You know my damn name. I said, I thought so. She gave me. I said, how you gonna give me a hug and you dance? She said, damn me, people, you my homeboy. So we've been in touch. As a matter of fact, when I was in la, she, she would come, she brought her and her two boys would come. Yeah, we meet, I meet, meet out. I met a husband. Great. Anytime. If I, if I'm ever in Dallas and I call, I said, hey, Trace, I need. Hey, do me a favor. Drop your car if at the hotel. I need something to drive around here. A Bentley, a Rose, Mercedes, whatever. Gonna be parked in front of the hotel.

[Uncle Joe]

That's live. That's dope.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So this notion about this pretty woman. Oh, it exists?

[Uncle Joe]

Oh, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It absolutely exists. Because I know first. And I ain't telling you what somebody told me. I'm telling what I know.

[Joe]

Hello.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey, it. It doesn't happen.

[Shannon Sharpe]

26. Yeah, and got. I bet if she got. Hey, hold on. If she got. If she got one Birkin, she got 22.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey, those. Hey, those happy ending stories like that joke. It don't happen often, but it do happen. Yeah, it had. It do happen.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay. Oh, my goodness.

[Uncle Joe]

Because you got to have unbelievable disposable income to pull that off.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Joe]

Because they. They used to fast money, bro.

[Uncle Joe]

They ain't got to have disposable income.

[Joe]

Yeah, yeah. You don't want them problems. You're right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay. Yeah.

[Joe]

Hey, but y'.

[Greenies Pet Care Announcer]

All.

[Joe]

But you saying. You saying that's what's in Houston. The type to make you walk in

[Shannon Sharpe]

there and be like, hey, girl, do you know. You know what? You ain't got no bills for the next year? No car note, no apartment. No. No.

[Joe]

Oh, oh, oh. You want to come live. Lifestyle of the rich and famous.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Champagne, riches, and cavalier dreams. I'm your host, Robin.

[Uncle Joe]

H for damn uncle you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, but. Ooh, I. I don't got out of business, you know, I. Mama say, look here, we ain't doing that.

[Uncle Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So I'm like, you know, I sit back, but I got the A. I got the.

[Uncle Joe]

Yeah, I got you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, I gotta sell some sneakers. I got to go up in there. Hey, we gotta stack it.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey, I'll tell you. I'll tell you what. Listen, I, I, I. Hey, honey, listen, I. I can't help you for yaki. I got you the month of August. Yeah, yeah, August. That's about all I could.

[Joe]

That's all you can do.

[Uncle Joe]

That's all right. Oh, August. I got you. August. August I got you. That's. That's it. Yeah, I can't do no dang, Ocho. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I can't do no longer than that.

[Joe]

Hey, she gonna have to keep her job then, ain't she?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Uncle Joe]

You got to be doing something.

[Joe]

Yeah. I'm saying. But she. She used to that fast money. She. The month of August ain't gonna do nothing for her.

[Uncle Joe]

That's all right. I ain't gonna be able to do nothing for it, too. After August. September, you're on. September, you're on your own.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You're on your own.

[Steph from UnitedHealthcare]

Yeah,

[Shannon Sharpe]

man, drop her name. I ain't putting up putting her business out there in the street like that. But, you know, I got a homegirl.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And she. She had. She had a home girl, you know. You know, hey, they say, I never thought because I didn't never think because. You know what I'm saying? You from rural South Georgia. You like, Huh?

[Joe]

Chat, Chat. Say them Texas women lit.

[Uncle Joe]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Houston. Like I said. Hey, I don't. I don't. Look, in my day, once upon a time in my. I say from probably about 23.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

To about 34.

[Joe]

Yeah. You was live. Why you was alive.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

Why?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I had a dollar in dimes. I would leave it at that joke. At a dollar in dimes.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey, I like that one. I like that one.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's a good one.

[Joe]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I like that bad. But I. But I get what cool said cools is exactly right. Yes, bro. Once you get to a certain level, you don't have to. It's normally people that spending that don't really have it that's trying to impress people.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You look at some of them guys, and they got on. They got on 25 Casios. We all go through that phase. I went through the phase like, hey, trying impressing and buying this and buying that. I was like, man, look here. Whatever, man.

[Uncle Joe]

Please, man. Please.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Whatever.

[Joe]

Them days old with fellas, they over

[Shannon Sharpe]

Long, long gone, Joe. Long gone. Now I'm trying to. Now I'm just trying to see how much I could. How much I can lead the kids.

[Joe]

Yeah. Just trying to stay, but they're not

[Shannon Sharpe]

gonna get it at one time. That thing gonna be in the trust because I don't trust them.

[Joe]

Hey, y' all making that money. Y' all making that money that don't fold. You know what I'm talking about? You. Yeah. Hey.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't.

[Joe]

I don't.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, I gotta.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And if you. If. If you think.

[Joe]

Hey.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And if you think marry one of my kids, you're gonna get the money. Nope, it ain't. You're not. You ain't gonna be able to get nothing. I don't know. Maybe they let you get their. Their 401k pension, but you ain't gonna touch none of Shannon Sharp's money.

[Joe]

Yeah, yeah.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey, get you. We. If we get them boys, think about roi.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Uncle Joe]

Are you getting a return on your investment?

[Joe]

Yep.

[Uncle Joe]

I ain't talking about no birkins. I ain't talking about no Chanel and clothes and all in jewelry and all that. That ain't. Man, that. That ain't about nothing. That's just throwing money away.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Uncle Joe]

Are you gonna get. Are you getting a return on everything you spending now? Ain't talking about getting no. Damn. You can get that anywhere for free if you want to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, no, but. But I think the thing is, cools is tied a guy saying, well, 200 million is really not 200 million, or 100 million is not 100 million. It is. Everybody knows you have to pay taxes, but if you make 200 million, if you make $200 million and you're not in the state, let's just say for the sake of argument, you make $200 million. And with taxes, with state and federal taxes and your agents, feeds and marketing or whatever else you have. Let's just say after all of that, and you buy everything you want. Joe, if you can't live off $70 million a year, that will return you 8 to 10%. 10% on 70 million. That's $70 million. And you never touch the principal. And all it does, it compounds. It grows every seven years. And you haven't touched the principal. If you can't live off that, you in trouble. I don't know. It doesn't matter. You couldn't have made enough. Because if you'd have made 500 million, you'd have been in the same situation.

[Joe]

Yeah, I agree.

[Uncle Joe]

And a lot of people think also, Uncle Joe, they think, well, make more money. I can make more money. But the problem is, if you don't have financial discipline, making my money is not going to fix the issue.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nope.

[Uncle Joe]

Whatever you do make, you still gonna spend, right? Making more money is not the issue. It just. It just makes you spend more of what you got because you're making more.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't know, at some point in time, you know, hey, get you a watch every three, two to three years. Cars, most part, I used to. I just lease. I lease a car. Then I'm like, you know what? I kind of like this. I' ma buy it. They change the body style every three years. If you. If you like that car and you know you want just a different body style. Yeah, man, I gotta. Like I said, I bought my car in 2019. It's a 2020. I got 13,125 miles on it. It's about to be seven years old.

[Joe]

That man don't go nowhere.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, sir. I hate driving. Joe, I told you, man, I Flew to San Diego,

[Botox Chronic Migraine Announcer]

Man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I drove down there one time, I said I'd never do this again. The next two times I went, I flew. I go to my grandma house, I fly.

[Joe]

How long was it driving?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Savannah? I rent a car, I drive to Glenville, which is about 45 minutes.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Drive back or it take me three hours. I ain't driving three hours no more. My days. My days are driving three hours.

[Joe]

That's over, that driving.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't believe I could drive it out that when I was in Cali, you know, you must run to get stuck in traffic. You trying to go to the Valley or you get, you know, get. Okay, that happened. But I'm talking about just go somewhere and traffic is marginal and it's going to take me an hour. That'll never happen. Never. Oh, we went down to Jordan. I. We had to go where we. Fort Benny. They say, you know, we gotta. We gotta Escalade. I said, no, you don't. I said, if y' all ain't got no Sprinter van, I ain't going. You need. They had a sprinter, me, Jordan, and the guy driving the Sprinter.

[Joe]

You need the leg room, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I want to lay down. I said, I am not about to be cramped. I said, first of all, y' all got me. I had a pill. I had everything. I had a pill. I had a cooler, Joe. With drinks, with sandwiches. I just, I, I. I ain't gonna tell you no lie, Joe. I just don't got the patience to be in the car like that, man.

[Joe]

Me neither, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, I get. I get acid flying.

[Joe]

I'm telling you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, we fly. Fly from Vegas to LA. It's only like 40 minutes. Yeah, man, 20 minutes in. I'm jump. I'm pacing.

[Joe]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Uncle Joe]

My limit, my limit. My limit in the car is three hours, Joe.

[Joe]

That's me, too, Ocho. Three. I can't, Unc. I can't go no more than three. I can't go no more than three,

[Uncle Joe]

bro, because I know I can listen to a good album. I can listen to a good album. That'll get me through that first hour. And 30. Yeah, that back half of that hour and 30. Okay, I'm good. I can.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Back in the day, Joe.

[Joe]

Oh, boy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Five hours, nothing. Tallahassee, here I come.

[Uncle Joe]

Damn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Tallahassee, here I come.

[Joe]

Orlando.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Might even go to Kansas City. Here I come. They got some crazy little women, and I'm gonna get me one. I'll take off.

[Joe]

Hey, hey, Ojo. We know he'll travel for that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hoo.

[Joe]

Ha. Now no more.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Not no Mojo. Not no more. It gotta be damn near next door now.

[Brian from UnitedHealthcare]

Hey.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No sir.

[Uncle Joe]

I got you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I can't do it. I can't drive. I don't have the patience.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

You're listening to this podcast, so I know you've got a curious mind. Here's a helpful fact you might not know yet. Drivers who switch and save with Progressive save over $900 on average. Pop over to progressive.com, answer some questions and you'll get a quick quote with discounts that are easy to come by. In fact, 99% of their auto customers earn at least one discount. Visit progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little cash back. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates national average 12 month savings of $946 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2024 and May 2025. Potential savings will vary Join us for

[Untold Life Podcast Announcer]

another season of Untold Life with a Severe autoimmune Condition, a production of Ruby Studio in partnership with Argenics. We're sharing even more inspiring stories from people living with conditions like MG and cidp, and also opening the conversation to voices from other rare diseases like myositis and Eigen. Through these journeys we'll explore what it's like to participate in clinical trials seeking new treatments, how connection fuels hope, and how shared experiences help move research, awareness and care forward. Because living with a rare disease isn't just about getting through it. It's about moving forward together. Listen to untold Stories on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Follow untold stories and start listening on the free iHeartradio app today.

[Lele Pons]

This is lele Pons from Suite 305 with Lele Pons. Game day at my house. It's chaos but like in a fun way. The TV's ready, the remotes are ready, the kids doors are going off and somehow everybody needs batteries at the exact same time. That's why I keep Duracell stocked and Duracell just released limited edition Duracell and Messi battery packs. The design is inspired by Messi's iconic left leg tattoo, so every battery feels like it comes with an extra kick. From the TV remote to automatic corkscrew, Duracell keeps us game day ready. Duracell double and AAA batteries are the only with power boost ingredients for long lasting performance you can trust. Find the limited edition durasalt and messy batteries in stores at Lowe's and Walmart or on Amazon.

[Steph from UnitedHealthcare]

Hi, I'm Steph and I work at UnitedHealthcare when I think about UnitedHealthcare's members, I think of my own family. My niece was diagnosed with an ultra rare genetic disorder. I know how hard it is for families at UnitedHealthcare. We can make it easier.

[Brian from UnitedHealthcare]

I'm Brian. I care because I know what it's like to not speak the language. It's not easy. Health insurance is complicated. I would say our job is to make everything easy for our UHC members. I work for United Healthcare. I'm committed to care.

[Grainger Announcer]

It's said everything happens for a reason, but maybe everything happens for a reason. Take noise canceling headphones. Do they block hearing to heighten taste?

[Joe]

Mm.

[Grainger Announcer]

That sound seems to show everything happens for a Reese's.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't got the patience. I ain't been to hold nobody. Tracy McGrady believes Giannis can't be the heats 1A and assist and insists they need a fourth quarter closer. As great as Giannis is, he's still the guy that can't be my 1A. He's a guy that can get through three quarters. You can carry our team. I can't give him the ball in the fourth quarter. The Heat need a closer. Joe, do you agree?

[Joe]

I think they do need a closer, but it doesn't mean that Giannis isn't 1A. Giannis is a one, guys. He's a one. He. He is. He is a guy obviously, who can get his own, but I. I think he is a willing pass at times and he can make guys around him better. It's just like we talk about with the Messi thing. Yeah, man. Listen, when your best player attracts so much attention, two and three guys demand double and triple teams. Uncle Ocho, it's other guys gotta be open. You've done your job.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Correct.

[Joe]

You know what I'm saying? I've done my job. I attract all the damn attention. Boom. I fired the guys who can make shots. I think what TMAC is saying, closing the game out, let's say under two minutes. Under a minute. Hell, it's a tie game or we down one and this could potentially win the game. Giannis isn't the guy. Who you drawing that up for?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because I believe. Let me put on my basketball, my best basketball hat and try to dive into what? What? And part what T. Mac is saying. He ain't got no signature move. I can't throw it to him. And if they file it, there's a great chance he's gonna miss the free throw. I need somebody that gotta move and see when you got guy when you have like, you go look at certain guys, let's just say a big A king, he got the dream shake. Yeah, you need a guy that I can throw him the ball, Joe. And he got Kevin Durant. Yeah, Kevin Durant's gonna get to that left hand and he gonna pull up. He gonna get to that heavy pull up. You already know.

[Joe]

And, and, and, and that's the thing about Giannis, he, even when you watch him and it's a close game down the stretch, Uncle Ocho, he ain't looking aggressive to score the ball, you know what I'm saying? That's the one time down the stretch where you see Giannis, he's looking for a guy like Middleton or Dame, somebody who he can get a ball to and he can kind of get out the way. Yeah, he don't necessarily, you know, always take the game winning shot, bro. And I believe that to be because obviously he's not a great mid range guy. He's not a great three point shooter and going to the basket. Uncle Ocho, he don't want to get fouled at the end of them damn games.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now I. Joe, you remember that game six, he had a historic game. 50 point closeout game.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The most in a closeout game. And what was he like, 14 or 17 from the free throw line of 15 or 17 from the free throw line. But if you think he's going to shoot that kind of percentage more times than not, you're sadly mistaken. Yeah, you're sadly mistaken. He just had an out of body experience shooting the ball from the free throw line that night.

[Joe]

Yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And when you went and in close ball games, you need somebody that gotta move. They can play, they can post up, they can get to a midi.

[Joe]

And if you follow that's the thing,

[Shannon Sharpe]

they feel comfortable, they gonna knock down 7 to 10 or 8 or 10.

[Joe]

The, the mid range shot is always available in the closing moments, Uncle Ocho, and you have to be able to take it and make it. You know, understanding the repercussions, whether you're gonna miss a make and don't even care about the results for real, you know what I mean? Like, and Giannis just isn't that, bro. He's not, he's not gonna take one or two dribbles and shoot a sidestep, pull up. He ain't doing that down the stretch, you know what I mean? Either he getting all the way to the basket or he trying to find somebody else to make the, to, to make the shot. So I kind of understand What T. Mac is saying, but he is a one broker. He gonna dominate the damn game all the way, probably up until the end. So what, I guess what, what, what T. Mac is saying, you got guys like Bam, you know, or you can bring in guys who are known for making big shots in clutch situations.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Correct.

[Joe]

But I still think Miami got a lot of work to do, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I do too.

[Joe]

You know, they got to add some more guys to this, to this puzzle.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The shooters. I think they need shooters though, man.

[Joe]

Yeah, yeah, you gotta have that around them.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Shooters.

[Uncle Joe]

I mean, listen, Andrew, Andrew Wiggins, I mean, he can shoot. Tim Hardy, we can shoot, but I think they need one more that they can count on, especially in cluster situations and clutch moments that can be extremely, extremely good that you can actually count on to hit shots when you need it the most.

[Joe]

I just think you gotta have guys who are great at catching, shooting. Cause I'm gonna tell you, man, I think it's a learning curve playing with Giannis, bro. Because he gonna dominate the ball so much. Because he ain't really great off ball like that. Ocho. No, you know what I mean? Unless he in a dunker spot. Yeah, unless he in the dunker spot close to the basket, you driving there and you dump him off some. Oh, he great at that. But I'm spotting up, playing off ball. He. Unless it's him in the pick a row, setting the pick. You feel what I'm saying? But yep, outside of that, man, you gotta, you gotta surround him with guys who can make shots.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Joe. I think it's really hard to play with anybody that's not a point guard that dominates the basketball. Yeah, I could, I. Magic Johnson would be easy to play with because he's a pass first point guard.

[Joe]

Yeah, right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But if you play with LeBron, you play with Giannis, you play with somebody that dominate the ball. Joel. And B, it's hard to play with them. Yeah, it's hard now a lot of times in order to be with them. What do you have to do? I have to alter my game. D. Wade had to alter his game because a lot of what he did, LeBron does, you have to alter. And so it takes a special type of person that you've been playing one way. I've led a team to a championship playing this way. I'll be finals MVP playing this way. I'm an all NBA player playing this way. I led the league in scoring playing this way. Now I've got to come in because the best way, in order for us to win, the reason why we put this thing together is because we wanted to win championships. And I got to be willing to sacrifice. I think D. Wade made it the greatest sacrifice of any other player in NBA history.

[Joe]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, he did.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's just. That's me personally. Now you might find somebody. Well, Shutter, what about this guy? But I'm saying personally, I think D. Wade, given what he was at the time, he made it.

[Joe]

He was special, man. Yeah, yeah, he was special.

[Uncle Joe]

And he also understood. He also understood. No ego. Putting his pride aside, understanding what they could accomplish by taking that vaccine, allowing Braun to be the number one.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Uncle Joe]

You understand?

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But it's not easy, though. Oo. It's not easy to do that because think about when you've had success, that's like a receiver and you don't go on. You don't build a first team all pro. And you done led the league in receiving and yards and touchdowns.

[Uncle Joe]

I did it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, I did it.

[Uncle Joe]

I understood what it could. Hey, let's. It ain't turn out, but you got

[Shannon Sharpe]

to realize when you were. You did that in year nine.

[Uncle Joe]

Oh, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I need you to do that in year four and five when you just starting to come into your own. Yeah, you forget. I remember what you was in 505-0607. You remember them years? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Uncle Joe]

Okay, I got you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Uncle Joe]

I see what you're saying.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Were you putting 260 and you followed up with 190.

[Uncle Joe]

Yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And you putting up 1400. You putting up 130097 catches, 90 catches.

[Brian from UnitedHealthcare]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

84 catches. Now they come in and say, well, Ocho, you know what? Hey, we want you to be the. The two receiver. Oh, boy. Right here. Gonna be the A receiver. Yeah, yeah. That's not gonna work. That. That's not gonna work.

[Uncle Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How about you put the job up for. How about you put the job up on the line and whoever. Whoever the best is coming out of training camp. That's who one is.

[Joe]

Hello.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But just to move over and. And that's what D. Wade did, right? He knew in order for them to win a championship, he could not play like he had played his first eight years in the league.

[Joe]

Yeah. Hey, boy, I give him credit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I give him credit for that. Like I said, I think he. He made the biggest sacrifice of any player that I can recall in NBA history.

[Joe]

I think they all did. Honestly though, Uncle Ocho, meaning Chris Bosh, did too.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Joe]

I felt like the only one who didn't really have to Sacrifice his game. Was Braun for real. He was so dominant at the time, you know what I mean? He still. I mean, he controlled the game pace. I mean, the boy was unreal when he was in Miami, I ain't gonna lie to you, outside of when he went back to Cleveland. Uncle Ocho.

[Uncle Joe]

Yeah, Miami Braun was special, I think.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, for me, 2018 Braun, what he did in the postseason, you gotta think about it. In that one postseason run, Joe, he had eight 40 point games. When he went back just that postseason run. Yeah, he averaged 34, 8 and 8 for the entire postseason.

[Joe]

I know he was different.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's the best Braun I've ever seen.

[Uncle Joe]

Oh, that's crazy.

[Joe]

He was different.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I saw him in Miami and he was great. But 17, 18 Braun, when they lost, when KD first got there and he averaged a triple double in the finals. And then he followed that back up the next year with game winner after game winner after game winning the postseason. He hit a game winner against Indiana and they beat them in seven. And then he hit the game win against Toronto. Kiss off the glass. Swept them. The number one seed. Swept them.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Then he goes and do a demolition job on the Celtics after being down in a game seven. He go get what, 35, 11 and nine. And then he comes out the first game 51, eight and eight. I don't believe. Even if they win that game, Joe, I don't believe they beat. I don't believe in my heart of hearts they beat Golden State. But just to take a game off what many people believe is one of the two or three greatest teams ever assembled, would have been a huge accomplishment in and of itself.

[Joe]

Yeah, it's almost. It's similar to the. To when Philly played The Lakers and AI scored that 49. Game one. But they won. They won the game. But you right, the warriors were so dominant when they got kd. Ocho, I'm talking about. It was borderline cheating, bro. This was borderline cheating, man. Yeah, because you couldn't. As great as KD was in ISO scoring and catching, shooting, you couldn't double his ass.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Not with clay and stuff.

[Joe]

You couldn't double him with clay and stuff. You couldn't double him then. Hell, you couldn't double step. You couldn't. It's like you had to. You had to pick your poison, bro. They were picking you. They were picking people apart. Yeah, they were special.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And everybody shooting at a high percentage because they getting wide open looks. You double somebody if you want to.

[Joe]

I mean, at the time they had four all Stars. Draymond, Clay, Steph, kd. Come on, man.

[Uncle Joe]

Splash, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And Draymond could run pick and roll with any of them.

[Joe]

He was a key factor to them winning, honestly. I know KD, you know, won the MVPs, but I'm saying, like, the. The work that Draymond did, being a facilitator, he was. He was pivotal. He was pivotal in that

[Shannon Sharpe]

a graphic went viral. Asking which sports media personality has to go, KD chimed in twice. One has to go. Y' all see it? I think they gonna keep on. They gonna keep on shape.

[Uncle Joe]

Who's the. Who's the one they asked that Katie said to go?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, he said. He said, pack that lame Colin Cowherd up. And then the next one, he says basketball would actually move forward if Nick. Nick Wright wasn't involved. So that's the two.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey, they gonna. They gonna go at. They gonna go at Katie head tomorrow.

[Joe]

But, hey, hey, but. But listen, this is what KD is known for, bro. Speaking his mind. He pay attention. You think you. You send a shot at Katie or you say, oh, yeah, he paying attention, partner. Yeah.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey, and I. I really like. I. I really love it, man. And we ain't talking about. Just know any player. We talk about.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, no, no.

[Botox Chronic Migraine Announcer]

Hell, no.

[Uncle Joe]

Top 75 player. He engages with the media, he engages with the fans. It ain't too many of them do that, man. I think. I think LeBron, at one point. LeBron used to. I think he hadn't done it in a while. Sometimes he'll get on Twitter, he'll go back and forth, maybe never in a negative light, but even though you'll sit there and tweet sometimes every blue moon. But kd, man, he embraces that stuff. He embraces that stuff, and I think that's really, really, really cool, man, to be a super superstar and still engage with your fans. That. That. That means the world to some of these people.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, man. They didn't let me and Charles Barkley get on. Get on. Get on a desk together.

[Joe]

Oh, yeah, that'd be. That'd be good for tv. That.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey, you go through TNT one time?

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, he on ESPN now.

[Uncle Joe]

Basketball.

[Joe]

Hey, that Alabama and that Georgia. Hey, boy. Two of the country. Hey, two of the most country boys on tv.

[Uncle Joe]

That'd be funny, boy.

[Lele Pons]

What?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, it's. Shot. May y' all leave Perk alone, man.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

Perk.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Good people. DeMarcus Cousins spoke on LeBron's free agency decision. If Bron goes to Philly or Minnesota, it'll get interesting. But honestly, I don't even like how he treat how he was treated in la. We're in an era now where you can't speak up on behalf of himself.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

You're listening to this podcast, so I know you've got a curious mind. Here's a helpful fact you might not know yet. Drivers who switch and save with Progressive save over $900 on average. Pop over to progressive.com, answer some questions and you'll get a quick quote with discounts that are easy to come by. In fact, 99% of their customers earn at least one discount. Visit progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little cash back Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates national average 12 month savings of $946 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2024 and May 2025. Potential savings will vary Join us for

[Untold Life Podcast Announcer]

another season of Untold Life with a Severe Autoimmune Condition, a production of Ruby Studio in partnership with Argenex. We're sharing even more inspiring stories from people living with conditions like MG and cidp, and also opening the conversation to voices from other rare diseases like myositis and Eigen. Through these journeys we'll explore what it's like to participate in clinical trials seeking new treatments, how connection fuels hope, and how shared experiences help move research, awareness and care forward. Because living with a rare disease isn't just about getting through it, it's about moving forward together. Listen to Untold Stories on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Follow untold stories and start listening on the free iHeartradio app today.

[Lele Pons]

This is lele Pons from Suite 305 with Lele Pons Game day at my house. It's chaos but like in a fun way. The TV's ready, the remotes are ready, the kids doors are going off and somehow everybody needs batteries at the exact same time. That's why I keep Duracell stocked and Duracell just released limited edition Duracell and Messi battery packs. The design is inspired by Messi's iconic left leg tattoo so every battery feels like it comes with an extra kick. From the TV remote to automatic corkscrew. Duracell keeps us game day ready. Duracell double and AAA batteries are the only ones built different with power bo. For long lasting performance you can trust. Find the limited edition durasalt and Messi batteries in stores at Lowe's and Walmart or on Amazon.

[Steph from UnitedHealthcare]

Hi, I'm Steph and I work at UnitedHealthcare. When I think about Unitedhealthcare's members. I think of my own family. My niece was diagnosed with an ultra rare genetic disorder. I know how hard it is for families at UnitedHealthcare. We can make it easier.

[Brian from UnitedHealthcare]

I'm Brian. I care because I know what it's like to not speak the language. It's not easy. Health insurance is complicated. I would say our job is to make everything easy for our UHC members. I work for United Healthcare. I'm committed to care.

[Grainger Announcer]

It said everything happens for a reason. But maybe everything happens for a reason. Take noise canceling headphones. Do they block hearing to heighten taste? That sound seems to show everything happens for a reason.

[Shannon Sharpe]

On. On his behalf, they'll say, you glazing or plays by clutch. Yeah, you're right. You're right. We're kind of getting to the point where legends aren't going out gracefully like they should. From Carmelo to how CP3 was handled, watching how the Lakers acted. LeBron isn't LeBron. Even Kevin Durant. So I just want him to go somewhere where he is appreciated and gets his flowers he deserved. You're absolutely right.

[Uncle Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But you notice nobody ever said I was on Rob Pelinka's payroll when I was hyping Kobe. Nobody said, when you speak, talk about, speak positive about Jordan. Ain't nobody say, you on Jordan. Oh, you're on Jordan brand payroll or you're on Nike pro payroll. When I speak up about Luca and I speak up about Jokic and y' all know when I was on Undisputed, nobody spoke in more glowing terms about Luka Doncic than I did. Yeah, nobody spoke more glowing terms about Nikola Jokic than I did. But if you say something positive about LeBron James or that check here. Yeah, so. So I guess nobody else. Because, you know, if you say something about Shay, you can't say. So the only person in the history of the game that if you said something good about LeBron, scored 50. He had 50 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists. Jordan would have had 70. Kobe would have had six. At least 68.

[Uncle Joe]

You got to. You know, those people are people that don't really like LeBron in general. That's. That's. Those are personal issues.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But I'm just saying. But how. But just because. So if when I speak, I've caught it, like I've seen it, they do the same thing, Ocho. You know how they do if we say something about a black quarterback, I said, but y' all didn't say nothing when I was skinny Tom Brady. When I was Skinning Peyton Manning. When I skipped Tony Romo and I skipped. Check down Alex Smith. Y' all didn't say a damn word. But now I say one thing, and it's been proven to be true.

[Joe]

Oh, whoa, whoa.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Y' all saw, it ended up. It was so bad with. With Tom Brady, it ended up costing us the show.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Do y' all remember that? Chat. Y' all remember that?

[Uncle Joe]

Because. Damn. For real.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What was it about? Chat. What was it about? Baker Mayfield. Y' all remember Chad, don't go blind on me now. Don't do that. Don't do that. Yes. When Peyton Manning wasn't getting it done. And guess what? Still Peyton Manning and Tom Brady understood I had a job to do. I still have a job to do.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't. It's not personal. Y' all think when somebody has a harsh critique and maybe. And I get it, because I'm really passionate about the stuff I debate about, because I spent a lot of time, you know, trying to come up with what I want to say, how I want to say it presented a way. Sometimes it just need to be informative. Sometimes it need to be entertaining. Sometimes it can be educational. But, you know, you. You try to form your thoughts. Ocho, decide. Because people. You know, sometimes people want to be entertained.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So that's what. Hey, you know, this legacy 5. Sometimes people want to be informed or educated. But I just. And it just got to the point I was like, you know what? I just realized? Y' all gonna say what y' all want to say. I sure wish Clutch was cutting some checks. I do. I do. I damn sure take them, too. I damn sure take. I damn sure would take them, too. But no, I mean, it's. You try to.

[Grainger Announcer]

You.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know, you try to. You know, you try to be fair. You try to be as fair as you possibly can. And I know fair is a place where you buy, you know, ride the red merry go round, and the judge pig would give you cotton candy, but you just like, okay, look at it like this. Okay, this is this. This is this, okay? And you go with it. Yeah, but y' all know when LeBron is played bad, and for the most part, if you're being honest, I've said that. No, I need. You know, you need to do better, Brian. You can do better. I know you can do better than bad. And I. Look, I get it, but no, I need you to be better because I believe you're the best player. But he's the only best player, one of the few best players because when Jordan was averaging 37 and dropping 50 and 60 on people, they said he didn't have enough help. I like being 58. That's one part I, I don't like sometimes how my body feels at 58, but I like being 58 because I'm old enough to remember. Yeah,

[Joe]

yeah, yeah. They called him selfish, man. They call MJ Selfish when he was doing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They did.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They did the same thing. This very same thing. I remember mama mentality was selfish. That's what I remember about mama mentality, Joe. That's what they said.

[Joe]

It is.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It is.

[Joe]

He took out.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's what y' all said. Y' all said it. Chat. Y' all said it. Y' all said it. Y' all said it. I remember. And he didn't never get. He got a little bit. Charles Barkley was really the only one that called him out. Y' all remember when he had that 31 lead against the Suns?

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And then in game seven, when everybody say he was ball hogging and he refused to shoot? That ain't none of my business. I don't even know why I bought that up. Y' all remember that, right?

[Joe]

Yeah, Joe.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They remember that. Joe, you think they remember that?

[Joe]

Yeah, they remember that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I know because everybody, Everybody brings up LeBron to go back to. Oh, J.J. barrel did this and, And Jason Terry. Jason Terry played out of his mind. Jason Terry could have easily been the finals MVP of that series, though, Joe. Yeah, that's how good Jet was.

[Joe]

It was, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But I, I, but see, I do remember a lot of things that we didn't said about Kobe. I defended him.

[Brian from UnitedHealthcare]

Me.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But I ain't saying no. They ain't send me no checks, though, so. They didn't send me no checks, though. But no, I, I think the thing is, look, everybody realized that you have to do a job. And. When I used to go to a lot of things, Ocho, and you probably still go to a lot of them now, but I used to go all the time. The Super Bowl. I used to go to all these functions for the NFL. I go to the commissioners parties, and I would go to all these places and I would see the owners. To a man, be it Mr. Kraft, Jerry Richardson, it'd be all,

[Brian from UnitedHealthcare]

you do

[Shannon Sharpe]

your homework, don't you? I think that's the greatest compliment that it can give you. Yeah. When you're prepared, they know you do your homework, they know you put the time in to be. You're not going to be perfect. You're not going to get every Syllable. Sometimes you're going to misspeak. And I tell people this all the time. You speak enough, you're going to flub. You're going to probably let a, you know, curse words slip out and people, hey. Because they were saying, oh, you remember we came on last.

[Joe]

Last Saturday.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, it was a McGregor, and I didn't know we was live. And I said this was some bull. You know what it's like. See, we knew you could cuss. Yes, but why would I cuss and then get demonetized? We're on air for 2 hours, 3 hours, and not make a dime. Because you want me to curse. Yes, I curse in private, but when you're on television, you have to learn how to say mofo or sob or ish or some bull jive.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Or ninja. You just got to do it. You understand how to weave and maneuver your way through. Just like on a job interview, they ask you a question, what you really want to say. That ain't gonna get me the job. What I need to say, go get me the job. That's it. But I agree with Book. As a matter of fact, I just saw Boogie about two weeks ago. I hate that he got hurt. Joe, people don't realize how good Boogie cousins.

[Uncle Joe]

Hey. Hey, Uncle Joe. I remember Boogie playing at one point. He was in the battle for one of the best centers, if not the best center at the time.

[Shannon Sharpe]

When he was here, we was having a discussion, who would you rather have, Anthony Davis or Boogie Cousins?

[Uncle Joe]

Yeah, I remember.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And I say based on what he can give you, every man. Boogie was giving you 55 and 26. Boogie was giving you 40 and 20, 38 and 18. He was phenomenal. Hey, you talk.

[Joe]

When you talk about talent, I'm not sure if it's a big that was more talented than him. Okay, Ocho. I'm saying from the standpoint of scoring with his back to the basket, facing up, he could put it on the floor, he could playmate. He wasn't a great defender, but he wasn't no guy who you just go at. You know what I mean? Yeah, but when you talk about offensively having all the damn tools can, like in today's game, he would. He would destroy guys, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah.

[Joe]

Cause he could pick and pop. He could shoot the three. He was gonna be a dog under that goal.

[Steph from UnitedHealthcare]

Shh.

[Joe]

Why no Boogie? Hey, Boogie probably mad as hell.

[Greenies Pet Care Announcer]

He.

[Joe]

He probably wishes mom would have had him or somebody years a little later. Cause he be five years later, he'll have at least 250m.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah. Boogie. By the time he was done, Boogie have. Boogie had about 5,600mil. He didn't make 5,600miles.

[Joe]

The boy has some game, man. He has some game.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He was phenomenal. And the thing is, Joe, it's funny how you watch guys in college. I did not see this. I did not see Anthony. Anthony Davis was a defensive guy. I think Anthony Davis might average, like, 12 points a game.

[Joe]

See, the thing is. The thing is, when you get to the NBA, that's all the hell you have to do all day. Yep. It's play ball. Even after practice here. Typically, if you really love the game and you're a gym rat, you gonna take your ass back up there at night, use your key card, your code to get in, get some shots up by yourself. That's if you're trying to reach a whole nother level. Everybody ain't trying to go that damn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Everybody.

[Joe]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But, but.

[Joe]

But the ones who really enjoy the game and really love the game, bro, you're gonna put that extra time in, Uncle Ocho, because you wanted to show on game day. Bro, you wanted to show on game day.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, hey.

[Joe]

It wasn't enough of me just growing up, wishing to be an NBA player. When I got to the league, after I got the hell I ain't. Exhale. I was like, damn. Hold on. Paul Pierce, Antoine Walker, Eboy All Stars. How the hell you become an All Star? You just got to be consistently dominant.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Joe]

Let me figure this out. It's gonna probably take me. I'm gonna figure it out, though. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, man, when I got. When I got to the NFL, my brother told me, hey, look here, you ain't trying to be a guy. You trying to be the guy.

[Joe]

Hello?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay, okay. Say no more.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He said, you've been. You've always been the guy. You ain't just the guy that.

[Joe]

Hey.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay. Special teams will find out. If I had to cut my teeth, that's how I had to show that I could get it right. But, boy, look here. I need y' all to depend on me. I need y' all to count on me. Like the first and the fifteenth.

[Joe]

There you go. There you go.

[Uncle Joe]

I'm stealing that.

[Joe]

Yeah, there you go.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's. I need you to count on me.

[Joe]

Yeah. Hey, I'm trying to be a hell of an asset to this team, boy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I wanted my teammates trust. No, I wanted my. I wanted my teammates respect. I wanted the coaches trust. I wanted the fans appreciation.

[Joe]

Hello.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Play 14:12 in Denver, two in Baltimore, the fans know one thing. 84 and 82 gave us everything he had. We never questioned.

[Joe]

Ah, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You bum. You know, they already know I'm giving you everything I got. My teammates know I gave them everything I had. The coaches know the time, the energy, the effort that I put in to be great. That's the whole purpose. I don't. I mean, look. And everybody can't be the guy, but, you know, if I give it everything I got, Ocho and Joe, and I'm not the guy, I gotta live with that.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But I know in my years, this is what I've learned, you know, the road. Less travel is the road to greatness.

[Joe]

Hello.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Everybody want to be mediocre. That's why it's so damn crowded.

[Joe]

It's easy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes, easy. But when you start getting to a level of greatness, the gym is always open. The machines are always open in the weight room. The food that you want to eat that was in that will help you become even greater is always readily available.

[Joe]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't get it.

[Uncle Joe]

The.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Each is on. Everybody don't want to be. Everybody don't want. That's what I. That was hard for me to understand. Ocho and Joe. Is that how some guys that. I see guys that have talent and they just. Okay. They just okay being okay. That drove me crazy. I'm like, how guys. Y' all don't want to be any better than this? This is as far as you want to go. Yeah, man, Sharp. NFL ain't for me.

[Joe]

Especially. Especially the guys who, you see, they got the talent, they got the potential. You're like, damn, bro.

[Brian from UnitedHealthcare]

If you.

[Joe]

If you just locked in for real, like, for real. If you just really locked in, hey, boy, you. You don't even know how special you could be.

[Uncle Joe]

Yeah.

[Joe]

You know, it's some cats who really just don't know and don't understand, bro, that they don't know how to be great. They don't know what it takes. For real.

[Uncle Joe]

Yeah, it's hard. It's hard to unconjo. When you see people that had a potential. It's hard to get them to apply themselves. It's hard. It's very, very hard.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It is, man. I had a teammate in college. He broke up with his girlfriend and went home.

[Joe]

What you mean? Went back? Left school.

[Uncle Joe]

What you mean, went home?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Went home.

[Joe]

It was too much for him.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He said, yeah. He said, man, I. Oh, hell, man.

[Steph from UnitedHealthcare]

What?

[Uncle Joe]

Ain't nothing at home, I can tell you that.

[Joe]

Hello.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I ain't gonna tell you the position he played. But he was a top 10 player. He was a top 10 player in the country at his position.

[Joe]

Damn. Hey, but when you think about it, Uncle Ocho, when guys get to college, bro, a lot of times, that's the

[Uncle Joe]

first time they're away from home.

[Joe]

Yeah, they're away from home, and they probably dating a girl who. You know what I mean? Like, you know, because. Because now you ain't really got the. The restrictions from your parents. Like, your parents ain't coming there waking your ass up. Hey, come on, get up. You gotta get ready to go to school. Everything you doing on your own now. You know what I mean? It's. It's college. College make you a man, boy. Hey, I seen a lot of people get swallowed up in it, too, though.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, but I don't know. I don't know if he's gonna make it anyway, man. Cause him.

[Joe]

What's that, Too much for him?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Tell him to spell dog and give him the D and the D and the O. He'll be there till tomorrow.

[Joe]

Man, chill. You got.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Chill, Joe. I'm telling you, man. I mean. I mean, some of these guys, I'm. I'm looking at them, I'm listening to them talk, and I want. I said, man, let me see your work. I'm like. I'm thinking to myself, bro, you went through school, and this is. I feel bad. I do, man. I felt bad, Joe. But the problem is going back home. It's not gonna get any better.

[Joe]

Hell, no.

[Uncle Joe]

At all.

[Joe]

Because you're gonna wish you hadn't made that decision.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't think he does. I don't think he does.

[Joe]

You know, growth is scary, bro. At the majors.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It is.

[Joe]

It's very scary.

[Uncle Joe]

I'm telling you, getting out your comfort zone.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, the.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

The.

[Uncle Joe]

The day. That feeling of the unknown, you know, it scare a lot of people, which is why they leave school and go back home.

[Joe]

To not do a damn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Everything ain't for everybody. We just have to accept that. The Sixers Big Three are in contact with LeBron. According to Dave McMenamin, the Sixers Big Three, Joel Embiid, Jalen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey have all been in contact with LeBron about joining them in Philly. Joe, what's the pitch?

[Joe]

Hey, look, hell, can you blame him? I don't blame him. Hell, I'd have been done called him. Look, man, it's got to be from Embiid, though. Uncle Ocho, like, I get, you know, Maxi Edgecomb, jb, You know, they all probably didn't talk to him, but. Cause he. He's so. He's. He's the. He's the focus, he's the centerpiece, you know what I mean? Meaning his health wise, his state of mind when he comes into, you know, a preseason training camp. Like, bro, we got what it takes to win, but we gotta believe it, you know what I mean? Now what they pitching to him? I don't know. Cause they just. That perimeter scoring that they got Bron gonna want to facilitate. Bro and Maxi just coming off average in 29ish. Come probably about 16, 17. Them boys looking to add to that. So you don't want to stunt the growth in that. I don't know, man. It just. It seemed like they probably like third or fourth on the list. If I'm just keeping it real.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's a lot of miles to feed.

[Joe]

Yeah. Now if you give him the keys, huh? You get. You get Bruh in the keys and tell them. Look, man, we gonna let you drive that thing. Maxi gonna ride shotgun. You feel me?

[Home Depot Announcer]

Yeah.

[Brian from UnitedHealthcare]

Hey, hey.

[Uncle Joe]

And what Jada Brown gonna be at?

[Joe]

He gonna. He gonna. He gonna get the average, about 23, 24 a game. Brian gonna be it probably by 11, 11 assists.

[Uncle Joe]

Joe, this ain't NBA 2K, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yo, Jay LeBron said. Hold on, MB. You talked LeBron, but you ain't talked to me?

[Joe]

Listen, hey, I'm here. We got.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He ain't here yet.

[Joe]

We got. We. Hey, hey, hey. You just a piece to the puzzle, okay?

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know what I mean?

[Joe]

Don't get beside yourself hey, this ain't.

[Uncle Joe]

This ain't NBA 2K. It ain't happening.

[Joe]

Don't get beside yourself hey, we. Hey.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We add.

[Joe]

We add this piece. Hell, we. We could possibly really make some real noise in the Eastern Conference, man. Hell yeah. I'd have been gave that pitch.

[Lele Pons]

This is Lele pons from suite 305 with Lele Pons. Game day at my house. It's chaos, but like in a fun way. The TV's ready, the remotes are ready, the kids doors are going off, and somehow everybody needs batteries at the exact same time. That's why I keep Duracell stocked. And Duracell just released limited edition Duracell and Messi battery packs. The design is inspired by Messi's iconic left leg tattoo, so every battery feels like it comes with an extra kick from the TV remote to automatic corkscrew. Duracell keeps us game day ready. Duracell double and AAA batteries are the only ones built different with power boost. Ingredients for long lasting performance you can trust. Find the limited edition Durasalt and Messi batteries in stores at Lowe's and Walmart or on Amazon.

[Home Depot Announcer]

He's dribbling the ball with everything on the line. He's driving down the pitch.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He's facing price hikes and cuts past him. Carrier contracts, tries to block him. Oh, he leaves him in the dust.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

He's at the edge of the box.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He cuts past the non stop group chat trash talk.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

He clears on goal.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He shoots no unlimited data for $25 a month.

[Grainger Announcer]

4Forever Visit your local Boost Mobile store today to get unlimited data with a price that never changes. Boost mobile after 30gb, customers may experience lower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost $25 Unlimited plan in the next rare well done the Thrive team helps two people with CIDP tackle the tricky issue of friendship.

[Steph from UnitedHealthcare]

Hello.

[Grainger Announcer]

They say the quiet part out loud.

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In the event my CIDP worsen, my friends might decide it's too much, get

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[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't know if I want to

[Grainger Announcer]

to forge stronger connections.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It's the best thing that's ever happened to me. Our friendship to Rory.

[Grainger Announcer]

Watch Rory and Michelle take on the friendship factor on the next episode. A rare well done.

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[Shannon Sharpe]

new $10 bucket of the day just for you. Monday 24 nuggets for $10 Tuesday 8 piece fried chicken for $10 Wednesday 10

[Grainger Announcer]

wings for $10 Thursday 8 tenders for

[Shannon Sharpe]

$10 Friday 24 nuggets for. Oh, you guessed it, didn't you? Ten dollars the ten dollar bucket of the day deal. Every weekday only at KFC. It's finger licking goo Prices and participation

[Grainger Announcer]

Variable supplies last not available on third party ordering platforms.

[Home Depot Announcer]

Tax extra.