Blank Check's David Sims On Why His Knicks Should Hang That NBA Cup Banner

Summary

No Dunks Podcast Summary: "Blank Check’s David Sims On Why His Knicks Should Hang That NBA Cup Banner"

Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Je Skeets, Tas Melis, Trey Kirby, JD
Guest: David Sims (The Atlantic, Blank Check Podcast, Knicks fan)

---

Episode Overview

In this vibrant, fan-centric episode, the No Dunks crew welcomes film critic, podcaster, and devoted Knicks fan David Sims to celebrate the New York Knicks’ historic NBA Cup win. Together, they dive deep into Knicks fandom, debate if MSG should hang a Cup banner, evaluate New York’s evolving culture and ambitions, discuss the possibility of trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, compare Knicks’ legends past and present, and finish with a wild basketball/movie “Up/Down Report.” The show is rich with basketball banter, nostalgia, and a healthy dose of movie nerdery.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. David Sims on the Knicks’ NBA Cup Victory

• Personal celebration: “I have three children at home, so I celebrated by staying up to watch it... I was up till 11:15 at night for that, that late game and watched it and, you know, I don't know, gave myself a sort of little pat on the back.” (03:51)
• NYC vibes post-victory: “There was not the mood in the air that one might have hoped for, I guess. But you know, we're all feeling pretty pleasant.” (04:19)

2. Should the Knicks Hang an NBA Cup Banner?

• David’s case for a banner:
  “I do think you should hang the banner... MSG has, there's like a Fish banner. There's plenty of silly banners. And, like, don't we...I think we've hung division title banners for sure.” (05:17)
• On Cup ceremony anxiety:
  “It’s one thing to put a banner up there. It's another thing for everyone to, like, stand around while you raise it up. And if it feels a little, you know, a little jinxy to be doing that.” (05:53)
• General consensus: Hang the banner, but keep the ceremony low-key.

3. Knicks Team Spirit & Celebrations

• Podcast chemistry analogy:
  Sims on the Hart-Brunson duo: “I suppose I'm more the Brunson and [Griffin’s] more the Hart. Right. Hart's a little bit more the disruptor, the troublemaker. Coming up with bits. I'm a little bit more the floor general.” (07:50)
• Fun atmosphere:
  “I appreciate… the general kind of slap happy, you know, friendliness of our current team.” (07:04)

4. Reaction to Coaching & Roster Changes (from Thibodeau to Mike Brown)

• Mike Brown impact:
  “We just needed someone to be like, hey guys, we're gonna spice things up a little bit. We're gonna give people a little more run... Tibbs was just so orthodox about minutes and rotations that it just was starting to feel a little stale and frosty. I…I do feel like [Brown’s hire] has been what we've needed.” (09:14)
• New culture:
  “The Knicks for years were this clown show and we scared off free agents, and it was just like, it's just a mess over there. And we had this, like, nice bedrock… culture for years.” (09:31)

5. Knicks Aspirations: Finals or Bust?

• Elevated expectations:
  “I think we have to. We have to go to the finals, right?... last season, this year… I…suffered as all Knicks fans did, with that kind of crushing, stomach churning… But yeah, as a Knicks fan… you just have that like fourth quarter like, like clenched, like.” (10:50)

6. The Giannis Trade Question

• Risk vs. reward:
  “I really love Giannis… what’s the trade?… It doesn't really track to me that we can swoop in and do that, but. Yeah, yeah, you... I think you do have to do that. And I...worry because, yes, I feel like there's something karmically bad about messing with a team that's, you know, in a flow and that is in good shape.” (12:32)
• Would you do it?
  “I'd probably do it… Silly to not do it. Yeah, it's Giannis and he still does rock. And I'm pretty confident he's going to rock for like three or four more years without too much trouble.” (14:43)

7. Knicks Fandom, Nostalgia & Player Comparisons

• Childhood heroes:
  “You know, I was a huge John Starks kid... I had this kind of like, father son thing with Patrick Ewing... Knicks are the first team... The Finals, the, you know, 94 finals was the first sort of significant sports event. I got to like, stay up and watch and obviously it's the first time that I experienced, like, crying on the couch and having my heart ripped out by a sports team and somehow... didn't. I stuck with it.” (16:33–18:02)
• Brunson vs. Melo as Knicks icons:
  “With Melo... there were always caveats. The trade was always hanging over him... just play the four... I was so constantly frustrated by him... Brunson, it's completely different. Like, we signed him...within minutes, I was just like, oh, this was meant to be, you know, Nick, Nick for life...” (18:29–20:08)
• Brunson’s stability:
  “He does seem like a good guy... so many Knicks eras are defined by drama and ego... Brunson has always felt like a very stable force in the locker room...” (20:23)

8. Playoff Dreads & Rivalries

• Playoff nerves:
  “[Now] it's going to be more. And the east playoffs are going to be like, brutal. Like... all these like, grindy playoff series... they're all going to be like final minutes. Right. Like, don't you think so?” (23:13)
• Worst playoff opponents:
  “The only teams that really terrify me are the Celtics and the Heat... and the Pacers because I have like that kind of mystical, like, rivalry fear with them. Of like, it's extra humiliating to lose to them.... The Pistons, it's the, it's the combo of they're really good...” (23:58)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On MSG banners:
  “MSG has...a Fish banner.” – David Sims (05:17)
  (Refers to the Phish concerts at Madison Square Garden; highlights the Knicks’ willingness to hang random banners.)

• Handling ‘jinxy’ ceremonies:
  “It’s another thing for everyone to, like, stand around while you raise it up. And if it feels a little, you know, a little jinxy to be doing that.” – David Sims (05:53)

• Knicks fan patience:
  “I'm generally as a sports fan, I'm kind of proud of sticking with your guys now, but I do feel like that's old fashioned of me...” – David Sims (15:30)

• Sims as a podcast ‘floor general’:
  “I have to keep things moving. I gotta make sure we get into our offense, AKA talk about the movie, something like that.” – David Sims (07:50)

---

Up/Down Report: Basketball Movie Hot Takes (28:53–39:17)

A series of rapid-fire “thumbs up/thumbs down” movie takes featuring:

• Space Jam (1996):
  “Yeah, I'll give a soft thumbs up… Vital piece of pop culture. I would say as, as bizarre as it is.” – David Sims (29:09)

• LeBron as an actor:
  “I'm giving him a thumbs up for Train Wreck, which he is excellent in… LeBron's good on camera.” – David Sims (30:34–31:14)

• Space Jam: A New Legacy:

  • “I don't think Space Jam Legacy really worked out for anyone.” – David Sims (30:50)

• Kurt Russell’s b-ball scene in Escape from LA:
  “Thumbs down.” – David Sims (32:49)

• Notable basketball movie cameos:

  • Shoutout to Sigourney Weaver’s backwards shot in Alien Resurrection (33:09)

• Eddie (the Knicks movie):
  “Thumbs up on Eddie. No, Eddie's pretty bad. Eddie is. I'll be thumbs down on Eddie.” – David Sims (35:35)

• Timothée Chalamet as Knicks superfan:
  “I feel great. I. He's so for real. Like, it's just so obvious that he is a dork about the Knicks... like, he's a huge sports dork.” – David Sims (36:53)

---

Wrapping Up: How To Follow David Sims & Knicks Memories (39:29–41:22)

• Where to find him:
  Blank Check podcast, film criticism at The Atlantic, David L. Sims on Twitter/X (but “don’t really use it anymore.”)
• Favorite No Dunks memory:
  “...the thing with you guys is the consistency more than anything. There was just, you know, just... You're one of the first sort of like podcasts... But, you know, as you guys sort of rose up and, you know, then you went over to NBA TV and you were on my dang TV sometimes and, you know, mixing it up with everybody, like, those are, you know, those were just exciting times.” – David Sims (40:10-40:29)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:36] – David Sims introduction and Knicks Cup celebration
• [05:17] – Should the Knicks hang a Cup banner?
• [07:50] – Hart & Brunson energy, podcasting as hoops metaphors
• [09:14] – Transition from Thibodeau to Mike Brown
• [10:50] – What’s a successful Knicks season now?
• [12:32–15:30] – Should the Knicks trade for Giannis?
• [16:33–18:02] – Knicks fan origins and nostalgia
• [18:29–20:23] – Brunson vs. Carmelo as Knicks leaders
• [23:13–24:44] – Playoff nerves, East matchups, and nemeses
• [28:53–39:17] – Up/Down Report: Basketball movies and celebs

---

Tone & Language

• Lively, conversational, and full of classic No Dunks/Blank Check warmth.
• Lots of jokes, analogies, and open fan emotion—especially from David Sims.
• Language is casual, sports-nerdy, and relatable for diehards and newer fans.

---

Summary for New Listeners/Readers

This episode spotlights the joy and existential agony of being a Knicks fan through the decades, seen through the lens of a film critic and fellow “floor general” David Sims. The hosts and Sims celebrate the Knicks’ NBA Cup, debate its worthiness as a title, discuss the franchise’s emerging culture, weigh the eternal star-chasing dilemma, reminisce about Knicks icons, and let movie banter fly. Deeply satisfying, often funny, and bubbling with fandom—a must-hear for Knicks lifers and NBA culture heads alike.

---

End of Summary

Transcript

[Je Skeets]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Tas Melis]

Guaranteed Human.

[Trey Kirby]

What a matchup we got, y'.

[Tas Melis]

All.

[Trey Kirby]

This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rockin and the crowd lit. Chance echo drum beatin Everybody showing that school pride.

[David Sims]

Game like this.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. Yeah, that taste always hits the right note.

[David Sims]

Just like the band at halftime.

[Trey Kirby]

And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere and in ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo. No matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

[Je Skeets]

So you're telling me that the AI that's meant to make everyone's job easier to manage just adds more to manage? On top of the thousands of apps the IT department already manages? Funny how that works.

[David Sims]

Any business can add AI.

[Je Skeets]

IBM helps you scale and manage AI to change how you do business. Let's create smarter business. IBM.

[Trey Kirby]

And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means playing in a football game.

[Je Skeets]

Boom.

[David Sims]

42. You're going down, Doug.

[Trey Kirby]

Oh yeah, Your price on car insurance when you customize and save is going down.

[David Sims]

Hey limu, what are you doing on their team?

[Trey Kirby]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty. Oral health goes beyond just aesthetics.

[David Sims]

It's deeply connected to your general health and well being. That's why preventing oral health problems before they start is so important. When you use the Colgate Total Active Prevention System, you're not just helping to prevent oral health problems like cavities and gingivitis.

[Je Skeets]

You're laying the groundwork for overall wellness.

[David Sims]

Colgate Total's three product routine includes a reformulated toothpaste, an innovative toothbrush, and a refreshing antibacterial mouthwash that all support a healthy mouth. In fact, the three products were designed to work together to be 15 times more effective at reducing bacteria buildup in six weeks starting from week one compared to a non antibacterial fluoride toothpaste and flat trimmed toothbrush. Take control of your oral health and get the Colgate Total Active Prevention System today so you can be dentist ready. Visit shop.colgate.com Totally.

[Je Skeets]

Good morning, sweet world and welcome to the no Dunks podcast presented by FanDuel. It's Thursday, December 18, 2025. I'm Je Skeets here in the classic factory. And alongside me, as always, Tas Melis.

[Tas Melis]

Podcast listeners, this is absolutely for you.

[Je Skeets]

Next to him, it's my top shot hot boy, Trey Kirby Ayo Ayo, over yonder, making the magic happen. Super producer jd Hello. There he is. And our special guest today is three things. He's a staff writer at the Atlantic where he covers culture. He's a co host of the award winning Blank Check film podcast. And most importantly to us here at no Dunks, he's a die hard New York Knicks fan. And for that we salute him on winning the NBA Cup. David Sims, welcome to no Dunks. How are you?

[David Sims]

I am, I am very well. Thank you guys so much for having me, a longtime fan, Basketball Jones all the way back.

[Je Skeets]

Wow, that's crazy. Well, we appreciate you jumping on here. How, how did you celebrate the New York Knicks cup win? What'd you do?

[David Sims]

Well, I, I have three children at home, so I celebrated by staying up to watch it, which was to me that was homage enough that I, I, I was up till 11:15 at night for that, that late game and watched it and, you know, I don't know, gave myself a sort of little pat on the back.

[Je Skeets]

You didn't. After they beat the Magic in the semifinals, you weren't looking up flights, hotels in Vegas to maybe go?

[David Sims]

No, not, not really at a place in my life. I can do that. I mean, it's funny, I, I, I'm, no one would have expected this, but certainly I, I didn't walk the streets of New York next morning, like to the throngs of people going like cop champions. You know, there was not the, the, and it's very cold in New York right now. But there was not the mood in the air that one might have hoped for, I guess. But you know, we're all, we're all feeling pretty pleasant.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah.

[David Sims]

With someone on the subway who was wearing a Knicks hat. I was like, there was a, you.

[Trey Kirby]

Know, there was like videos going around of people saying it was Knicks fans celebrating the cup. And it was just like, you know, parties out after Madison Square Garden. And I was at least like, well, you know, it is the first title in 50 plus years. Knicks fans do like to celebrate. The Bing Bong video came, of course, one game into the season a couple of years ago against the Celtics. Are you proud of the cup? Do you think they should actually hang the banner in msg?

[David Sims]

I do think you should hang the banner. Not, not because I'm so precious, just because MSG has, there's like a Fish banner. There's plenty of silly banners. And, like, don't we.

[Trey Kirby]

Don't we.

[David Sims]

I think we've hung division title banners for sure.

[Tas Melis]

Right.

[David Sims]

And I don't think a single fan anymore knows, you know, even who's in the Atlantic Division or whether, like, the last time we won it. And, like, I mean, we got a little trophy.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah.

[David Sims]

We want to knock out Tour. Like, I think it's fine. Celebrate the cup. I feel like everyone's feeling a little anxious about the attendant ceremony.

[Tas Melis]

Right.

[David Sims]

It's one thing to put a banner up there. It's another thing for everyone to, like, stand around while you raise it up. And if it feels a little, you know, a little jinxy to be doing that.

[Je Skeets]

Right, right. Maybe they just need to hang it. That's okay. Just put it up there and then just move on and play the games. Yeah, right.

[David Sims]

And be like, if you look up there, there's a banner anyway. Yeah. Right. Also in the, you know, Chris Rock is here.

[Tas Melis]

Like, whatever. Yeah. That's exactly what they've done the last couple years with the Bucks and Lakers. They're. That thing's going up. There's a light on it. Okay, we're done, you know, basically.

[David Sims]

Right, right.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, it definitely feels.

[David Sims]

I know MSG's a Mecca, you know, but come on, we can, we can, we can put up a little banner.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

It definitely feels like this is Jim Dolan saying, no thanks, Adam Silver. This is like the guy who is always the one vote abstaining in 30 votes amongst the owners. And it's like always 29 to 1 for everything. And it's always James Dolan who says no. But, David, did you see the post game celebrations with Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson? The thumb to the booty. I was curious about your take on that. If that's like a cool celebration you think is going to catch on.

[David Sims]

You know, this is something the Mets do, too, where they had kind of like an ass slap. So are you saying that they should sort of integrate that into any victory? Celebration is like chase each other around with their thumbs. That could be nice. I don't know. I appreciate, as I think everybody does, the, the, the general kind of slap happy, you know, friendliness of our current team. Like, everyone seems to get along pretty well. Everyone seems pretty happy. We got the silly boot thing this year.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

Defensive player of the game, Timberlands and Hard Hat and all that kind of stuff. It definitely, like, you can see why Hart and Brunson have a good podcast because they definitely have like podcast co host energy together, like they're friends, but they also just like to needle each other. In your relationship with Griffin, who's Josh Hart and who's Jalen Brunson?

[David Sims]

I suppose I'm more the Brunson and he's more the Hart. Right. Hart's a little bit more the disruptor, the troublemaker. Coming up with bits. I'm a little bit more the floor general. I have to keep things moving. I gotta make sure we get into our offense, AKA talk about the movie, something like that. So. Yes, but I mean, I'm probably more of a Chris Paul. I'm barking at people and everyone's slowly more annoyed at me and browsing like, yeah, maybe he was good once. But, you know, should we, should we really, you know, maintain respect?

[Trey Kirby]

So are you worried at all that Ben is going to send you home in the middle of the season?

[David Sims]

If that's the case, I think, I don't think Ben has that power. I hope, I hope anyone listening knows about my. I, I think I outrank Ben, although. And maybe we're all sort of co. Equal, so I, I guess, I guess I can, I can hang on for now.

[Trey Kirby]

I mean, Chris Paul thought he outranked all the other guys on the Clippers, too, and look what happened. This has been, you know what?

[David Sims]

Send me home. I need a nap.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah, give him a break. Yeah, exactly.

[Trey Kirby]

This has been an encouraging Knick season, I think. You know, they went to the conference finals last year for the first time in 25 years and kind of surprisingly said goodbye to Tom Thibodeau. They wanted to get a little bit more offensive spice out there with Mike Brown and play the bench a little bit more. How do you think this season has gone so far, changing things as much as they did after a successful season last year?

[David Sims]

I'm, I'm, I'm quite happy about it. I, I, I, you know, I really respected Thibodeau for just sort of instituting a culture on the Knicks, which was what the team had lacked for so long. Just any sense of a culture.

[Tas Melis]

Right.

[David Sims]

Like, the Knicks for years were this clown show and we scared off free agents, and it was just like, it's just a mess over there. And we had this, like, nice bedrock, kind of. This is what they do, this is how they behave culture for years. I, you know, he was a good coach. I, but it's so clear to me that it's kind of like, you know, Kirk coming into the Warriors. Not as good as that, but still just that thing of like, we just needed someone to be like, hey guys, we're gonna spice things up a little bit. We're gonna give people a little more run. Like, we're gonna, we're gonna behave a little, like, less the way Tibbs was just so orthodox about minutes and rotations that, you know, it just was starting to feel a little stale and frosty. I, I like Mike Brown. I was, got hired. It's not like I was dancing in the streets. I was like, oh, sure, you know, yeah, he's fine. But I do feel like it's been what we've needed. I don't know if you guys agree. Yeah, totally.

[Trey Kirby]

I mean, Tibbs is like a great floor raiser as a coach. It feels like you're gonna win at least 50 games if he's the coach. Cause the effort that he's gonna require and play in the top guys as many minutes as he does. But maybe there's a ceiling as well because you're going full bore the entire time. At least a shakeup was necessary. But what would you consider a successful season this year for the Knicks? They did go to the conference finals. Like, that was a pretty good step forward. There's not many more places to go.

[David Sims]

I think we have to. We have to go to the finals, right? Like, I, I hate putting expectations. It is not a fun thing to do. And last year, or last season, this year, but, you know, I, I suffered as all Knicks fans did, with that kind of crushing, stomach churning, kind of like, okay, here it. Here it goes as the speed. Us and I had a little twinge of it at the NBA cup and we were very confident. It was a very confident performance from us at the final. I really liked how we didn't get shaken by the spurs, you know, having the lead most of the time and all that stuff. But yeah, as a Knicks fan, you know, and any sports fan, you just have that like fourth quarter like, like clenched, like. Okay, it's like, is every three suddenly about to go in against us? That. But no, I think we should, we should aim to make the finals. Why not?

[Tas Melis]

Right?

[David Sims]

It feels the east is weird. Feels like we can do it as long as we don't get beat up. Like, as long as we don't lose somebody.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah, I think that's fair. 18 and 7 right now. You just won the cup, obviously, coming off of last year, and there is a good camaraderie with this team and the new coach Bump and all that. But I want to get your opinion on the rumors that have been going around For a while now, let's be honest. Giannis and whether or not the Knicks, if they had the capability to make a move for Giannis in Milwaukee, or are things going. Don't disrupt this, like, awesome team we have building our depth, obviously, these elite guys led by Brunson, like, where do you fall on this, David? Like, yeah, it's Giannis. Go get them. That's why we did all of this, to get all these guys and. And some draft capital. Not a lot, obviously. Or are you, like, leave it alone.

[David Sims]

I really love Giannis. Like, I loved him, basically, since he entered the league. I've always just, you know, I. It. I mean, one. What's the trade? I. I still haven't really. What is it? It's like cat and colic and. And a bunch of swaps and picks. Is that.

[Tas Melis]

Is that what we have? Like, yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

Cat's, like, the biggest piece, I think.

[David Sims]

I mean, God bless. But did the Bucks really want that? Like, I mean, right.

[Trey Kirby]

No, that's the thing.

[Tas Melis]

Fair question.

[David Sims]

It doesn't really track to me that we can swoop in and do that, but. Yeah, yeah, you. Yeah, I think you do have to do that. And I. I worry because, yes, I feel like there's something karmically bad about messing with a team that's, you know, in a flow and that is in good shape. But we did already do it with the Randall Cat trade.

[Tas Melis]

Sure.

[David Sims]

Obviously. Size, mechanical, but we kind of did.

[Tas Melis]

It where we were.

[David Sims]

Like, the team's pretty good. You know, chemistry's not bad. But you know what? We're just going to do this because, you know, on the face of it makes sense. And we broke up the Nova Nicks and all this stuff, you know, like. And we did things that felt kind of karmically bad, and, you know, the team basically benefited from it.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah. And I think that was. The important part is, like, the Cat Randall thing they got. It was thrown together right at the beginning of the season last year, so they kind of didn't really have a chance to establish anything in training camp. So this year, you know, the changeover with Tibs to Mike Brown, that's another big change. So throwing in Giannis in the middle of the season seems like it would be yet another thing that they have to figure out. So maybe they give it a roll this year and decide the ceiling is better with Giannis in the summer. We'll see.

[David Sims]

Yeah, they would be figuring out, and I do feel like we had a. Not a slow start to this season, but kind of Like a slightly. You could just feel like new offense getting instituted, you know, like, you know, just a slight rustiness. I. I don't really think Brunson and Giannis would have any trouble together. I know some people sort of are.

[Tas Melis]

Like, oh, can they share the ball?

[David Sims]

Like, I don't. That doesn't strike me as a sort of. That, that's. That feels like something you could overcome to me. I'd probably do it.

[Trey Kirby]

It's hard to say no to Giannis.

[David Sims]

Silly to not do it. Yeah, it's Giannis and he still does rock. And he's. I'm pretty confident he's going to rock for like three or four more years without too much trouble.

[Tas Melis]

Right.

[David Sims]

Like, I mean, do you guys agree with me? Like, I don't see like disaster with Giannis approaching anytime soon?

[Je Skeets]

No, I agree with you on that. And yeah, if the trade is like sort of at its face, basically, are we upgrading Kat to Giannis? I think Nicks and a lot of Knicks fans would do that. But I do get the thing. Like, basketball's funny, right? It's like it's working. They're growing, you know, do you want to rock the boat with that? I also understand that side of the thing. It also, on top of that, you know, Giannis is unfortunately is injured all the time because the guy plays like a maniac. So they're not part of the equation as well.

[Trey Kirby]

Who were your.

[David Sims]

Yeah, no, I just. I have the. I believe in sort of institutional, like, you know, stability. I am generally as a sports fan, I'm kind of proud of sticking with your guys now, but I do feel like that's old fashioned of me, and I do feel like that's not how, like a lot of modern sports leagues really work. And I should probably get over it.

[Tas Melis]

It's very Tom Thibodeau of you.

[Je Skeets]

A little bit.

[Tas Melis]

A little bit.

[David Sims]

Which is why I sort of would soft defend him. Even as, like our players legs started falling off.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, no, yeah, for sure. They changed the atmosphere around there, the whole aura. It was a positive. There is no doubt.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, the Knicks were a big chase, the star for the longest time and it feels like since Leon Rose took over, though they did make the cat trade last year and have done a lot of stuff. They value being a more normal team right now. But also a guy like Giannis hasn't.

[Je Skeets]

Come available yet, maybe wants to go to as well.

[Trey Kirby]

Exactly right. But David, growing up, who were the Knicks guys that really got you in to being a New York fan?

[David Sims]

You know, I was a huge John Starks kid. And I feel like he was such a kid friendly player. Like, obviously, we all, we all like John Starks at the time. You know, he was, he. But like, there was the whole kind of chippy, underdog thing with him. I think as a. I was a tall kid, so I played basketball, but I, I lacked, I would say, the sort of, you know, grit and grind. I did not like to get into the paint. And I think I, I preferred more of the John Starks. Like, oh, mostly he's a shooter. I understand that. Like, I, you know, so I was a big Starks guy. I was. I. I had this kind of like, father son thing with Patrick Ewing, who obviously does not know who I am. But, like, as a kid, I think there was just something so, like, calm and kind of like, you know, patriarchal about him. And he was kind of the first athlete I was obsessed with. Like, the Knicks are the first team. Because when I was a kid, the Mets were fairly relevant, you know, in the early 90s. And I never really had a football team. The Knicks were the first, like, sort of good team that I got to root for. The, The Finals, the, you know, 94 finals was the first sort of significant sports event. I got to like, stay up and watch and obviously it's the first time that I experienced, like, crying on the couch and having my heart ripped out by a sports team and somehow, you know, didn't. I stuck with it. Right. I stayed a Knicks fan.

[Je Skeets]

So.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[David Sims]

But yeah, Starks was my first baby.

[Tas Melis]

Sort of fave when I was.

[David Sims]

When I was a kid.

[Trey Kirby]

Well, it's interesting you say we all love John Starks. I assume you mean Knicks fans, because I definitely.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[David Sims]

I don't mean all people.

[Je Skeets]

Chicago Bulls fan Trey Kirby. Not the biggest John Starks.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, that was one of the worst moments in my life when he ended up on the Bulls for like nine games one season during our tanking years.

[David Sims]

It was so bleak for him at the end.

[Je Skeets]

You really.

[David Sims]

It was a tough. A tough sort of soft retirement for John Starks.

[Trey Kirby]

How do you compare how Jalen Brunson ranks as a Knick to where Carme Anthony was? That's something we talked about a lot last year as the Knicks were kind of like making their way up the standings in the Eastern Conference before they got to the. The conference finals. You know, neither of them have played in the finals. Neither of them have won an mvp, but, you know, are kind of the biggest superstars for the Knicks since the Ewing days.

[David Sims]

But it is so different. I feel like with Melo, who, you know, I, I, I liked, but, like, you would always. There were always caveats. There was always this kind of. The trade was always hanging over him of like, but God, you know, what we gave up to get him and how it, how it kind of put us back a peg. And he was so exciting. He could be so exciting to watch. But just play the four. Mellow, you know, was like, how I felt about him. Except for that one beautiful year. He actually did play power forward, like, almost all the rest of the time. I was like, mellow.

[Je Skeets]

Play the four. The game is changing. Play the four.

[David Sims]

You know, like, and so I was. I was so constantly frustrated by him and somewhat frustrated by those teams. They were kind of lovable in their way. Like, they were, they were kind of silly, like, you know, Mellow and Junior and those guys. Brunson, it's completely different. Like, we signed him, I'll admit. And I'm not the only Knicks fan. I was kind of like, what we're paying. That one feels good. You know, like, I had the reaction. I feel like a lot of Knicks fans had basically just adore him. Like, just, just within minutes, I was just like, oh, this is like, this was meant to be, you know, Nick, Nick for life. Despite not being one, like, sort of. It felt like he'd come out of the culture of, like, whatever the, you know, Nick's culture is. Like, whatever.

[Tas Melis]

Sort of what.

[David Sims]

However you want to define that. It's sort of a sad thing to define, probably, but very fond of him. Bristle at criticism of him. Someone says he's like, foul hunting. I get, like, irrational about it.

[Je Skeets]

You know what I mean?

[Trey Kirby]

Like, just know how.

[David Sims]

Yeah, exactly. It's ethical. Yeah, no, very. And, and just. He does seem like a good guy. Like, he, he's in a, you know, when, when you're a Knicks fan. Like, so many Knicks eras are defined by drama and ego and kind of like, you know, big contracts not working out and guys not really, like, gelling in the locker room. And Brunson has always felt like a very stable force in the locker room as part of the same thing with Thibodeau of, like, just weird. Oh, the Knicks actually kind of have a rep for being good at making sense.

[Tas Melis]

That's interesting.

[David Sims]

And, like, I do feel like his behavior through all the reinventions has been part of that.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah, I like looking at it from an outsider, obviously not a Knicks fan. It felt like, mellow. That was like a roller coaster ride. There was extreme highs Some crazy lows. It was all over the map. Brunson just steady right. He comes in and that guy right from the jump is scoring 24, 25 a game, getting on the end of the ballot for mvp, then obviously, like, leveling up a level or two here and has just continued to be a rock. And those are, like, the huge differences. You can love both of them, for sure. But, yeah, I mean, I'm a. I'm a huge Jalen Brunson guy. He just feels like me, to me, like a super Kyle Lowry. Like, he's a better Kyle Lowry, and he was one of my favorite players. So, yeah, fun times right now to be a Knicks fan, which is weird to say here.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, some of the best.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah.

[David Sims]

Yeah. And it's good for the league. I do believe it's good for the league. Like, it's. It's. It's good to have the Knicks be good, right? Like, it's fun for the NBA.

[Tas Melis]

It's fun to have Jalen Brunson as the we're going to find a way type of guy. Like, that's his mantra. That's who he is. So very different than Carmelo Anthony's mantra. David, you made me feel a bit of cringe when you started bringing up potentially getting into playoffs like that. Twinge. Cringe is not the word. Twinge is the word. Twinge, cringe. You know, the word of going into the playoffs, like you saw in the NBA cup, you start to see them in the fourth quarter, they get really close. Right. I think Jalen Brunson here, post NBA cup, is that guy that'll be a rock. You know, even. Even though Giannis and LeBron were the NBA cup winners, it feels like Jalen Brunson will lead you here this next week, this next two weeks. Like, the guy is a rock. Right? And as you went into the playoffs, I start to feel like my Toronto Raptors fan. Like, oh, those are tough times, man. Like, that's a whole roller coaster that you got ahead of you, which is awesome. At the same time, you're living and.

[Je Skeets]

Dying with every playoff game. We've been there. We all know that, Trey. Unfortunately, not for a while, but that's.

[Trey Kirby]

Literally been a decade since I was living and dying with a playoff game. But, you know, but so that's the.

[David Sims]

Thing for the most of my NBA fandom, barring like these little spurts like Linsanity or like the kind of one good mellow run, like, it's like, well, I'm an NBA fan. I get to enjoy Basketball, I get to like, you know, seek out the narratives that are good because the Knicks are barely relevant or irrelevant.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah.

[David Sims]

And so I don't have that heart clenching kind of, you know, like that like, tough, emotional relationship with the sport. It's more just fun. And now it's going to be more. And the east playoffs are going to be like, brutal. Like, I think you guys would agree, like the. All the kind of like mucky, physical teams that like just, you know, there's not a lot of like, smooth basketball in the East. It's going to be all these like, grindy playoff series. So they're all going to go to game seven and they're all going to be like final minutes. Right. Like, don't you think so?

[Trey Kirby]

Yes.

[David Sims]

Raptors, the Magic, like all these guys.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah. I was going to ask you, as a Knicks fan, is there one team more than the others that you're like, terrified to see in a, in a playoff series? Like, is it the Pistons again or is it another one?

[David Sims]

I'm not terrified of anyone because, like, the only teams that really terrify me are the Celtics and the Heat because I have. And the Pacers because I have like that kind of mystical, like, rivalry fear with them. Of like, it's extra humiliating to lose to them. But the Pistons, it's the, it's the combo of they're really good. Like, they're, they're, they're. And they're fun. They're fun to watch and root for. And it's tough when you're up against one of those teams that has that aura where you're like, ah, Detroit also kind of needs a win. And like, these guys are good and this city's really behind them. Like, you know, that stuff is. That's mojo. Like, that's intense to go up against.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. How was that? How was that round one against them last season?

[Trey Kirby]

Awesome series.

[David Sims]

It was a great series. Like, that was a real, like, you know, they, they showed up series and it was, it was awesome. Like, it was. It was justifiably hard to get by him.

[Je Skeets]

Absolutely.

[David Sims]

Yeah. I don't know. It's a long way to the playoffs.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah. I mean, really, six months you got ahead of you. Not as stressful as trying to get the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference, but, you know, trying to win is important as well. What a matchup we got, y'.

[Tas Melis]

All.

[Trey Kirby]

This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance, echo drum beat everybody showing that school pride.

[David Sims]

Game like this.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

It calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there.

[Tas Melis]

Mmm.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, that taste always hits the right note.

[David Sims]

Just like the band at halftime.

[Trey Kirby]

And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere. And in ice cold Coca Cola, that's a winning combo. No matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

[Je Skeets]

So you're telling me that the AI that's meant to make everyone's job easier to manage just adds more to manage on top of the thousands of apps the IT department already manages? Funny how that works.

[David Sims]

Any business can add AI.

[Je Skeets]

IBM helps you scale and manage AI to change how you do business. Let's create Smile to Business IBM. This is Matt Rogers from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.

[Trey Kirby]

This is Bowen Yang from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.

[Je Skeets]

Hey, Bowen.

[David Sims]

It's gift season.

[Je Skeets]

Ugh.

[David Sims]

Stressing me out.

[Trey Kirby]

Why are all the people I love so hard to shop for like me?

[Je Skeets]

Exactly, honey. I'm easy. But you're right, holiday gifting is stressful.

[Trey Kirby]

And all the gift guides out there are boring and uninspired.

[Je Skeets]

Wait, what about the guide we made.

[Trey Kirby]

In partnership with Marshalls where premium gifts mean incredible value?

[Je Skeets]

It's Giving Gifts.

[David Sims]

A series of guides filled with premium.

[Je Skeets]

Gifts at great value for everyone on your list.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, cause if I see one more for the dad who likes golf list, I'm out.

[Je Skeets]

Right? How about something for the people who.

[Trey Kirby]

Actually surprise you with categories like best gifts for the mom whose idea of a sensible walking shoe is a stiletto.

[Je Skeets]

Psst.

[Trey Kirby]

She wants a pair of stilettos.

[Je Skeets]

Or best gifts for me that were.

[David Sims]

So thoughtful, I really shouldn't have dying.

[Trey Kirby]

To see what those are.

[Je Skeets]

And you won't believe they' prices.

[Trey Kirby]

Just wait till you see what else is in there. It's basically a one stop shop for everyone.

[David Sims]

You know, I started bookmarking half the list for myself. Honestly, this is the guy for the.

[Trey Kirby]

2025 holiday gifting season.

[David Sims]

Check out the guide on marshalls.com it's.

[Trey Kirby]

Giving gifts Gift the good stuff at Marshalls.

[Je Skeets]

Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder with a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other. One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. Before you know it, you are drowning in software. Instead of growing your business, this is where Odoo comes in. Odoo is the only business software you'll ever need. It's an all in one fully integrated platform that handles everything. CRM, accounting, inventory, e commerce, hr, and more. No more app overload, no more juggling logins. Just one seamless system that makes work easier. And the best part, Odoo replaces multiple expensive platforms for a fraction of the cost. It's built to grow with your business, whether you are just starting out or already scaling up. Plus, it's easy to use, customizable and designed to streamline every process so you can focus on what really matters running your business. Thousands of businesses have made the switch, so why not you try Odoo for [e-mail] that's o d o o dot com.

[Trey Kirby]

But that's all the Knicks talk I can handle. We gotta get to the Up Down Report. Oh, baby, it's the Up Down Report. A basketball movie edition. David. We'll throw some topics at you. All basketball slash movie related. I don't think a movie critic has ever done something like this. You've given a thumbs up or a thumbs down with regards to how you feel about it.

[Je Skeets]

Groundbreaking.

[David Sims]

I can't own the trademark to that. Yeah, no, it's fine.

[Trey Kirby]

All right. Our first topic is a space jam. The 1996 classic Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes versus the Nerd Lux, who of course become the Monstars. Do you like Space Jam, David?

[David Sims]

Yeah, I'll give a soft thumbs up.

[Je Skeets]

Soft thumbs up?

[David Sims]

I mean, Space Jam's a little silly. Well, we did an episode on my podcast years ago and you know, it's like 78 minutes long. It's a little light on dramatic, you know, urgency. But yeah, you know, it's, it's, it's a, it's a vital. It's a vital piece of pop culture. I would say as, as bizarre as it is.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, I think that's exactly right. When I watched it with my kids, I couldn't believe how much setup there was of like Michael Jordan retiring and having a press conference. And suddenly I'm having to explain retirement number one before even getting into retirement number two. That kind of threw me off. But I do love that episode of Yalls podcast because I'd always been like, I can. It seems to me like David really likes basketball. You mentioned, like Bradley Beal once. You mentioned Sam Decker once. I was like, nobody would possibly bring these names up unless they care. And then I finally listen to the Space Jam one. Finally listen to the Space Jam one. And there was like legitimate basketball discussions, which I thought was hilarious. So those are that one and the New Legacy one are like instant classics for me, even if I listen to them years and years later.

[David Sims]

Thank you. Thank you very much.

[Trey Kirby]

Which leads us into our second topic. LeBron James as an actor, how do you feel about LeBron? He, of course did Space Jam A New Legacy, the sequel. He was in Train Wreck. I guess he was in Small Foot as Guan.

[David Sims]

Yeah. You know what? I never saw Smallfoot. Yeah, I'm giving him a thumbs up for Train Wreck, which he is excellent in. A little Forgotten, I would say.

[Trey Kirby]

Came and went.

[David Sims]

Yeah, came and Went a little bit. I.

[Tas Melis]

He.

[David Sims]

Look, I don't know. I. I don't think Space Jam Legacy really worked out for anyone.

[Trey Kirby]

Right.

[David Sims]

Like, it's not Space Jam A New Legacy. I'm sorry, I don't know if I can really hold that one against him. I don't. You know, he doesn't like, look at the camera like, like in that movie. It's a, it's a very, very odd media experience, But I'm generally. LeBron's good on camera.

[Trey Kirby]

He's.

[David Sims]

He's solid. His SNL episode was pretty good.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah. Really funny on snl.

[David Sims]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

I thought he was going to like blow MJ out of the water as an actor just because he had like done Trainwreck. Right. It was like Jordan had done commercials and then he did Space Jam, but I don't think that was the case. Does this, does Michael versus LeBron as actors factor into the goat discussion for you at all?

[David Sims]

No, but I guess I do think it's an underrated factor. That Michael's kind of like consistent badass kind of on camera presence all the way to this day does inform people's consideration of all that.

[Trey Kirby]

I think that's true.

[David Sims]

It's alleged corniness at times.

[Je Skeets]

Right. Though Michael Redd was just on our show and he said LeBron James is one of the funniest people he's ever encountered and then doubled down in the comments, basically saying he could have been a comedian if he wanted to.

[David Sims]

Interesting. Because isn't it the old thing? It was like, it was like, oh, he'd be like a great running back. And now we're, now we're trying to argue LeBron, what can. This guy could have been Dave Chappelle.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah.

[David Sims]

Okay.

[Trey Kirby]

Michael Redd, I'd love to see him do a set.

[Je Skeets]

So would I. Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

All right, our next topic. Kurt Russell in Escape from LA, the basketball scene where he has to make five, five shots. He's got to score 10 points with a 10 second shot clock going full court back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Thumbs up or thumbs down on Kurt Russell's basketball scene from 96's Escape from LA.

[David Sims]

Thumbs down.

[Trey Kirby]

This is pretty weird. Just throw in there. How did this even make it into the movie?

[Tas Melis]

That.

[David Sims]

That I remember being mostly my. I've only seen Escape from LA maybe twice. But, you know, my. My reaction to it, it comes like, during a fairly dramatic part of the movie that they have to suddenly play basketball.

[Trey Kirby]

Right.

[David Sims]

Like, it's not. It's not really in the narrative of things. I always think of Sigourney Weaver in Alien Resurrection hitting the. The backward lob. That's the craziest basketball move in a movie ever. That she. She actually hit it. It looks fake because the basketball goes off camera, but it wasn't fake.

[Je Skeets]

Take.

[Trey Kirby]

Wow.

[David Sims]

She throws it from behind, like, over her head and it goes through the net.

[Trey Kirby]

And apparently, like, they had to cut her way, like, immediately because nobody could believe it because everyone did it.

[Je Skeets]

Right.

[Trey Kirby]

That's pretty awesome. I love when a basketball scene ends up in a not basketball movie. How do you feel about that? I know it happened at least three times this year. I'm keeping track. Venetian Scheme had one where they played horse for like.

[David Sims]

That was a fun scene.

[Trey Kirby]

That's good. Highest to lowest. Not as great. And of dynamite. Pretty. Pretty disappointing basketball scene, I would say, from Idris Elba.

[David Sims]

I. I forgot about that. I forgot about the. Right there. Is it Angel Reese? Angel Reese's cameo.

[Tas Melis]

That's right.

[Je Skeets]

Oh, yeah. Now I know what you guys are talking about.

[Trey Kirby]

I watched that shooting around in a suit.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah.

[David Sims]

Considering the implications of nuclear war in America. And then he's like, hey, Angel. And I'm like, why am I screenshots.

[Trey Kirby]

Up Skeets, though, in Escape from la, what Kurt Russell has to do is he has to go from one end of the court to the other 10 second shot clock and he's gotta make five shots or else he is killed. Do you think you could do it? There's a 10 second shot clock to get from one end to the court to the other.

[Je Skeets]

Okay. I have not seen this movie, so I'm glad you guys are sort of explaining this to me and maybe some of the listeners. Viewers. You're saying it resets every time or he has to hit five shots in 10 seconds?

[Trey Kirby]

No, every time he makes a shot, the shot clock resets. He's got to go to the other end.

[David Sims]

Yeah.

[Je Skeets]

Could I. Basically what you're asking, could I feel confident that I Could do a layup from one end to the other in less than 10 seconds.

[Trey Kirby]

Well, that's one way to do. Do it.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah. Or I guess pull up from three. I'm not pulling up from three. I think I could do the layup. I think I could do it in less than 10 seconds. Yeah, I think so. Yeah. Like, I'm.

[Tas Melis]

That seems like a long time.

[Je Skeets]

Okay.

[Trey Kirby]

Hey, Kurt Russell got it done. But I do think.

[Je Skeets]

Oh, spoiler.

[Trey Kirby]

I think that would be like, a good Instagram account. Like, take the Kurt Russell Challenge. I don't know if it necessarily hits in 2025.

[Je Skeets]

The Kurt Russell Challenge. That's gonna be an all star weekend event.

[David Sims]

David Gen Z obsessed with Kurt Russell.

[Trey Kirby]

The only Knicks basketball movie I could really find. David. Eddie, your thumbs are up or thumbs down on Eddie.

[David Sims]

Thumbs up on Eddie. No, Eddie's pretty bad. Eddie is. I'll be thumbs down on Eddie. Eddie is. Eddie is only, I think, interesting as a. As a sort of document of like mid-90s kind of as the Knicks are starting to curdle like, like late, ish 90s vibes on the Knicks. We do. I think we maybe win the division in Eddie. We don't win the finals. I think we go to the playoffs.

[Trey Kirby]

I think they at least go to the playoffs.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah. Hang a banner for winning the division in Eddie. Would be incredible.

[David Sims]

Should do that. The only. I'm trying to think in one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, the live action one, there's an extended sequence at MSG with, like, Lou Amundsen, like, like, really, like a really terrible Nick scene. Like, is on that team. It's like our kind of, like, end of the day, end of the era, like, mellow sort of stuff and that. That's a tough. That's a tough look. Like, back at it now, like, fighting somebody.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, I. I gotta find that.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

I haven't kept up to date with the the Turtles live action franchise.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah, they're.

[David Sims]

They're up and down, I would say.

[Trey Kirby]

Fair enough. Final one for you, David. Timothy Chalamet is the newest Knicks super fan. How do you feel about having one of the finest young actors out there cheering for your team every night?

[David Sims]

I feel great. I. He's so for real. Like, it's just so obvious that he is a dork about the Knicks. Like, as much as he's now enjoying, like, being this, you know, courtside mascot who's, like, mixing it up with everyone. Like, he is a dork about the Knicks. Like, he's a huge sports dork. And So I think he's got the bonafides. Like, I'm pro. And I do think as much as I enjoy all the kind of, you know, the Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, obviously Spike, like, all those guys, we need some. We need some fresh blood.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah.

[David Sims]

Sort of like Nick Celeb group. Right. Like, he needs some new guys. And he, he's as, he's as zingy and fresh as you get.

[Tas Melis]

Right.

[David Sims]

Like, everyone loves Nice.

[Trey Kirby]

Like the coolest guy out there. He's of the same generation as all the guys on the team. It's not quite, quite the same as, like, you're saying Ben Stiller, Spike Lee, different generations, for sure. And he definitely has the bonafide. Like, it's awesome that you can go back and see photos of Tim Chalamet hanging out with Landry Fields and Mari Stoudemire, like, tracking him down outside of a playhouse or something like that.

[David Sims]

Like, he was hanging out at MSG when we sucked, like, trying to get the attention of Landry Fields. God bless Landrew Fields. No offense. He. Landrick Fields, of course, is who just Jeremy Lynn's slept on the couch of. So we always, we always value Landry.

[Tas Melis]

Fields as a contribution.

[Trey Kirby]

So the, the Knicks just won a trophy. Do you think Timothy will win a trophy this year as well?

[David Sims]

I would predict him for best Actor for, for Marty Supreme.

[Je Skeets]

Okay.

[David Sims]

I do. Which is an excellent film. And he's very, very good in it. It's a real sort of like, you know, you know, leveling up moment for him. His campaign, he's running right now. Little unorthodox. Usually when you win an Oscar, you want to go to la, press the flesh, talk to a lot of old people, you know, go to some dinners. He's doing things a little differently with the merch and the Instagram lives and all this. I don't know if that'll translate. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. But he's really good in that movie. That movie's out like in a week or two, and it's a great film.

[Je Skeets]

Is he adopting the character Marty supreme? Like in this sort of press release? I've heard people say that, like, he's almost staying in characters actually through.

[David Sims]

Yeah, kind of like this kind of like striver. It's a sports movie. It's a ping pong movie, but it is a sports movie. It's got the arc of a sports movie. You know, it's got the kind of like ups and downs.

[Je Skeets]

Okay.

[Trey Kirby]

It's very cool.

[David Sims]

It's got some electrifying ping pong, if you guys.

[Je Skeets]

All right.

[Trey Kirby]

Really fun stuff. Surprisingly good spectator sport. Ping pong, the way they're going back and forth. David, thank you so much, man, for taking the time to speak with us. How can people follow you, hear you, all this kind of stuff?

[David Sims]

Look, I host Blank Check with Griffin and Dave, which is a movie podcast. You guys should check it out if you like movies, so you can find that on, you know, all the, all the platforms for podcasting. And really, I'm just, I'm David Sims at the Atlantic. I'm David L. Sims on Twitter, but I don't really use it anymore, you know, but why not? Oh, yeah, I don't know. Yeah. What's up with that place? So, but I'm, I'm lurking and I'm, I'm, you know, I'm, I'm having fun. But yeah, check out Blank Check. And you can read my phone criticism at the Atlantic anytime.

[Je Skeets]

And final question, because you did say, I mean, you're, you've been a longtime fan of the show here. Back to the Basketball Jones days. Do you have a favorite memory from this weird show we've done for 20 years?

[David Sims]

Oh, my God. I don't know.

[Je Skeets]

That's a good.

[David Sims]

I mean, like, really the thing with you guys is the consistency more than anything. There was just, you know, just. You're one of the first sort of like podcasts. You're one of the first podcasts. Let's just start there.

[Je Skeets]

Yep.

[David Sims]

But, you know, as you guys sort of rose, rose up and, you know, then you went over to NBA TV and you were on my dang TV sometimes and, you know, mixing it up with everybody, like, those are, you know, those were just exciting times. I don't know. I don't know. I mean, I remember when you guys went on the Chris Gethard show a billion years ago.

[Je Skeets]

Oh, wow.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah.

[David Sims]

Collide.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

Human fish.

[David Sims]

You did, you did like, you and you did commentary commentating for like one of his rec league games or something like that.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah, it was exactly right. I mean, you won't believe this. It was bizarre on the Chris Gethard show.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah.

[Je Skeets]

We were basically commentating on, I guess it was a recorded basketball game that they had played. Yeah, we were doing it in the audience. Studio audience. Yeah. That was a great memory.

[David Sims]

It's a fond memory.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah. Well, David, thank you so much for joining us here, everybody. Check out Blank Check. Check out David's writing at the Atlantic. And good luck to your Knicks. You got the cup. Now try and go get the lob.

[David Sims]

Let'S go get it. Thanks.

[Tas Melis]

Let's go get it.

[Je Skeets]

Happy holidays, man. Thank you so much.

[David Sims]

You, too. Thank you.

[Je Skeets]

All right, we're going to take a quick break. When we come back, we're going to look at some NBA trade deadline tiers. We'll explain that, but first, a word from our sponsor.

[Trey Kirby]

When it comes to betting on your favorite NBA players, nobody does it like FanDuel. From points and rebounds to threes and assists, FanDuel is the best place to build your player prop story. 12 games on tonight.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

Chunky schedule.

[Je Skeets]

Yep.

[Trey Kirby]

Lots of opportunity out there. Combine your favorite picks with FanDuel into a same game parlay or track every stat live all in one easy to use app. Whether you're backing a breakout performance or riding with Your favorite star, FanDuel gives you more ways to play and more reasons to cheer. Here's a reason to cheer. Trey Young is back. Yeah, Trey Young coming back for the Hawks tonight.

[Je Skeets]

Is that official?

[Trey Kirby]

I saw he's poised to play.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah. Okay.

[Trey Kirby]

He is poised for this evening's affair. He hasn't played since October. He's only played five games this season.

[Tas Melis]

Wow.

[Je Skeets]

Wow.

[Trey Kirby]

Now is the perfect time to join, whether you're Trey Young or just Trey Kirby. New customers get to $150 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. So bet on the players you love the way you want with FanDuel, official sports betting partner of the NBA.

[Je Skeets]

All right, thanks again to David Sims for joining us here on no Ducks. Hit the like button. Subscribe Podcast listeners, five star ratings and reviews. If you enjoyed that, let's pivot here to something else. Earlier this week, the Athletics Zach Harper decided it was the perfect time to break up the NBA trade season into tiers of teams that will likely have different motivations for completing or not completing any deals as we get closer to the deadline. I thought this was a good way to take a look at the total NBA landscape when it comes to trade season and I'm interested to hear your takes and everybody that's watching and listening your opinions on maybe a squad or two from each tier. Maybe you disagree that they're even in the tier to begin with. Maybe you think they should be in another one. And maybe you have a trade idea. Whatever. We'll talk it out here. So let's jump right into it. Tier one. This is from Zach Harper again. I'll make sure to link to this in the show notes, but Harper's buyers to compete Tier one Now, this is the biggest tier most teams in this tier than all the others. There's five tiers in total. I'll run through these for the podcast listener, but you're seeing them here on YouTube. He's got the Pistons and he's got like a little motivation for each team here. Pistons get another offensive creator, slash scorer. The Knicks get Giannis or another bench piece. You'll notice there are a lot of get Giannis's here in the teams maybe competing. Bucks bring in what you can to make Giannis happy. Tess has talked about that. The Hawks aggressively swing for another star. The spurs get Giannis or some depth that power forward. The Raptors interior scoring to help them bully a bit more. So some big on the team. The Heat get Giannis or more shooting. The Pelicans bring in veterans to help mold the youth. The Blazers bring in some outside shooting and the Bulls bring in a high level scorer. So Tass, we'll start with you here. This tier one buyers to compete. What do you want to begin with?

[Tas Melis]

Let's start with those Pistons because I think they should give their team as it is assembled a run together and some may say they did that last year. Why not give it a shot? I think they're way better and just way more developed than last year because I don't think they were fully formed last year. Asar Thompson was playing sort of spurts because of the blood clots that he had going on. So he wasn't playing full minutes. Jay Ivey wasn't even playing at all. And Jalen Duran has just become such a new player. So to go get another big that would kind of overlap his skill set doesn't really make sense to me. And I think Zach, you know, focused on getting another score, another creator. And Jaden Ivey is that guy. And I think right now Jaden Ivy is the guy that people are talking about as the guy that they would deal. But I don't think he looks anywhere close to what he was even last year before he got hurt, even before he got his leg taken out from Cole Anthony. So he's got to take some time to get ready and get into it. And I don't think you deal him. I know I've made the comparison like the Houston Rockets moved on from Jalen Green. This could be the Pistons moving on from Jaden Ivy. Not because they have similar first names, but because there are similar, you know, points early in their career where maybe they're not a creator, not a, not a great score. But Jay Navy just hasn't played enough. So I think this Full year. Give it one more shot with the Pistons at least before they decide that we are sort of the Houston Rockets of the east and we need to piece a few pieces together.

[Je Skeets]

I gotcha. I got you. So, yeah, you would probably remove them, is what you're saying, from this tier one.

[Tas Melis]

They're not going to make a move, I don't think.

[Je Skeets]

Okay.

[Trey Kirby]

And I think they should. I think it's interesting that they're here and I think they should be here. And I was kind of happy to see them being linked to MPJ via low level Slopsman Evan Cidery.

[Je Skeets]

Oh, yes.

[Trey Kirby]

Tobias Harris expiring contract. Ivy is going to be hitting his qualifying offer, looking for his second contract coming up so he could go into restricted free agency. The fit with MPJ makes sense to me from a theoretical standpoint. Like if he's somewhere in between MPJ in Denver and MPJ in Brooklyn, like, does he want to go back to being a role player? Because Kate is the guy guy.

[Je Skeets]

Oh, yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

And then Duran is the number two guy. Thompson may be ahead of him in the pecking order or at least in the hierarchy. Maybe not the offensive pecking order, but if MPJ could switch between like primary scorer and role player mode, I think that kind of makes sense to do that for it would be basically Harris, Ivy and a protected future first round pick. I think the Nets would probably do that. Turning Cam Johnson into half a season of MPJ and then two first rounders is nice work. You could also resign Ivy in the summer if they wanted to. It kind of comes down to would they rather pay Tobias, Harris and Ivy or MPJ going forward. I can see it working either way. The thing with the Pistons is they don't play the Knicks until January 5th. So I kind of have a hard time knowing how they compete against each other right now because, you know, the Knicks beat him in the playoffs last year. The Knicks are rolling right now, but the Pistons have had the best record in the Eastern Conference for the entire season. They look great. They just haven't had to go against each other yet. And I think maybe they see how things go in that January 5th meeting and then kind of make some determinations there since they would have still another month going forward.

[Je Skeets]

That's a Good point. They're 21 and 5 right now. The Pistons are. They obviously lead the.

[Tas Melis]

It is wild to say it that.

[Je Skeets]

Way, 21 and 5. And like, if you look at their upcoming schedule, just to end the calendar year, they go on a West coast road trip, but not against like really elite teams. They play the Mavericks in Dallas tonight, then they have a home game against the Hornets, then that road trip, like I said, Portland, Sacramento, Utah, the Clippers and then the Lakers. That takes us to January 1st. Like, you know, I just listed the teams. They could very easily win five, maybe even six of those seven games, let's say. So we're looking at like a record that's like going to be flirting with like sort of close to like 30 and 7 at that point. And I'm with you, TK I can't wait for that January 5th game to play the Knicks because that's like. It feels like those teams might have to go through each other. I know there's the whole Tatum possibly coming back for the Celtics, maybe the Cavs figure things out. Other squads like the Magic, but I don't know. They're going to collide at some point.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Je Skeets]

And I want to see them in the regular season to see like how they shape up against.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, they're. And their series was ridiculously good last year and it feels like the Knicks have leveled up a little bit. And if I'm the Pistons, I'm looking at my guys to level up as well because we've seen Jalen Dern do it. Asar Thompson is doing it. But I think you want to see him at least play through a full season of non blood clots because he had to deal with that last year coming back. And Jay N. Ivey, really, he's only played 11 games this year and so he hasn't looked anything like his ability yet. And so I want to see him see if he can get close to what he was last year when he was 46, 41 from 3. The guy can ball. So I do want to see that. Tobias Harris, of course he's not a long term guy for Detroit, so if he's the piece that you're moving on from, sure, you think about it. You definitely think about it. But this Pistons team is stacked to be a 215 and not really playing all their guys. All that much is awesome.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah. Are there any teams, other teams from that list that you wanted to touch on?

[Trey Kirby]

It literally made me laugh that the Bulls are in tier one here. Buyers to compete. Compete for what?

[Je Skeets]

Your love.

[Trey Kirby]

Unfortunately, I'm locked in and I'm a loyal guy. But they're a half game up on The Bucs for two. 10th in the Eastern Conference right now. I think they should be in tier 2 selling for lottery odds.

[Je Skeets]

Right.

[Trey Kirby]

They could also be in Tier 5 Stan, Pat and guess what? You're still going to have good lottery odds. But the fact that they are here and the buyers to compete tier just tells you the opinions of the Bulls. Everybody knows they're going to try and make a win now move and they shouldn't make a win. They should not. They simply shouldn't.

[Je Skeets]

We've talked a lot about the Raptors. We don't need to talk about them. But the Hawks and Spurs on this list in this tier it makes sense. But I think what we've come to the realization is if the Hawks are making a deal, Jalen Johnson's not going to be in it and if the spurs are making a deal, I don't think Stephon Castle is going to be in it or Dylan Harper at this point and obviously Wemby. And then maybe there's a lot of other guys that are possibly could be moved but those star guys, those what appear to be either all stars or turning into all stars and all NBA talent in the spurs case, you can't trade them at this point. You can't.

[Trey Kirby]

Nah, I don't.

[Je Skeets]

You've got something there and obviously on a cheap contract with the rookie contract in the spurs case. So we'll see. All right, next here, sellers for lottery night. Four teams in this bunch. We got the Dallas Mavericks trade motivation. Their big men are available and they own their pick. Utah Jazz don't mess up getting too many wins. The Kings fire sale to get off those veteran deals. And the Brooklyn Nets gather assets and ensure lottery odds. Of those four tasks, which one jumps out to?

[Tas Melis]

Well, Dallas does because they have to start losing losing games to get really down low in the lottery numbers just to be able to get that accompanying piece for Cooper flag. You want to finish as low as possible, but with all these teams below you right here, right now. Sacramento, Clippers, Pelicans, Charlotte, Brooklyn, Indiana, Washington. You got to start doing it now because Kyrie Irving is coming back. I don't think he's buying everybody go karts for Christmas because he's not coming back. Do you see the video?

[Je Skeets]

I could not stop laughing when Kyrie Irving pushed over golf carts.

[Tas Melis]

I should say the robot.

[Je Skeets]

I didn't care about the golf carts. Yeah, him pushing over the robot was one of the funniest things of the year.

[Trey Kirby]

That's hilarious.

[Je Skeets]

You can tell he feels legit bad because somebody like, yeah, they're like, yeah, push it. And he really pushes it.

[Trey Kirby]

Were they expecting it wasn't gonna fall over?

[Je Skeets]

I think so.

[Trey Kirby]

You hear somebody say you can Try.

[Je Skeets]

That's what I thought.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

That was awesome.

[Tas Melis]

You think if Kyrie's pushing it, he knows it can get up, right? Like, he's just saying, screw this thing. I'm breaking it. Because he did. It didn't get up.

[Je Skeets]

No, it was broken.

[Tas Melis]

It was awesome.

[Trey Kirby]

Dancing up.

[Je Skeets]

Come on, man.

[Tas Melis]

Come on.

[Je Skeets]

Come back to me. He's literally checking on it later. You can see him, like, flipping. Yeah, yeah, exactly.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. But they're. They're a really interesting team. He also bought your golf carts, which are souped to the max for all his teammates. So he's not going anywhere. He's a freaking all NBA type of player when he comes back. So you got to start losing now, essentially, like you. You can't. You're gonna start winning games when Kyrie Irving is back, and it may be soon, you know, it's.

[Je Skeets]

Then why bring him back? Is the counter to that, too, just.

[Tas Melis]

To say, hey, sit. Yeah, he's a ball player. I don't think he's gonna.

[Je Skeets]

Hey, go fix the robot.

[Tas Melis]

You could tell a ballplayer to sit, but the guy. They're not far. They're one game out of the play. Yeah, they're not far at all. So I don't think he's gonna sit. So they're in an interesting spot where, yeah, Derek Lively done for the season. The Anthony Davis thing is very, very interesting, but I think they're gonna win games.

[Trey Kirby]

They've started winning since Davis came back, and even he hasn't been able to be on the court the entire time. They do have the 8th best lottery odds now. Like, you don't necessarily have to have top four lottery odds as we've seen recently since things have been been smoothed out. But I think the Mavs and the Jazz are both in kind of similar positions, and that's why they're both in this tier. Selling to lose makes the most sense from a team building standpoint. Like, both of these teams want to get their pick this season. As good as it can be. The Thunder get the Jazz pick if it falls outside of the top eight. Currently, Utah has the 10th best odds. So that pick would go to OKC if things go chalk, as is right. But from a development standpoint, like the Mavs want to win games. They probably want Kyrie Irving to come back to see what he's got, but also to get him ramped up for next season when they can actually try and make a step forward in the Western Conference. And the Jazz have just been caught in the tank for three seasons. Now they probably would like to see a little bit of progress especially after signing a market to a big deal last year. Maybe they don't trade him once again they say they want to build around him but I'm sure as he gets older and older further into his career he to would like, like to see a little bit of positive momentum, some wins. So I think they're kind of caught in weird places where it's like do we actually want to sell here and get worse and have a disappointing season or do we want to try and make something happen and look like fools in June?

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. Utah has been whiffing on the draft over and over and over.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah, they have to pretend like the draft doesn't exist is my opinion to them. I'm with you, Trent. Like they. This, this is a franchise that has gone down in wins for like five consecutive season seasons. Like this used to be of course a 50 win team and then it was into the high 30s. Then it was into the low 30s, you know and just sort of keeps going down, down, down. What 17 wins last year. Obviously trying to bottom out, trying to like hopefully hit in the lottery odds and you know, they got a good player I think in Ace Bailey but didn't. Didn't get the Cooper flag of it all. Stop doing that. I think they're. I don't think I would have them here. I think they've got some pieces there. Obviously well coached. Just try.

[Tas Melis]

You're saying play basketball.

[Je Skeets]

Play basketball, Play basketball. Maybe sniff a play in. Don't worry about it.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, I think, I think that's why they, they don't sell because they keep whiffing and because Larry looks good. The growth of Keonte George helps out.

[Je Skeets]

Yes.

[Tas Melis]

The. There's an Ace Bailey there. We'll see what he can become. He's. They're playing him extremely slow. So the question is do they sell Larry Markin or. Yeah, stay with what. What they go. We'll stay what they, what they got because it's decent. It's very, very decent here. It's a, it's solid right now the Sacramento one feels like that's the one. Where are they finally going to pull the plug? Because they keep going to this here. You know, it's. It's like the Chicago Bulls in the West. Yeah. Keep on being mediocre. Every, every single player is mediocre. But are we going to finally give up on DeRozan or. And, or Levine? But what are they going to get for them?

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, that's the question. But at Least it's a new front office for Sacramento. So they're not tied necessarily to the Rose and Levine Sabonis trifecta. But that was my big question was like, who has trade value on the Kings? Like, I think a team, a team could talk themselves into Monk for sure.

[Je Skeets]

As a team could talk themselves into.

[Trey Kirby]

Keon Ellis, but they have such small contracts that they're probably not bringing a player back. Maybe like a late, late, late first round pick, maybe even seconds, you know, so not huge hauls, because I think draft picks are going to become even more closely held on to by these teams in the Apron era, just because the cost control on a good rookie is good for building your teams out there. So, I don't know, you can see DeRozan on other teams. Like, that's a guy that you can at least understand how he fits into teams where you're like, okay, we've got a guy who can come and be a scorer. Yeah, he probably needs to be a sixth man at this point in his career. But otherwise it's like Sabonis is going to cost a lot, I think. And I mean, we've both had to answer questions, do you want the Bulls or the Raptors to trade for Sabonis? And it's a no for all three of us. And then the other thing is Levine. Like, I know the Bucks are kind of like poking around on Levine just because they need some other scorer out there, but I don't think that's the thing that keeps Giannis interested in Milwaukee.

[Tas Melis]

No, I think there, there's two tiers. There's the DeRozan and DeRozan and Levine tier where they ain't getting much for them. But then there's the Sabonist here, where you have to give up some stuff for Sabonis. Now he him coming back, you know, he's going to play. He's consistently. It's like what David Sim said about the basketball Jones slash, the starters, slash, no dunks. They're extremely consistent. That's the thing about them. That's the thing about Sabonus. He's going to play. He's going to play a ton. Is he a superstar? No, he's not your number one type of guy. But he's going to be there. He's going to be there playing. So that's the guy to me, that they have to give up on in order to get something back. Because the other guys, what are they getting back for DeRozan, who would be great to see him as a six man. For sure, to score off a bench somewhere.

[Je Skeets]

I'm preparing myself for whatever trade that we get from the Kings, this deadline, for it to be bad for them, whatever they're getting back now. I mean, perfect world. They're hoping probably to go back to the King's Bulls comparison. They're probably hoping they can get off of Sabonis for what the Bulls, excuse me, the Magic, did, obviously, when they traded Vucevic sort of to the Chicago Bulls and sort of the what they got back for that. I'm assuming the Kings would be ecstatic with some sort of return like that in terms of, like, Wendell Carter Jr. Being the sort of like the piece of that and obviously draft picks. But whatever it is, this is going to be bad. Like they get back from these guys.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, yeah.

[Je Skeets]

And you said they're like. They're a mediocre team. The problem is they have been. They're not this year. They're just bad. They're 6 and 20.

[Tas Melis]

So that would be a good sign that Scott Perry, who took over in April, would finally pull the plug on this team. But, you know, in the off season, he wouldn't got Dennis Schroeder because he thought they'd be good.

[Trey Kirby]

Another guy who could be traded. I do believe Schroeder is a guy that loves to get traded at the deadline. The good thing for the Kings is that they're ethically tanking right now. Like you're saying, they're 6 and 20. They've got tied for the third best odds with their guys playing. They don't need to trade anybody to be bad. They just need to keep playing them.

[Je Skeets]

Just keep playing them.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah, maybe. All right, next one here, tier three. Cutting apron string. All right, we're getting into the books here with this tier from Zach Harper. Got the Boston Celtics on this list in this tier. Still a little over 4 million in the first apron. Cavs 22 million into the second apron. For this is the question from Zach. Lost to your Bulls last night. Yikes. Like 15 and 13 now. I think Cleveland is. The warriors are about $264,000 away from the second apron. And then the Clippers are about a million away from the first apron. So, Trey, I'll start with you on this one of these teams. What intrigues you here with these teams? And maybe you're just looking at the books.

[Trey Kirby]

It's the Cavs for sure. They've got the highest payroll in the league this season. They're currently ninth in the Eastern Conference. They look terrible against the Bulls. Last night bulls shot 55%. It was easy pickings for them the entire night. 22 million over the second apron like Zach says, which cost them 100 million in luxury taxes. I don't care how many mortgages you sell, that's a lot of money. But it's also also tough to shave that much off your cap with the rules that are in place. They've traded the control of every one of their picks until 2029, whether it be outright trades or swaps. Mostly from the Donovan Mitchell trade, mostly from or a little bit from the DeAndre Hunter trade as well. The other tough part for them I feel like is Jared Allen. His trade value has got to be at an all time low right now. He seems to have taken a step back massively this season. Garland does seem to be getting things going a little bit here, but he doesn't look like the same player from an explosion standpoint, doesn't look nearly as quick and they need him to be getting in the lane. So I don't know because I think ideally for the Cavs they would reorient their team around Donovan Mitchell, who's still playing at an All Star All NBA level and Evan Mobley when he comes back from injury. But A Mobley is hurt right now. B Mitchell's 29 years old. He is signed until the 2027 season, has a player option for 2728. How long is he going to want to be around in Cleveland? I think is a question that's going to start being asked around the Cavs if they don't find out a way to turn this thing around. But with Mobley out, you look at the teams that like the players they're running out and that just look at like a who is this? Like Dean Wade had a spark at one point. It's not really happening for him right now. Hunter has gone to the bench. He's not doing anything. They're waiting for Max Drew to come back, but it's like Jaylon Tyson, Fringe rotation rotation guy, Naquan Tomlin. They just found him off the scrap heap. Fringe, rotate rotation guy. They've taken a massive step back this year and now their books look really, really bad. For a team that's not performing horrendous.

[Tas Melis]

They look really, really terrible. They don't have the fight within them at all. They put DeAndre Hunter to the bench for the first time this season. Two months into the season, two months too late. It sure looks like they just don't have that guy ethic. Dean Wade would be A better option just having him out there being that guy who was there last year, having the fight level to go along with Garland, who is looking better. Some beautiful dancing moves against the Bulls, there's no doubt. But then the. The Jared Allen ain't working all that well. So there. That might be the guy, the primary guy. I think that they focus on potentially moving just to shake up that starting lineup. You know, they. They're hoping for Max Shoes to come back, but I think Alan might be the guy to come out of this one with some sort of semblance of last year. Like, I think he'd be the guy to try and get them back to what they were last year. They would be, you know, somewhat tiny, but you can give Evan Mobley lots of five minutes and see what they got.

[Trey Kirby]

But it's Thomas Bryant.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

But I do wonder, like, you know, we talked about the Pacers of the team that would look at. At was looking for a center of the future. Jared Allen would be a nice role guy alongside Tyrese Haliburton for next season, but I don't know if the trade would be going back. Yeah, it will be topping to run around out there maybe. But yeah, Allen going off or Allen taking a step back and Garland being hurt for the majority of this season has not been good for the Cavs because their only fallback plan is can we hit threes? And if they don't, yeah, it's a loss.

[Je Skeets]

Yep.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. As far as aprons go, Brad Stevens and the Celtics, they must, they must look at him and say, you are a genius. Combined with the new ownership for them to say, jrue Holiday, you're out. Chris Apps, Porzingis, you're out. And not to take long term contracts back for either of those guys to look the way they look right here, right now. The new ownership, who spent bajillions of dollars on them must be extremely excited for this team and what they are. Here comes the superstar coming back with Jason Tatum. They just have adapted to the current new NBA money books perfectly.

[Je Skeets]

You say that with confidence. You do believe we'll see Jason Tatum here in the new year.

[Tas Melis]

I'm guessing, I'm guessing I ain't a duck, but it looks like it. Yeah. Talks look like it.

[Je Skeets]

And I think it's helped out by the fact that like, oh, our team is pretty good. We might be in the mix. Like, okay, we got some tough teams ahead of us, but maybe we can give him a fight if we got Tatum back. Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

And he would be helpful for that team. Like Jaylen Brown. I think even if Tatum comes back, he's not going to be all NBA Jason Tatum. But Jaylen Brown has taken such a step forward this year as the number one guy that Tatum could slot in as a role player. Like they would love to have his rebounding out there. His three point shooting would be helpful as well. And then anything he gives them as like an ISO dude, that's even butter on the roll.

[Tas Melis]

Butter on that roll.

[Trey Kirby]

Butter on the roll right there.

[Tas Melis]

Now, I don't know if you can trade for a big with what they have. Maybe somebody wants an Anthony Simons, considering it's an expiring contract and somebody wants to take a chance on after he signs. I get that. But he ain't fit with. He ain't fitting really well with Boston. And the Celtics need to get big. So it's, it's like the, the discussion was they have to take a step back. When Tatum went out, they did that and they said, money wise, this is what we're doing. But it's almost like they're, they're almost on that other part of the curve where they, they want to add. And so this is, it's an interesting part. They, they. I think they still have an eye on the Eastern Conference. I know Tatum's not himself and they're. Their bigs are what they are, but why not? Why not?

[Trey Kirby]

What a matchup we got, y'. All. This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance echo drum beat. Everybody showing that school pride.

[David Sims]

Game like this.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there.

[Tas Melis]

Mmm.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, that taste always hits the right note.

[David Sims]

Just like the band at halftime.

[Trey Kirby]

And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere. And in ice cold Coca Cola.

[Je Skeets]

That's a winning combo.

[Trey Kirby]

No matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

[Je Skeets]

So let me get this straight. Your company has data here, there and everywhere, but your AI can't use the data because it's here, there and everywhere? Seems like something's missing. Every business has unique data. IBM helps your AI access your data wherever it lives. To change how you do business, let's create Smile to business IBM. This is Matt Rogers from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.

[Trey Kirby]

This is Bowen Yang from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.

[Je Skeets]

Hey, Bowen, it's gift season. Ugh.

[David Sims]

Stressing me out.

[Trey Kirby]

Why are all the people I love so hard to shop for like me?

[Je Skeets]

Exactly honey.

[Tas Melis]

I'm easy.

[Je Skeets]

But you're right, holiday gifting is stressful.

[Trey Kirby]

And all the gift guides out there are boring and uninspired.

[Je Skeets]

Wait, what about the guide we made.

[Trey Kirby]

In partnership with Marshalls where premium gifts mean incredible value?

[David Sims]

It's Giving Gifts, A series of guides.

[Je Skeets]

Filled with premium gifts at great value for everyone on your list.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, Cause if I see one more for the dad who likes golf list, I'm out. Right?

[Je Skeets]

How about something for the people who actually surprise you with categories like Best.

[Trey Kirby]

Gifts for the mom whose idea of a sensible walking shoe is a stiletto.

[Je Skeets]

Psst.

[Trey Kirby]

She wants a pair of stilettos.

[Je Skeets]

Or best gifts for me that were.

[David Sims]

So thoughtful I really shouldn't have dying.

[Trey Kirby]

To see what those are.

[Je Skeets]

And you won't believe they're prices.

[Trey Kirby]

Just wait till you see what else is in there. It's basically a one stop shop for everyone.

[David Sims]

You know I started bookmarking half the list for myself. Honestly, this is the guy for the.

[Trey Kirby]

2025 holiday gifting season.

[David Sims]

Check out the guide on marshalls.com it's.

[Trey Kirby]

Giving gifts Gift the Good stuff at Marshalls.

[Je Skeets]

Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder? With a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other. One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. Before you know it, you are drowning in software instead of growing your business. This is where Odoo comes in. Odoo is the only business software you'll ever need. It's an all in one fully integrated platform that handles everything CRM, accounting, inventory, E commerce, HR and more. No more app overload, no more juggling logins. Just one seamless system that makes work easier. And the best part? Odoo replaces multiple expensive platforms for a fraction of the cost. It's built to grow with your business whether you are just starting out or already scaling up. Plus it's easy to use, customizable and designed to streamline every process so you can focus on what really matters running your business. Thousands of businesses have made the switch so why not you try Odoo for [e-mail] that's o d o o.com tier four gaining assets couple teams we got six teams total. Phoenix Suns Trade Motivation should try and get more assets to move Pacers. Assets for them would be big for next season. 76ers Daryl Morey loves assets more than anything.

[Trey Kirby]

The Grizzlies what about Broadway shows.

[Je Skeets]

He does love Broadway shows. Grizzlies, they can move a vet for some future assets. The Wizards, they've prioritized cap space to acquire assets. And the Hornets, they're happy to be a third team for a pick. Yes, that's true. They've proven that before. Even Trey of these teams. What's got your eye?

[Trey Kirby]

This actually really upset me.

[Je Skeets]

Okay.

[Trey Kirby]

Why would Zach not use the word assets for the Hornets? He used it in every other line.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah. I think by that point. Oh, you're right. He did use the Happy to be.

[Trey Kirby]

A third team for assets.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah. No, no. He wanted to pick.

[Trey Kirby]

Come on. That's ridiculous to me. I mean, the Daryl Morey question I think is interesting. The 76ers, they've had kind of a surprising season building their team around Tyrese Maxey and guard play, and they're just happy to get anything from Paul George and Joel Embiid right now. So I do wonder what they do. But the team that really interested me was the Washington Wizards. Bad season for the Wizards, but they do have two big time expiring contracts. $33 million for Chris Middleton, $30 million for CJ McCollum. These were guys that when they were brought to Washington was like, oh, maybe they'll rehab their value and be able to ship them out. I don't think you're getting a first round pick for either of these guys. But I do wonder if there's teams out there that would be interested in either Middleton or McCollum to be a bench scorer or a big shot taker when they absolutely need it more than likely, like they're buyout guys because you have to give up a lot to get to $30 million for either of them. But I was a little bit interested because McCollum in particular has had a couple of really nice games this year. He's got two 40 point games, can still get to a shot when he needs to. And when it comes playoff time, we're always looking for those guys that can win you a quarter.

[Je Skeets]

He can win you a quarter. Yeah, he really could. I think he still could of those two for sure. He seems more likely to, like, warrant any sort of return from a team that could convince himself. Oh, yeah, we had McCollum, and he's a guy that can help us in a playoff series. Yeah, more than Middleton, I think, at this point.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, like DeRozan, you know, he's a different type of player, but. But those guys need to be sent somewhere. CJ McCollum needs to be sent Somewhere right here, right now to try and win a quarter. Yeah. And DeRozan can do the same thing in the postseason, so that. That should happen. I do think. I think Philly is just so lucky to be where they are right here, right now, that they don't. They don't make any moves. They hope that some of their internal guys like Jerick McCain continue to grow. They hope their internal guys play basketball. Joel Embiid and Paul George mostly. So no one's taking those contracts. So I think they are where they are. The Grizzlies are fascinating to me that they're almost 500. John Morant sitting out every second game. It feels like, unfortunately, with his lower extremities. They just fought so hard yesterday against Minnesota. Minnesota was a damn good second half team. The last eight games, they're the number one second half team in the league offensively, defensively. And then the second half against Memphis, here come the fighters. They just miss shots. Nuts. And Jock Landale, of all people, just grabbing boards, hitting threes.

[Trey Kirby]

Four threes for Jock Landale. Two massive ones in the fourth quarter. He was going nuts out there.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, yeah. Rudy Gobert's supposed to guard him, but Jack said, I'm going to the corner. And he. Rudy said, go ahead, man, shoot it. And Jock came up big. The guy's shooting like 40 for 3. That's why they're. They're sort of just really, really interesting at 500. Do they just keep what they are and just go forward and just rely on Jaren Jackson as your number one guy and Cedric Coward as your sort of your number two guy? It's fascinating. They have a bunch of pieces like coming into this year, we thought, all right, here comes Vince Williams, here comes D.J. jackson. Obviously, last year they had a bunch of guys perform, you know, their rook perform. Last year, Jalen Wells, it just seemed like it wasn't going to go well, but maybe they had a bunch of good pieces. So did they just package something? All those together, or do they just try and go with what they are? Because Cedric Howard is awesome. Watching him yesterday, if Eric Bledsoe was 4 inches taller, he'd be Cedric Coward. He would be so confident coming down the floor. He was an advantage. He said, all right, I'm going right at Bones Highland. I'm taking him to the rim. Eric Bledsoe could have been that guy with a little bit more dribble in his game. He made a couple. All defensive teams. Cedric Coward is going to make more than two. All defensive teams, I think yeah, he's good. Yeah. Eric, let's go. Nearly made an All Star game. Cedric Howard is definitely going to make an All Star game. Wow.

[Je Skeets]

At some point calling a shot.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Je Skeets]

Okay.

[Tas Melis]

Four inches. Eric Bledsoe could have been the guy.

[Je Skeets]

But they're an interesting team, though, because now guys are coming back to their roster and they have a lot of guys. Like Brandon Clark is back.

[Trey Kirby]

I was like, what?

[Je Skeets]

Yeah, he started.

[Tas Melis]

Game one, started last night.

[Je Skeets]

So he's there. I mean, I know it's silly because I'm, you know, I'm the Canadian. One of the Canadians saying Omax Prosper is playing for them, getting some opportunity. He's giving them a little something. They have a lot of guys and I'm with you. It's like, what do they do here? Like, are they still even trying to trade John Morant? Can they package a couple guys into a bigger name to go along with some of their guys? Like Jaren Jackson Jr. Is starting to get going here. I think he's stringing together a really nice week after a pretty slow start to his season. So, yeah, they're, they're, they're fascinating because they have different ways they could go here.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, they do. They can. And they make some highlights. Just prosper. One highlight. Not a lot of highlights, but one highlight. And as I said, Cedric Howard, no doubt. Highlights.

[Je Skeets]

Oh, yeah.

[Tas Melis]

Jock Landale, an occasional highlight.

[Trey Kirby]

More highlights than you would expect this year from Jock Landale. I would say. They haven't even had Pippen play yet. Scott Pippen Jr.

[Je Skeets]

Hasn't played. Lot of guys.

[Trey Kirby]

Jerome hasn't played.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, that's, that's why they're here, though.

[Trey Kirby]

They've got a lot of guys.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

Maybe get a pickback, but they feel like they can lock themselves into a play in team. I mean, we'll see if Ed's able to stay on the court. He's out for like another three weeks at least. But I'm a little nervous about that ankle for him. But I think it's encouraging to see. Jaren Jackson Jr. Has had two good games in a row. He scores exactly like Julius Randall now. I hadn't really ever thought about it, but it's like just dribble a hundred times and then eventually you get a spin move and you can finish at the lane. So it's fun to see those guys going head to head on each other.

[Tas Melis]

No, that floater over Rudy Gobert bank shot. I've never seen that from him. I mean, that was, that was sick. But it is interesting. Like Aldama hasn't even played to his performance that literally, you go down this freaking whole roster. There's a lot of capabilities, but what are they going to do with them?

[Je Skeets]

Yeah, final tier, Tier five. Zach says standing pat. These six teams unlikely maybe to do anything here. Deadline Timberwolves. Oh, that's Zack Harper's team trade motivation. Well, we'll be in rumors, but likely stuck now. Lakers prioritizing the summer over the now Magic kind of locked into this roster. I do agree with that one to some extent. Rockets more likely to tinker in the summer Nuggets. They're locked into this squad and the Thunder. Why mess with perfection? Zach Harper asks Taz, start with you. Of this bunch here. Is there anyone you disagree with, maybe that you're like, no, I don't know. They can maybe do some.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. The interesting one is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Just to get another part, literally, to help out as far as the guard goes, because I watch Bones Highland, who's been given those minutes right here, right now. Sometimes you get a good bone, sometimes you don't. I think you could use a Chris Paul in there just to help out some of these young guys. Whether it's Bones island, who, you know, may have rectified his career after the Denver scenario and how he wanted to play more there and didn't work out, and now he's getting Minnesota. I think it would be helped to have a Chris Paul put that arm around his shoulders and try and help him out. Same with Rob Dillingham. So I think that would be the team of all of them to try something and to do it for Chris Paul and with Chris Paul, because the rest of them, Lakers, Magic, Houston, Denver, okc, I don't see it happening. I think those are pats.

[Je Skeets]

Okay, well, look, if you're Chris Paul and you're throwing a Halloween party, the guy named Bones better show up. What do you think, TK about the Wolves, I guess, or maybe these other teams?

[Trey Kirby]

I mean, the Wolves, to me, are the team that most in this tier needs to make a trade. I did laugh, though, when I saw John Hollinger had Usman Jang as a trade candidate going forward for the Thunder. It's like, oh, they're not gonna. They're probably not gonna pay him, so why not trade him for some more stuff down the road? They probably will do that. If they want to make a move, they definitely could. They've got maybe two lottery picks coming in this year. They could get any player in the league they wanted. But, yeah, the Timberwolf, man, they really I think do need a trade. They're two and eight against 500 teams. You mentioned they have been the best fourth quarter team in the past couple.

[Tas Melis]

Of weeks, but second half.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, yeah, second half team. But I also heard on the broadcast last night that they hadn't had a lead after the first half since late November. It was their first lead after the first half last night against Memphis since November 24th.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, and that's the problem with this team.

[Trey Kirby]

They're not good enough to be playing from behind like that.

[Tas Melis]

They always do.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, but I. I think they need to make a move. And for me it is Randall, like it would be a bit of a sell high on Randall because he's got this year left on his contract. Next year left on his contract. Then a player option for the 27, 28 season. He's been their most consistent player this year. I don't think he played very well last night against Memphis, but I don't know. I think he's most likely to either bring in some assets that they could use to get somebody else or maybe be another player since he's making 30 million. They could get somebody decent. They could get you. They could get C.J.

[Tas Melis]

Mccollum.

[Trey Kirby]

I don't think that's the right guy. No, but I think they need to do something. They need some kind of shake up because I just don't think this team is good enough to really make a run at the top four in the Western Conference. The four teams ahead of them seem clearly ahead of them to me. And you go back and like look at their playoff run last year. It's awesome. They made the conference finals, but you can easily poke holes in how they got there. They beat a Nuggets team that had two starters down.

[Tas Melis]

Basically.

[Je Skeets]

I'm trying to think of teams that would like be calling to inquire about Julius Randall. I am struggling with like a team like, yeah, like he is a good player and I'm like, who is be. Call.

[Trey Kirby]

Call.

[David Sims]

They.

[Trey Kirby]

They are kind of stuck, I think.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah, maybe that's why they're in tier five. Maybe Harper's got it right.

[Trey Kirby]

Rockets I think also could use a guard upgrade. He says this is like a team that he thinks would wait until the summer. They've got a lot of things that they could trade going forward. I think that they could upgrade a Koji or Aaron Holiday. The only like bad contract they have right now is Dorian Finney Smith, but it's a pretty bad contract considering the guy isn't Playing and is signed for multiple years at this point. But they've got enough picks down the line that maybe you could encourage a team to take. Take dfs and get the picks along with it and beef up your perimeter play.

[Tas Melis]

It's always fun time of season. We always talk about this big name player. This big name player might get dealt. Usman Jang definitely going to get dealt.

[Je Skeets]

Okay.

[Trey Kirby]

He's out.

[Tas Melis]

You know, he's a number 11 pick. I mean, it's a long time ago.

[Trey Kirby]

But he was picked ahead of Jalen Williams.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. That's why he could get dealt. Hopefully it's not one of those trade seasons. It doesn't seem like it will be where only the small guys get dealt. The big guys will get dealt. It feels like, like bigger. Not Usman Jang level. There's gonna be way bigger than that.

[Je Skeets]

Oh, God, I hope so.

[Trey Kirby]

I hope.

[Tas Melis]

But it feels like it.

[Je Skeets]

Biggest name.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. Randall would be extremely, extremely interesting. Last year, did you say Holden, did you say they beat the Nuggets with two injured guys? We're talking about the Thunder because they beat the Lakers and the Warriors.

[Trey Kirby]

Oh, yeah, yeah, I beat the Warriors. Sorry, sorry, I was mistaken. The warriors without Steph Curry.

[Tas Melis]

So they did have a pack, you know, an older Lakers team and then the older warriors team, maybe the Laker.

[Trey Kirby]

That's what I.

[Tas Melis]

You're right.

[Trey Kirby]

Lakers were playing six guys and then no stuff.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. So there is.

[David Sims]

There's holes.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. And it feels like they need something. That's. That's what Anthony Edwards teams kind of are. Second half.

[David Sims]

Here we go, baby.

[Tas Melis]

That's. It's. It's so strange. They got to get it going. That's why Chris Paul could fit. Oh, gosh. Feels weird saying that.

[Je Skeets]

I mean, yeah, he could fit, but like, like it makes sense. I know what you're thinking about. Like also, let's be honest here. Chris Paul is not going to take you to the promised land. At this point of his career.

[Trey Kirby]

Conley Bones is actually playing really, really well.

[Tas Melis]

Oh, I liked him. I liked watching him.

[Trey Kirby]

Got a cool celebration anytime he makes a. He's like a Birdman. I love it.

[Tas Melis]

Double arm.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

I'm Bones pilled right now, though. I don't necessarily believe Jim Peterson when he's telling me he's a pass. First point guard. He's a pass first point guard who can score. Not a score first point guard who can pass ass. Because the first thing I ever saw of Bones Highland was him just like playing anybody who wanted in one on one.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

At a Park. Come and face me at the park.

[Tas Melis]

I mean, he does look different now.

[Je Skeets]

He looks. He's gone through his lumps a little bit.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah.

[Je Skeets]

In the league. Yeah. I've been humbled a little bit.

[Trey Kirby]

He's got a believer in Tim Conley.

[Tas Melis]

He passes Bones, man.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah, I don't have a lot of confidence in Bones. Highland winning Mew three or four playoff rounds.

[Trey Kirby]

No, he ain't gonna win the playoffs.

[Je Skeets]

But he is, is. He is becoming a more mature player. I do agree with that. All right. Thank the Zach Harper for the tears. That's a lot of fun. Appreciate him putting together that article. Appreciate me reading it and then thinking that would be a great segment on the show. And I believe it was. We'll link to it in the show notes. Okay. Lite of the night. Well, this is fun. It's sponsored today. Yes. By Bunny's Karaoke Bar in Manchester, England.

[Tas Melis]

Awesome.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah. Jake in the Stream team. Before the show, he fired us over 10 pounds, I guess. What's the. What's the.

[Tas Melis]

Double it, man.

[Je Skeets]

The rate on that right now, I.

[Tas Melis]

Say you're getting two per.

[Je Skeets]

You're making bank. Bunny's Karaoke Bar in Manchester, England. You want wings? While singing Band on the Run by the band, Wings Bunnies is your place. So Josh Giddy gets wobble boy. Thanks. Jake recorded his sixth triple double of the season. 23 points, 11 boards, 11 assists as the Bulls beat the Cavs. Giddy 8 of 18 from the field, 5 of 11 from deep, 2 steals, 1 block in 34 minutes played. Check out the flow on that guy.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, I think that was a career high. Five threes for Giddy, I think they said.

[Je Skeets]

Oh, really? Yeah, he took 11. Yep.

[Trey Kirby]

He was open.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah, he was part of the game plan, I guess. And he was hitting them last night.

[Tas Melis]

I was so wrong with the pounds that Jake gave us.

[Je Skeets]

Oh, okay.

[Tas Melis]

The double pounds, that's more a Canadian thing. Pound to Canadian dollars, 184. 1.84 Canadian dollars for a pound. But USD where we are now, it's only 134. Okay.

[Trey Kirby]

So anyway, 13 bucks.

[Tas Melis]

13 bucks. Thanks, Jake.

[Trey Kirby]

You never know what it's going to cost to sponsor.

[Je Skeets]

Hey, man, we're making money we did not expect to off.

[Trey Kirby]

Wo, boy. We're loving it.

[Je Skeets]

We're loving it.

[Trey Kirby]

Our most sellable segment.

[Je Skeets]

It really is, is.

[Tas Melis]

I think we got five. Five buyers so far.

[Je Skeets]

Awesome.

[Tas Melis]

Snoffalopagus, Sammy J93, Andrew Ho, Christian Ho. And now Jake.

[Trey Kirby]

Wow, it's almost a full week.

[Je Skeets]

Keeping track.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, man.

[Trey Kirby]

This guy working the books.

[Je Skeets]

I love it. I respect that audio, Mel.

[Tas Melis]

Thanks.

[Je Skeets]

Nephalophagus Ragus or something, wasn't it?

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, you're right.

[Tas Melis]

I'm not good. I'm not good at keeping track of things. I saw Sesame. I saw Sesame Street 3 thing. That's why I got. Yeah, I got into the Snuffleopagus. No Sesame Street. Recently, Sesame street and their performance were on the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.

[Je Skeets]

Okay.

[Tas Melis]

Weird.

[Je Skeets]

Why is that weird?

[Tas Melis]

I don't know.

[Je Skeets]

That's exactly what the parade's all about. Like, all these characters for kids.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Je Skeets]

Like SpongeBob and Dora. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I saw. Perform with Busta Rhymes. I think. I think Raphael was doing something cool. Yeah. Did you. I saw that clip.

[Tas Melis]

Busta Rhymes performing.

[Je Skeets]

He definitely performed. I know that for sure.

[Tas Melis]

He was there. Yeah. Yeah.

[Je Skeets]

That guy's been every shape in his career. I was thinking about this today.

[Trey Kirby]

He used to be a Master Splinter and now he's more like a Ninja Turtle.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah. Or like a bebop and rock stick. That's what he's got. He's got a huge belly, but he's, like, sort of ripped. I always find that look fascinating. He's like the ripped dude, but he's got like a weird belly. And then my busta. My busta was skinny, man.

[Trey Kirby]

He was.

[Je Skeets]

He never stopped moving.

[Trey Kirby]

A tall, lanky guy?

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, tall and lanky.

[Je Skeets]

Oh, yeah.

[Tas Melis]

Oh, yeah.

[David Sims]

I think so.

[Tas Melis]

He's never. He's never been tall. He never grew. We saw him in person, I guess.

[Je Skeets]

I mean, he was tall.

[Tas Melis]

Shorter than us. Nonest tall.

[Je Skeets]

He's artist tall.

[Trey Kirby]

Hey, it says he's 61.

[Tas Melis]

Lies. I need a backing.

[Trey Kirby]

We saw him in a freaking hallway.

[Je Skeets]

I've seen him. I. I've seen him.

[Tas Melis]

I didn't think he was six feet shorter than me. And I'm not.

[Je Skeets]

Not six because he's got so, like. He's got wider. Hard to tell now. It's like. It's deceiving now.

[Trey Kirby]

He is jacked. Hugus, though.

[Je Skeets]

All right.

[Trey Kirby]

Favorite Busta Song.

[Je Skeets]

Oh, that's your favorite? No, I'm. I'm more. A little more earlier. I mean, I like Wuha. Put your eyes where my hands can see. I love that song. Thinking of his first. First album. Drawing a blank on song names. I saw Buster. You guys have heard this?

[David Sims]

He's great.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, Bust around is great. A lot of classics.

[Je Skeets]

I love the Flip Mode squad, too, man.

[Trey Kirby]

The whole squad.

[Je Skeets]

The whole squad. I was down with Spliff Star. Yes.

[David Sims]

That's his guy.

[Je Skeets]

Man, I can't digger.

[Trey Kirby]

I couldn't think of a second Flip Squad member.

[Je Skeets]

Oh, there's something Lord or something. There's a. I said hi to him at the Fox Theater, Detroit.

[David Sims]

Q.

[Tas Melis]

Is there Q? I don't know. Somebody's got to ask David Sims what he thinks about Buster Rhymes. Because Buster Rhymes performed at a Knicks playoff game last season in last year's playoffs.

[Je Skeets]

So how much did he get paid?

[Tas Melis]

That's always the question. 10k, maybe 5k because they went all out. I think Tab Buster Rhymes perform as your halftime show.

[Je Skeets]

I mean, it's pretty good.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. Lil Kim also performed, I think, on another. Oh, Mary J. Plige also, I don't know, a bunch of names.

[Je Skeets]

Rolling into Baby Baby, Baby Sham. Sharanya, I think was a guy. Baby Shams. He was a guy in flip mode Squad. It's coming back. There's like a Lord guy. I know, I know. It's bugging me. I gotta look. Did you look it up?

[Tas Melis]

Okay, let's get to pick him. No.

[Trey Kirby]

Okay, you gotta pick up, say all these crazy names. Chauncey Black, D.J. ice Cold or have Mercy.

[Je Skeets]

I don't know. This must have been later. You said supplies. Lord have mercy. It was Lord. I knew it. Oh, Rampage.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, Rampage.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah, cool voice.

[Tas Melis]

Okay, pick him tonight. There's a ton of games, a ton of them. But I had to go with Golden State visiting the Suns, Golden State, favored by two and a half, got to win by three or more. It's unbelievable. The Phoenix Suns have a far better record than the Gold State Warriors. Okay, it's not far better, but they're 14 and 12.

[David Sims]

Going.

[Tas Melis]

Going up against Golden State. 13 and 14. 14. And after all that, Joe Lakob's email was publicized talk and Steve Kerr saying, for the future, we're starting our, you know, our big three, Curry, Butler and Draymond, who is healthy and playing along with Moses Moody and Quinton Post. I had to look in just to make sure that they're all healthy because I wanted to see if Draymond was healthy. He is. No Al Horford? No Pat Spencer tonight. Oh, personal reasons.

[David Sims]

What's going on?

[Tas Melis]

No Pat, unfortunately. Well, the Sun's. Other than Jalen Green. Grayson Allen's questionable tonight. Injury, slash illness, dash right knee soreness. It's like, what is it? I don't like in. In the. In the box score, the injury, illness. It always means injury, but they always just put both in. They do it.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah. Why are they making Question.

[Je Skeets]

You could have a banged up Knee or leg and also have the cold.

[Tas Melis]

You could.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, I got the sniffles. I'm not giving it a go.

[Tas Melis]

I don't want to hurt my knee.

[David Sims]

That makes sense.

[Trey Kirby]

I'm already banged up.

[Tas Melis]

Not feeling good in the gut like Isaiah Livers. Not a gut, but his livers. He's. He's not playing either. He's got a right hip and a strain injury, so he doesn't have an illness. Although it says injury slash illness. It's weird, man. I don't like that. Okay, let us know. We're supposed to be clear with people. Are people injured? Are they not playing tonight? You want to bet their prop? Well, they're not gonna. You're not gonna be able to do your gambling, all right? No. No. Trying to make a billion dollars or you're not getting this inside information, all right? There's no. None of that type of gambling. We gotta get around that. We gotta get around that. We gotta. We gotta make sure people aren't doing it illegally.

[Je Skeets]

My favorite deep cut Busta Rhymes song, Q Tip and Busta Rhymes had a song called nt. Great song. It's on the Amplified Q Tip album. Good. Very short song, though. It's one of those songs where I'm like, damn, I wish it was longer. Just goes. Doesn't go long. It's too quick.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, just in and out.

[Je Skeets]

Like you only get, like one. Yeah, it's like a quick one. Chorus, I think, type of song. And they don't even hit you with the second one.

[Trey Kirby]

Q Tip and Busta Rhymes. Great mix. Hell yeah. Great on Hell yeah. Tribe Called Quest songs together. You got the guy with the high voice and you got the guy with the deep voice.

[Je Skeets]

That's right.

[Trey Kirby]

You guys had so much success.

[Je Skeets]

That's right.

[David Sims]

That's right.

[Je Skeets]

One guy's smooth. One guy's more like crazy. So I need the Suns, by the way, to cover. I've lost eight straight here as I try and track down your record of 11 or 12 or whatever the hell it was. Let's see if I can keep it going here tonight. TK's on my side, though. Go Suns.

[Tas Melis]

Okay.

[Je Skeets]

Okay. Fun show. Thanks to David Sims for joining us. Thanks to Zach Harper for the inspiration for the trade season tears. If you're a fan of Survivor, it's our final no buffs of 2025. Recapping the finale of Survivor 49 last night and talking about the trailer for Survivor 50. Oh, my God. Are you a fan of Mr. Beast?

[Trey Kirby]

I love Mr. Beast.

[Je Skeets]

We can't get away from this.

[Tas Melis]

This guy.

[Je Skeets]

They put Mr. Beast in our All Star Games. They put Mr. Beast in Our Survivor soon.

[Trey Kirby]

What's next?

[Je Skeets]

What else do we love, collectively?

[Tas Melis]

Love.

[Je Skeets]

That's it. We only love Survivor in basketball.

[Trey Kirby]

We love going to the pole to the pool.

[Je Skeets]

We do.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

The Bamboo Boys.

[Je Skeets]

Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

Imagine we show up and Mr. Beast is there.

[Tas Melis]

He might.

[Trey Kirby]

Might buy like a. A round of drinks.

[Je Skeets]

That would be nice.

[Trey Kirby]

Have to do some kind of stunt.

[Je Skeets]

You have to.

[Trey Kirby]

You have to hold your breath on underwater in Las Vegas for 15 seconds and you'll get a bucket of Micheloba.

[Je Skeets]

Would you let me give you a stunner into the pool if Mr. Beast bought a round of drinks at the Bamboo Boys pool?

[Trey Kirby]

Absolutely. I would. I would let you do it anyway.

[Je Skeets]

Okay. Anyway. No buffs. 1pm Eastern. That has its own YouTube page, its own podcast page. We are going to break down that finale in the after show and Survivor 50. Mr.

[Tas Melis]

Beast at the Olympics. Somebody said the Olympics. Shane's 5,000, 647. That's a good one.

[Je Skeets]

He'll be there. It's in the US in la. Yeah. He won't be in. In Italy. I don't think we'll see him for the Winter Olympics.

[Trey Kirby]

No, he can do his own Olympics. The Beast. I mean, he did Beast Games, right?

[Je Skeets]

He will. Yeah, he will.

[Trey Kirby]

He probably will.

[Je Skeets]

He'll do his own version of the Olympics. The Beast Olympics. You just said it.

[Trey Kirby]

You just called it it.

[Je Skeets]

All right, guys, thanks so much for joining us. We'll see you tomorrow for the drop podcast at 10am Eastern. Until then, Clipper Bros. You heard it here first.

[Trey Kirby]

Have a great time. Turn up. Love you guys. Awesome.

[Tas Melis]

Thanks for joining us. And remember, Mr. Beast is everywhere. I saw him in a Mark Rober video my kids were watching. Because Mark Rober does engineering type videos.

[Je Skeets]

Mr.

[Tas Melis]

Beast just shows up.

[Je Skeets]

It just shows up.

[Tas Melis]

It's everywhere.

[David Sims]

That guy, he's like Joe Hendry.

[Je Skeets]

Say his name and Mr. Beast appears. Praise the day, people.

[Trey Kirby]

What a matchup we got, y'.

[Tas Melis]

All.

[Trey Kirby]

This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance, echo, drum beat, everybody. Showing that school pride.

[David Sims]

A game like this.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there.

[Tas Melis]

Mmm.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, that taste always hits the right note.

[David Sims]

Just like the band at halftime.

[Trey Kirby]

And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere. And in ice cold Coca Cola, that's a winning combo. No matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going. And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on cars insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means playing in a football game.

[Je Skeets]

Boom.

[David Sims]

42. You're going down, Doug.

[Trey Kirby]

Oh yeah. Your price on car insurance when you customize and save is going down.

[David Sims]

Hey.

[Trey Kirby]

Limu, what are you doing on their team? Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty.

[Je Skeets]

Liberty.

[Tas Melis]

Liberty.

[Je Skeets]

Liberty.

[Tas Melis]

At CVS, it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night.

[David Sims]

And we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to.

[Tas Melis]

Fill your prescriptions and here to fill.

[David Sims]

Your craving for a tasty and, yeah, healthy snack.

[Tas Melis]

At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit [e-mail] or just come by our store.

[Je Skeets]

Store.

[Tas Melis]

We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location.

[David Sims]

This is Julian Edelman from Dudes on.

[Tas Melis]

Dudes with Gronk and Jewels.

[David Sims]

Sunday mornings I've got my game day ritual. Coffee, lucky socks and now new Morning Uncrustable sandwiches.

[Je Skeets]

It's all about that 12 gram protein.

[Trey Kirby]

Boost with the new Uncrustables Bright eyed berry or up and apple flavors.

[David Sims]

Bright Eyed Berries got a feisty receiver.

[Trey Kirby]

Energy up an apple.

[Je Skeets]

Your classic do it all tight end.

[David Sims]

Soft pillowy, packed with protein and easy enough for Gronk to grab from the freezer.

[Trey Kirby]

Whether you're on the couch, driving to the tailgate or heading to the locker room, new Morning Uncrustable sandwiches are the MVP of snacks.

[David Sims]

Your new Sunday kickoff ritual starts here. Beer with new morning Uncrustable sandwiches packed with 12 grams of protein.

[Trey Kirby]

Janice Torres here and I'm Austin Hankwitz.

[Je Skeets]

We host the podcast Mind the Business.

[Trey Kirby]

Small Business Success Stories produced by Ruby.

[David Sims]

Studio in partnership with Intuit QuickBooks.

[Tas Melis]

We're back for season four to talk.

[Trey Kirby]

To some incredible small business owners. The big thing about working at Tech is that it's ever evolving, ever changing.

[Je Skeets]

Everyone's around rookie.

[Trey Kirby]

That's how fast the industry is changing.

[Je Skeets]

So what I'm really excited about is.

[Trey Kirby]

To be part of that change. So listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[David Sims]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Tas Melis]

Guaranteed Human.