Josh Giddey's $100M Deal & EuroBasket's Fun Final Four

Summary

No Dunks Podcast Summary

Episode: Josh Giddey's $100M Deal & EuroBasket's Fun Final Four
Hosts: Taz Melas & Trey Kirby
Date: September 10, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode of No Dunks dives into two major topics: Josh Giddey signing a $100 million contract with the Chicago Bulls, and a detailed breakdown of the EuroBasket Final Four, featuring standout performances and surprises. The hosts analyze the prospects of the Bulls' new direction with Giddey, and give their trademark, detailed, and humorous coverage of the EuroBasket semifinals, including Giannis Antetokounmpo's dominance, Alperen Şengün's triple-double, and the rise of Finland's squad.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Josh Giddey's $100M Contract with the Bulls

[00:31 – 10:18]

• Deal Details: 4 years, $100 million, fully guaranteed, no options.
• Contract Negotiation Recap: Bulls initially wanted $80M, Giddey sought $120M; they settled in the middle.
• Giddey's Chicago Impact:
  • Had an outstanding second half last year after Zach LaVine’s departure—put up "20 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 46% from three."

    “That ain't gonna happen again. But maybe he can shoot 37% from three.” — Trey [01:32]

  • Is only 22, entering his prime, and had his best season yet.
• Skepticism:
  • Trey remains unconvinced that Giddey is a real building block for a winning team:

    “I'm just pretty skeptical that you can build a real winning team around Josh Giddey. You have to build a team perfectly around Giddey to succeed.” — Trey [01:32]

  • Concerns about his play style in the postseason, especially when the game slows down:

    “Giddy isn't a very good half court basketball player ... teams are still helping off him even if he shoots 40% because he takes two or three per game and takes them very slowly.” — Trey [04:38]

• Financials/Team Building:
  • Bulls’ salary sheet is mostly clear after this season—only Giddey and Patrick Williams are committed long term.
  • Taz is fine with the deal given the Bulls’ lack of other big contracts, feels it’s tradable in a new CBA landscape.
  • Trey is concerned it could be an “impossible contract to trade” if things go south, referencing the bad Zeke Nnaji deal as a cautionary tale [Denver, 4 years/$32M].

    “That's what I'm a little concerned about.” — Trey [06:34]

• Cap Space Pessimism: Trey’s not optimistic about Chicago’s future free agent pursuits:

  “None of the big free agents come to Chicago. … Who are they signing? LeBron at 42? Harden as an old man? … I would have rather said goodbye to Giddy, completely bottomed out, and actually had a shot at a major prospect next year.” — Trey [09:08]

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2. EuroBasket Final Four Breakdown

A. Germany vs Slovenia: Luka’s Heartbreak

[11:18 – 22:15]

• Germany stages comeback—key moment is a Tristan da Silva buzzer-beater to end third quarter ([12:28]).
• Game dominated by free throws; both teams combined for over 60 attempts.
• Luka Doncic scores 39 but fades in fourth, with Germany capitalizing on the bonus and shutting Slovenia down.

  “I thought this was a difficult game to watch … even the German commentators were complaining about the refs calling too many fouls.” — Taz [13:58] “They just picked up a couple of ticky tack fouls, and at that point, it was already bonus job. So, Germany to the line.” — Trey [16:52]

• Notable stat: Slovenia heavily reliant on Luka, supporting cast couldn’t step up.

B. Finland’s Historic Run

[21:05 – 25:36]

• Finland reaches their first-ever EuroBasket semifinals.
• Larry Markkanen’s MVP-level play:

  “He’s got a chance at the MVP if Finland is somehow able to overcome Germany.” — Trey [21:05]

  • 17 points, 6 boards, 4 blocks versus Georgia.
• Finnish bench outscores Georgia’s 44-4; contributions from Jantinen (19 pts), Sasu Salin, and others.
• Georgia’s lack of guard scoring hampers their effort.
• Finland’s “five out” style and gunslinger approach highlighted as most entertaining of the tournament.

C. Greece’s Giannis-Led Dominance

[25:36 – 31:45]

• Greece defeats Lithuania with Giannis Antetokounmpo statline: 29 pts, 16 reb, 4 stl, 1 blk.
• Giannis’ midrange game and playmaking lauded:

  “His mid range is money right now … Lithuania was giving him jumpers and Giannis was just walking into them quite easily.” — Trey [25:58]

• Costas Antetokounmpo’s significant defensive impact off the bench (4 pts, 4 blks).

  “Costas feels like you offer this man enough, you never know … He looks ridiculously good and he was one of those guys that kind of help change the game.” — Taz [27:07]

• Lithuanian team played hard behind Jonas Valanciunas (24 & 15), but missed key guards.

D. Turkey’s Şengün Triple-Double

[31:45 – 37:43]

• Alperen Şengün, 15/12/10 triple-double; youngest ever in EuroBasket.

  “Some absolute dimes in this one… every assist was a guy just zooming to the back after the Polish team was so eyes on Sengun.” — Trey [31:45]

  • Showcased highlight passing and patience.
• Turkey’s depth and balance (“seven guys in double digits”) propels them.
• Defensive emergence noted—Şengün credited for improved athleticism and playmaking on both ends:

  “Sengun is playing the best defense I’ve ever seen him play.” — Trey [35:05]

• Hosts project a marquee Greece-Turkey semifinal showdown featuring Giannis vs Şengün.

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3. Tournament MVP Race & EuroBasket Culture

[36:57 – 41:50]

• Discussed MVP favorites: likely coming from the championship team; frontrunners are Giannis, Şengün, and Markkanen.
• Noted Franz Wagner’s rise as Germany’s focal point.
• Observations on the lively EuroBasket atmosphere, including unexpected fan behavior and music—

  “The soundtrack to a Eurobasket game is a little bit different. You’re hearing basically all wedding songs played through the intercom. … Country Road by John Denver. … Is Country Road by John Denver a basketball song?” — Trey [38:28]
  “I always thought, man, that John Denver’s full of shit, man. I never thought you would see that ever.” — Taz [40:01]

• Cultural surprise: “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is a European sports anthem, especially in Germany and the Netherlands.

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4. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Giddey's hot-and-cold stats:

  “If he’s able to play as a 20-point per game triple double for the entire season, then I’ll gladly eat my words.” — Trey [06:34]

• On Bulls cap space plans:

  “Save me from the cap space plan … None of the big free agents come to Chicago.” — Trey [09:08]

• On Finland’s bench performance:

  “44 to 4 for their bench. It's absolutely ridiculous.” — Taz [21:58]

• On Giannis’ form:

  "Giannis as point center, creating for others, also looking for his own offense. And if that’s the case, he’s going to have to hit these shots when people are playing underneath him.” — Trey [25:58]

• On Şengün’s Eurobasket run:

  “He would be my pick for mvp. I know Giannis has an incredible case here as well, but Turkey’s going to win the Euro basket, so I think it’s going to go to Sengun.” — Trey [31:45]

• Humorous cultural reflection:

  “I always thought, man, that John Denver's full of shit, man. I never thought that you would see that ever.” — Taz [40:01]

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Important Timestamps

• [00:31] — Trey’s initial take & skepticism on Giddey deal
• [01:32] — Discussion of Giddey’s stats and fit with Bulls
• [04:38] — Trey’s concerns about Giddey’s halfcourt play
• [06:34] — Possibility of Giddey outperforming contract and tradeability concerns
• [09:08] — Cap space futility and Bulls’ rebuilding limbo
• [12:28] — Germany’s comeback vs Slovenia, da Silva buzzer-beater
• [16:52] — Free throw parade and reffing controversy
• [21:05] — Finland’s bench explosion and Markkanen's MVP run
• [25:58] — Giannis’ midrange evolution, Greece’s team depth
• [31:45] — Şengün’s triple-double, Turkey’s offensive engine
• [35:05] — Şengün’s defense and MVP case
• [38:28] — Country Roads & EuroBasket musical atmosphere
• [40:01] — Taz’s astonishment at European sports anthems

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Conclusion

With honest, data-driven skepticism about Chicago’s investment in Josh Giddey married to a buoyant enthusiasm for the drama and style of EuroBasket, this No Dunks episode delivers expert NBA analysis and the trademark humor and cultural tangents fans expect. Whether it’s dissecting the fine print of NBA cap space or marveling at international fandom singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Tas and Trey keep it lively, nuanced, and always entertaining.

Next up: Friday’s episode will cover the EuroBasket semifinals: Greece vs Turkey; Germany vs Finland, plus fresh NBA headlines.

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Transcript

[A]

Foreign. Welcome to no Ducks. The Eurobasket semifinals are set. Josh Giddey finally signed a contract. Adam Silver said some stuff, but we'll get to that on Friday's show. Let's start with some other stuff. I'm Taz Melis. Tas was my last year for Eurobasket. That's the way we roll. In the middle. It's my man, Trey Kirby.

[B]

Hey, yo.

[A]

Hey, yo, Trey. Are you excited to talk about Josh Giddy's contract? I know you already talked about it. You dropped a short on it. Have you gotten any more excited? Because we gotta start with that, man.

[B]

Have I gotten any more excited to talk about it? No, but I've read a lot of opinions on this Josh Giddy deal, and let me just say I was right the first time.

[A]

You were right the first time.

[B]

I know, I know. I called it right away.

[A]

Yeah. Four years, $100 million. Back a few months ago, seemed to be that the Chicago Bulls wanted to pay him 80, while Josh Giddey wanted 120. You said they would meet right in the middle, and that is exactly what happened. All those four years are guaranteed, no options. So here they are, $100 million Josh Giddey getting paid 25 per for the next four seasons. And you don't feel any more excited after talking about it?

[B]

Look, people know my opinion on Giddey. He was not my favorite player. When he was on the Thunder within the first 10 games of the 2324 season, I said, they're going to have to bench this guy in the playoffs. Guess what they did then they traded him to my favorite team, the Chicago Bulls, and easily won the championship with the return of of Alex Caruso. Giddey had an awesome second half of the season last year. Once Zach Levine was shipped out, it was basically 20 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, and a ridiculous 46% from three. That ain't gonna happen again. But maybe he can shoot 37% from three. He's only 22 years old. He'll be 23 at the start of the season. Definitely coming off his best season ever. I'm just pretty skeptical that you can build a real winning team or around Josh Giddey. You have to build a team perfectly around Giddey to succeed. And I don't know if the kind of team that's around him is the kind of team that wins in the NBA.

[A]

It's not going to win the next couple seasons, but at the same time, that's why I'm fine with it for the next couple years. Maybe in year three and year four of this four year contract, when they do want to build great players, when they or a great team, when they do see that Josh Giddey hasn't really improved or is playing well in the first half of the season, then maybe they say, well, this 25 million is really setting us back. But you mentioned all the stats. The stats are nice. As you said after the All Star Break, 21, 10 and 9. Wow, those are really, really good numbers. But before the All Star game when he played 51 games, he was scoring 12 points a game, shooting 44 from the floor, 34% from three. Not all that great. That being said, they're not paying anybody else. So why not pay a guy who is 22 years old and could get even better? Literally next year Josh Giddey will be their highest paid player. Vuch is making less, Collins is making less, Pat Williams is making less. And then the following season they're only playing Patrick Williams. They have Isaac Okoro sign. That's it. Vuch is done, Zach Collins is done, hers done. They're not paying anybody else. So why not have this guy who could honestly get better the next couple years? But as you said in okc, when he was playing with better players, it wasn't working all that well. You thought they had to sit him in the playoffs because he wasn't hitting the three all that well and he wasn't handling the ball. And they did that. Now maybe a couple of years later he would be better playing around Shea and Jalen Williams, but at the same time he was taking away so many opportunities for Jalen Williams. I mean, they really had like the same usage rate the last year that he played in okc. And then Jalen Williams was allowed to do more when he left. And I just worry about a Bulls team that's trying to be good when they do have guys other than the guys I named, when they really don't have, when they have some capable players that he'll be taking away something from them and make not making them any better and not making their defense any better, that's for sure. So you're right that it just seems like they got to build a perfect team around this guy.

[B]

Yeah. And the team they built around him is one that will kind of thrive. Like Giddy pushes the pace. He's best playing in transition. He is a good rebounder for a point guard and he is a good passer, especially in transition. But in the Thunder series when he was playing in the playoffs and then even to a Smaller extent in the play in tournament this year when it was Bulls against Heat, the game slows down. You have to play half court basketball and Giddy isn't a very good half court basketball player because either he has to have the ball and handle and make all the plays, in which case they're playing under him on screens and he's not a threat, or he's playing off the ball when he really isn't a threat. Teams are still helping off of him even if he shoots 40% because he takes two or three per game and takes them very slowly. So I don't know the Bulls were going to sign Giddy back. That was never a question. They traded Caruso for for him, got back nothing else in. So that makes you think the Bulls think this guy is worth a couple of first round picks. I disagree. That was their assessment. They did an okay job. I think this is just like an okay contract. It's not terrible, but it's not good. They could have gotten him on a cheaper deal. I just don't think that this committing to Getty for four years doesn't do anything for me. It doesn't make the team better. He's not like a major prospect out there. He's a decent starting point guard. But like, is he a top 20 point guard in the league? He's probably in like the 15 to 20 range. There are so many guys you would take over Giddy and there are guys you can find like that. I'm encouraged that his deal is probably a little bit better than a guy like Emmanuel Quickley. Like they're in the same sort of tier as players and Giddy's making $5 million less for another year later. I'm just worried that when it's not March, Giddey isn't the same player. You can go back and look at his career splits. It wasn't just last year that he had an awesome March. It's every single year where when a third of the teams of the league give up and a third of the teams are ready for the playoffs, that's when Giddy thrives. If he's able to play as a 20 point per game triple double for the entire season, then I'll gladly eat my words because the Bulls have an awesome player. If that's the case, I don't know that that is going to be the case. And that is the problem to me is because what happens, we've already seen nobody wanted to pay Giddy this summer. The Thunder said we don't want them. So who else is out there? If it doesn't go well in year one or year two, then it's an impossible contract to trade. And even if it is a cheap ish deal, $25 million per year, though it is different annually, it still matters. Take a look at the Denver Nuggets. Zeke Najee signed a four year, $32 million deal and everybody's like, Ah, who cares? Just $8 million a year and now it's one of the worst contracts in the league and completely untradeable. And part of the reason the Nuggets weren't able to build a bench, which is, was because they had a random wasted $8 million there. Giddy makes three times that. That's what I'm a little concerned about.

[A]

Yeah, and they have another guy on their contract in Pat Williams who's also signed to a very bad deal. He's really the only guy who signed long term other than Josh Giddy, other than their draft picks and Noah Sangay and Mattis Bouzelis. But really this is what we're looking at here. And so when you're looking at the team and you see Giddy and Pat Williams, you can't be all that excited. But you also can't be that mad that you're signing a 22 year old to a contract that ain't all that high. With this new CBA comment and all this TV money thrown at Adam Silver who now says that a lot of people don't watch games anymore. We'll get to that on Friday. That'll be a hot debate. But this is what the Bulls are and again the next two years I think it is, it is kind of fine because you're just hoping that this guy turns into what he is in the second half. But those are drastically different numbers, as you said. It has happened before that he's really good in the first half or excuse me, just, just fine in the first half and then takes another level in the second half. But those, those numbers are really drastically different. This was his first year as a, as sort of a go to guy and again, I don't need to go over those numbers again, but they are so much better in the second half. So they are what they are really. I do think in a couple years though, that's that number. Considering the new CBA deal is probably tradable to especially a bad team that will take on a $25 million player if the Bulls have. I mean the good thing is that the Kings are still out there. Other elsewhere the Kings are still out there.

[B]

So there's a team that can make a mistake and trade for him. But other than that I don't know who it's going to be because when you're ranking low opinion front offices, the Bulls up come up pretty quickly. So I don't know who's going to be like, oh, we're going to save Josh Giddey. As for the cap space plan, save me from the cap space plan. I remember the Bulls cap space cap space plan in 2000. I remember the other one in 2010. And guess what? None of the big free name, big free agents come to Chicago. I think we just saw Jeff Teague was the guy saying nobody wants to sign in Chicago. So they're going to go into next season. We with all this cap space hoping to sign who? LeBron James as a 42 year old? Kevin Durant? No, he's going to be back with the Rockets. James Harden as an old man doesn't make sense. So maybe they're hoping for a Giannis trade but I don't know. This is not a bad deal, but it just piles up with all the different things the Bulls have done. They're still allegedly rebuilding and it feels like they're still completely in the same place they were three years ago. I would have rather said goodbye to Giddy. Completely bottomed out and actually had a shot at a major prospect next year.

[A]

Yeah, this team can't, can't be bad, they can't be good, but they also can't be bad. They gotta stay in that play in tournament space you mentioned. Sacramento Kings is a team they could trade Giddy 2. The Kings did offer the number 13 pick in the 2024 draft win. Instead he ended up going to OKC. They decided that. Sorry that Alex Caruso was the guy to trade for the number 13 pick ended up being Devin Carter. So you know Josh Giddy, not bad. He's better than in comparison. He is better in comparison. Yeah. And he makes good for good tweets because he makes some great moments. He also makes some WTF moments. I mean I think he leads in both those categories. Like what that is going on with this guy. But also wow, that's pretty awesome. He hit a shot from his butt once. I remember that. That was pretty cool. But here we are. You mentioned Emmanuel quickly before we move on. I mean that's. That, that, that hurts man. Because you're right. The manual. Quickly. Contract by the Toronto Raptors was a monster. It was a big contract. He definitely has been hurt. But at the Same time. Now we're looking at those two guys and I would say a lot of teams would pick Josh Giddey over Emmanuel Quickley, which is crazy. Hopefully quickly plays a little bit better this coming season. That's just some Raptor talk, man. Basketball. Let's play basketball manual quickly. All right, that's it for Josh Giddy. Let's get to the final four bracket. That has been set in the Euro basket world. We've got on one side, yes, De Campo against Alper and Shengun, Greece versus Turkey, and on the other side, and it's Germany. Germany just beat Luca and Slovenia. They were the favorite, but Luca was looking good in that game. And they will take on Larry Markkanen and the Finns, who have never been to a EuroBasket semifinal. So great for them. Let's start with that game I just mentioned with Luca looking good against Germany. 39 points for that guy. 10 board, seven assists, but he couldn't get it done. Trey.

[B]

Yeah, it really looked like Slovenia was on the way to pulling off the upset here until the very last seconds of the third quarter when Tristan da Silva banked in a half court shot. Must have heard the news. Heaves are good to go. Let it fly, went in. It was part of a 100 run for Germany that got them back into the game with Slovenia in the fourth quarter. Then I thought Germany, it was just a parade to the free throw line. Tice drew two fouls on Omich, I believe just on rebounds. Germany was already in the bonus at that point. So they go to the line, shoot a bunch more free throws. They knocked them down to their credit. I think they were like 30 for 35, 31 for 36. Something around that.

[A]

Yeah, they're. They were 30 for 37. They shot a lot for sure.

[B]

They had good points. I thought the German team did. Meanwhile, Slovenia went totally cold and that includes Luca in the fourth quarter. And honestly into the second half, you know, he had 22 at halftime, was in complete control of the game, but he missed a couple of step backs early in the third quarter. Finally got one to go on a catch and shoot from the top of the key. But in the fourth, he was just cold. And when Luka wasn't hitting, the rest of the Slovenian team couldn't pick up the slack for him. So Germany going to the free throw line, Luka missing a bunch of threes. It tilted Germany's way just enough. I didn't think a very impressive performance by the Germans, but they did score in the 90s and you're going to win a lot of games that way.

[A]

You're right. Dennis Schroeder was 6 of 20, Franz Wagner 5 of 17. So their top two scorers didn't have efficient nights, but it was free throw fun. I thought this was a difficult game to watch. I'll never say that about a EuroBasket game, but it happened here. I, I know in the stream team got people mentioning that even the German commentators were complaining about the refs calling too many fouls. Some horrible reffing. I mean, if you want to blame someone, blame Luca. He got mad early in this game. He literally got mad 2 minutes and 18 seconds into this game during a live play. You got bum taking a three pointer. He's trying to draw a foul during live play. He just starts complaining to the reference. The ref was trying to put everybody in order, gives him a technical foul. And you can see Luka coming over saying, what did I say? What did I say? Well, you complained about it and really it wasn't that bad until, yeah, the fourth quarter. And I don't know if the refs were just trying to get things in order a little bit more because, you know, Luka got calls and yeah, the Germans did end up shooting 37 free throws. Slovenia shot 25 free throws. I mean, I don't know if Luka was just mad that there was a slight delay to start the game because the mesh ripped and a guy had to go up and fix the mesh and Luka went and put on his jacket to stay warm. He's wondering what was going on, but it really wasn't that long. It's like 90 seconds or something. And honestly, that first quarter after, after doing some complaining, man, he got going. He's those, those fling passes. He had two full court passes and then after a whistle he had a mid court shot that literally was just, just a dead ball shot. And then he just started going. Next possession, give me the ball. I feel good. Deep three, then another deep three minute later. And then he got cold, but he got hot again. He even tapped Daniel Tice's butt once after he beat Daniel Tyson's cord on him. I mean, yes, it was difficult to watch those, those fouls, but I don't think there was anything to, to complain about unless you're Luka and Slovenia. They complained so freaking much in this game. And I just thought this was a fun Euro basket so far. I mean, I've, I've been sitting here watching every single minute and it wasn't until this game where it was just like Ah, yeah, it was a little tough. I, I didn't, I haven't checked the duration of every game, but this felt like the longest game. I think it was 2 hours and 10 minutes for a 40 minute game because of the fourth quarter. But for no complaints for, for Germany, obviously they just came out and finished the job. They just got those shots from their deep, deep team while Slovenia, it really is a tale of one guy, that guy can hit a lot of shots while everybody else, they couldn't come through in the fourth quarter.

[B]

Yeah, that's exactly right. And you know, I do think that there were valid complaints on both sides, but, but also Luka picked up his fourth foul two minutes in to the third quarter and he was hacking. There were some fouls that could have easily been called on Luka, but they're like, we're not going to disqualify you from a game of this magnitude when you're playing well and you've got a chance at an upset. So I think he was living on the edge from the very beginning and it just came back to bite Slovenia because the margin for error for them is so little. So once they went like 1 for 8, 1 for 9 from 3 in the fourth quarter, they were going to have to make some of those wide open shots that they were generating. I thought they had the German team for about 35 minutes. Luka hit that three from the left wing. He's flexing. It seemed like it could have gone the gone their way, but then they just picked up a couple of ticky tack fouls and at that point it was already bonus job. So Germany to the line. Franz Wagner, 13 of 14 at the line. Schroeder ended up going 7 for 9 at the free throw line as well. What do free throws do? Win games. That goes worldwide.

[A]

Yeah, it didn't start until, as you said, Tristan da Silva hitting that running mid court shot. End of the third quarter they were down seven. He hits that shot, it goes to four. Luka's on the bench to start the fourth quarter and he comes back and they're all tied up. And then that's when Germany took a lead. I mean really, Slovenia led until that point. And then there's just enough guys you got teaming that we are, we, we see whenever we turn to these international games, Johannes Thiemn, that guy was playing in the post in the fourth quarter. I mean the German coach was throwing out some stuff that they weren't seeing. So he went and scored in the post. Then he made a pass from the post on a split screen to Maudo. Low for a three. And you could just see the Germans were happy. You could see Dennis Schroeder and his chompers smiling on the bench. He was so happy. I mean, he, he. I saw his chompers twice in this game when he drew the charge on Luca and then when. Oh, your guy. He hit that three. Oh, the one foot runners.

[B]

I hate this guy. I hate this guy. I'm not even gonna be upset if Germany wins. I'm not cheering for the teams that Germany is playing against. But when he makes a shot, it just feels so infuriating. He, he did try and take another one. Very similar the next possession. Down air ball. I was cheering like crazy on that one. But you're right. Double chompers performance for Schroeder. Straight up. Looked like the Grinch after drawing the charge on Luka early on.

[A]

Guys got big teeth. I don't know if I'm sitting really close to my monitor, but that is. Those teeth are really big. We got a comment here from Eat crab on the stream team. 60 plus free throws combined is abominable in an NBA game, much less a 40 minute fever game. Yeah, you're doing some great math right there. It was, it was difficult to watch. Too much, too much complaining a game after I said I liked Lucas complaining in his final in the round of 16. I didn't like his complaining in this one. Although I did like Daniel Tice's performance. I didn't know that they just give a player of the game to everybody.

[B]

I forgot my trophy. Right. Like they give him a tiny little trophy shout out to Justin's. I don't know where they're getting those.

[A]

Yeah, right, right. Yes, it's Justin's. But it was for Daniel Tice. He got it. Didn't go to France. Didn't go to fruition.

[B]

I guess he was bored in there at the end.

[A]

He fouled out.

[B]

Dude fouled out as well. What's what? That's crazy.

[A]

I think he. He didn't follow that. I don't think. But he got four fouls. But did he? I mean my, my thing says he's got four. But he did have an efficient game for sure. Fifteen points, nine boards. And the commentator thought he was playing so well. He said quote Daniel Tice with some aerial artistry. You don't see, you don't hear Tice get called for his aerial artistry. I mean, he had a nice move and he's playing well, obviously. So there we are. Germany goes on to the next round. Two face Finland. We'll get to this one here now. Finland beat Georgia again. Finland going to the Eurobasket semifinals for the first time in their history.

[B]

Trey, this is fun, man. I'm all in on this finished team. They're probably the most fun team to watch. Cause they are the most curveball style. They play the five out in a half court, but they're also looking to run and gun and shoot threes. Lowry Markkanen is bringing it. He's got a chance at the MVP if Finland is somehow able to overcome Germany. I think they lost by 30 in the group stage. So not encouraging. But 17 points, six boards, four blocks for marketing as as Georgia was making a bit of a comeback in the fourth quarter. Two huge blocks I thought from Markkanen which was pretty key in holding off the comeback. It was a great team performance I thought for Finland. They outscored the Georgian team 44 to 4. From the bench, Jantinen was pretty massive. 19 points, 3 threes. He was scoring on cuts, hitting open shots. It was just a team wide.

[A]

Great performance for Finland 44 to 4 for their bench. It's absolutely ridiculous. And yeah, 30 to 2 after the first half. Everybody helping out, I mean everybody helping out. When Larry Markin isn't your leading scorer in a game, that means yeah, this team is absolutely connected. And I thought actually to start it wasn't looking all that great. I thought Finland was just collapsing a little too much. But then some of their guys, I thought they're collapsing defensively a little too much. But then some of their guys coming off the bench, Sassu Saleen, their captain, I mean he just starts firing away from three point land and hitting shots. You mentioned Lowry's defense I thought was super, super, super important. Four big blocks for that guy. While everybody else, yeah, just kind of kept continuing to help out and hit shots. Literally. You can go up and down the list of of fins that did it. While if you're only getting four points from your bench for Georgia, you're kind of effed. Yeah, yeah, it is. I mean Torning Shigalia, fun, super fun. Shingelia is really, really fun. And he was pulling off Alper and Shen like passes and Mamu was doing some, some things I've never seen him do before. I mean that was a cool post move, a cool steal of the ball from Markin and as he was bringing it up late in the third quarter, he turned an 11 point lead into a nine point lead. So they were going but they didn't get enough otherwise from their guys.

[B]

Yeah, their big guys played well. Gogo was good, Mamu was good, Shanghalia was good. But that's about it. And the depth of Finland really won out. So here's your slim Jesus report. Seven points in nine minutes. One of them was a three pointer and one of us an alley oop from Lowry market and buy your stock versus Aloo. That was pretty sick.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So like, I don't. His like highlight to basket ratio is 75% at this point. I don't think he scored a normal basket or at least I haven't seen it. Fun to watch, but that's just kind of how it was for Finland. They did a really good job getting out in transition. Built a really big lead in the first half and were able to get untracked from three. I think they finished 17 to 31. Only 10 threes for the Georgian side and I thought it was just a factor of Finland racing down the court. Georgia scrambling to keep up. And then it was penetration, kick, kick, somebody wide open for three. Just good basketball from Finland.

[A]

It was a team in Georgia that's needed help from their guards. And Kamar Baldwin has been that guy throughout this tournament. The local Georgia boy playing for Georgia literally didn't hit a shot and they were trying to get him going. You could see it in the third quarter. Here you go, man. Do it. And unfortunately he just didn't have it in the fourth quarter. Do it. Unfortunately they just, they had their other guys doing it but it wasn't happening out there. Although I do want to see what happens on Friday. And Tapioca, if you're going to Riga here on the Stream team, you're saying you're going come on in. Oh, no, you didn't say that. My bad, my bad, my bad. Glass of cognac. You said that you might go to Riga on Friday. Give us a report. Very, very interested to see what Finland does against Germany on on Friday. Should be absolutely a fun one.

[B]

Yeah, the, the Riga stadium has been awesome. I don't know what's going on with the acoustics in there, but when it loud, it sounds really, really loud.

[A]

All right, let's move on to the other semi final that's happening. We'll start with the Greeks taking care of Lithuania. They started Jonas Valentunas, they threw him at Yanis Gupa. But the Greeks persevered. Yanis, a fantastic game as the Greeks did it top to bottom. A little bit like Finland, Trey.

[B]

A little bit like Finland. But at the top of the Greek roster is Giannis Antetokounmpo, 29 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, 1 block. And his mid range is money right now. Tas, Lithuania was giving him jumpers in this game and Giannis was just walking into them quite easily. He just had his best mid range season of his NBA career. But I think he's 11 for 18 in the EuroBasket tournament right now. He's shooting it with confidence. It looks super smooth. That's something Milwaukee's going to need because honestly, they should play very similar to the way the Greek team plays right now. Giannis as point center, creating for others, also looking for his own offense. And if that's the case, he's going to have to hit these shots when people are playing underneath him. He's shown throughout the season, into the summer that he can do that. But you are a short boy as well. Tas talking up Costas Antetokounmpo four points and four blocks in 16 minutes. I saw you having to tell people, look, he's already got a deal signed with a European team. He's not coming to the NBA. But could he come to the NBA? Could he do it? He looks springy, Tass.

[A]

He feels like you offer this man enough, you never know. I think you can break that deal with Olympiacos because, yeah, he looks ridiculously good and he was one of those guys that kind of help change the game because Giannis, honestly, the Jonas Valentriunas in the lineup was, was bugging Giannis a little bit to start. They threw him out there along with Radizovich, and you could see Janice going at both those guys and he had to pass out. You, and you often don't see Giannis from like the mid range when a, a big hand, a big arm forces him to pass out. I mean, Giannis had five turnovers in this game and Jonas Valentunas played 31 minutes. They won every single one of those minutes. They're plus four. But he went to the bench after they got up in the first quarter for a long time. And Giannis just would not stop running. I mean, he started these fast breaks, man, over and over and over again. And he had four steals. He was kicking ass on the defensive end. The Greeks won the fast break 20 to 4. They started to turn the game and a lot of that was Costas at De Kupo with huge, huge blocks. A lot of it was Vasilis to 17 points as the second leading score behind Giannis's 29. And then other guys, I mean, Costas slukas on the fast break. He was 11, 4 and 4. Guy that replaced Thomas, walk up who played there last year. They said, nah, you're out. We'll bring in the old guy who knows what he's doing. He was great on the break. Tyler Dorsey as well. Couple big steals in this game, forcing the perimeter players of Lithuania to throw it right up into his arms. Instead of Nick Calathus, we saw Tyler Dorsey this year. It just goes on and on and on and on with this team. They had enough guys. So does Costas break his deal and say, nah, I'm going. I'm going to the United States of America? I don't know. He's 27.

[B]

He's in his prime, man.

[A]

Yeah, he is in his prime.

[B]

I don't know. I was looking at. I was looking at the Bucks roster recently. Their only backup center is Jericho Sims. You're telling me Costas Antetokounmpo can't outplay Jericho Sims? Plus, bring the brothers. Three together.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

I think it's roll of the dice for sure.

[A]

It is amazing seeing looking at this Greek team, they've got three Adeta Kounpos. They also have three costesses, and right now they've got three NBA champions. The three bros have all won. So, yeah, bring them all back together in Milwaukee. Why not? I mean, yeah, he would. He is. He's got a, you know, a tiny bit of a push shot type of thing on the offensive end. But yeah, he's more of a. He, he. He's a rim runner, but he's a shot blocker. I mean, he does it really, really well. So, yeah, take Jericho Sims job.

[B]

That's the dream. That's the new dream for the Antetokounmpo family. Take Jericho Sims job. Or at least get a late season call up. Why not? I'll tell you though, the next Greek player in the NBA is going to be Alexandros Samadorov. I talked him up after their last game. Five points, four boards and a three in 17 minutes. Dude's only 20 years old. I didn't realize that, but looks like a pretty solid athlete. Good size. I think he's a draft prospect either next summer or, or summer of 2027. So I think we'll see him in the NBA eventually.

[A]

Yeah, that's a good call. I didn't know a lot about him and I saw Samodorov. That ain't a Greek name, but he was born in Greece. He's of Georgian background, actually. And so, yeah, he does look great. Although I will just say about the Lithuanian team, I mean, they worked their butts off. As I said, they won. Jonas Valentis Tunis's 31 minutes. They're plus four. That guy dropped 24 and 15. They played well, but they were missing. It showed in this game. Rokas Yakubitis, their best guard. And then Tubellis, who I've loved watching, was 0 for 10 from the field when it seems like that guy can just score at all times. So they just were lacking a little bit. Kind of like what the Georgians were lacking with Kamar Baldwin. They just, they didn't have it. So Greece moves on to play Turkey. Alper and Shengun is in the semifinals. They have looked impressive, Trey. They took out Poland in the first quarter final. And here we are, Alper and Shengun, Baby daddy Sengun.

[B]

Triple double in 25 minutes. Youngest player ever with a triple double in Euro basket. 15 points, 12 boards, 10 assists. Some absolute dimes in this one. I know you posted the one task where he catches the ball in the short roll, turns backwards and wows himself with a Magic Johnson kind of pass. That was an awesome one. But I thought every one of his assists was pretty. He was so patient with his dribble drives, often attacking from out on the wing, sometimes in the post. But then he would find a backdoor cutter. It felt like every assist was a guy just zooming to the back. After the Polish team was so eyes on Sengun, it was like he was drawing at least a double team, if not a triple team. Almost every time that he was getting into the lane and then he just had the wherewithal to find cutters every single time. An incredible performance from him. He would be my pick for mvp. I know Giannis has an incredible case here as well, but Turkey's going to win the Euro basket, so I think it's going to go to Shengun.

[A]

Turkey is frigging deep and even though Alperin Shengun wasn't scoring at all to start this game, he literally didn't score his first bucket until four minutes into the second quarter. He was doing all the passing that he needed to do, whether they started doubling him. He was finding those cutters on the baseline over and over and over. So many different guys. Hazer Osman, he was just doing that and they're so pretty. And then he, you know, finally he got one to go when he was on the break. That was his first bucket. And then he started feeling it. And so after that in the post, the deflection, he He. He literally was scoring in every single way, but he has no problem not being that guy to start out games, while on the other side, our guy, Jordan Lloyd couldn't do the same thing. They kind of took Jordan Lloyd out of the game a little bit. Sheamus Hazer was the guy that they put on him, and he took him away a little bit. And Jordan Lloyd kind of was making passes out. He wasn't moving off the ball enough, and it literally wasn't happening the same way. The passes weren't happening the same way as Sengun was doing. Happened occasionally when they gave it to the corner and the ball started moving, but he was literally too comfortable to do that, so he started throwing to the outside and he had a bad game. It wasn't working because he wasn't working. So that's the unfortunate part for them. But again, it was sort of a close game, but guys like Shane Larkin came through again for this team. There's enough of those guys, along with JD Osman Ursanismani to get it done. So I understand why you think Turkey can take this thing. They literally have a very, very strong team. I do think the Greeks have some weapons that no one's talking about. They're not the others. I'm kind of tired of saying that forever. I'm done with that. I know Shaq can say whatever he wants because it's Shaq, but I like calling them the supporters, and I think the Greeks have some supporters, and it'll be a good battle. But I'm with you in that Turkey is. Yeah, they've looked absolutely fantastic.

[B]

Seven guys in double digits in this game. But when you're looking ahead to the game against Greece, Giannis, I mean, if Greece advances, if they're able to pull off a Euro basket win, he's obviously going to be the mvp. He's been completely unstoppable. He will be the best player on the court, though. I got to say, Sengun is playing the best defense I've ever seen him play. He was pretty good for the Rockets last year, but he's a better athlete relatively in Euro basket than he is in the NBA, so that really sticks out. He's got great hands. Three steals in this one, some of them out on the perimeter, like you're saying, which then unleashed the fast break for Turkey. He's ended two of the games in the wins here for Turkey, one with a steal, one with a block in a couple of their victories. So he's making timely plays as well and getting the balance. They're Just big and well oiled and really deep and they understand how to play together.

[A]

Yeah, I thought it was just guys were comfortable trying harder in. In Euro basket or in FIBA basket. So that's why we see Sengun ball. We saw Luka Doncha's best defensive game last game. You see it all over. But you're right in part it is athleticism. They don't have to play. Part of it is just less spacing that's out there. But operation looks like a different player defensively. He definitely did have his best year with Houston last year, but yeah, him versus Giannis on Friday. Yeah, I'm sure they're, they're going to switch it up and not necessarily guard each other one on one, but it will happen because they are playing so freaking well. But Turkey is stacked. They've got other guys that are getting after it defensively. And Sengun. Yep. It is a debate whether or not he has been the most valuable player period in your basket. That's. That's fair. Fair comment for sure.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, I guess I think Giannis is probably the other guy who you would put up there with Luka losing to Germany today. I don't know exactly who the player you would pick from the German team. I guess it would be Franz Wagner. I thought he was pretty big for them. I think he's their leading score. He's kind of taken that role from Dennis Schroeder this time around for the Germans. I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if the MVP of Eurobasket just goes to. To the best player on whichever team wins it. My guess is that that's probably the case a lot of the time. So we'll probably find out who the MVP is once the tournament's actually over. But Sengun's got a great choice or a great chance. Giannis has a great chance and then Lowry, Markkanen obviously would be the guy from Finland. They're all going to be on the all tournament team, no doubt.

[A]

Yeah, there's no doubt. Yeah, we'll see when Turkey takes on Greece after this freaking great performance where they had seven guys in double digits. I've mentioned Shane Larkin. I thought he was, he was having his worst game. A guy who plays so much, so much for this team. He was struggling. They needed some sort of ball handler in the fourth quarter and he was sitting way more than he sat in the last couple games where he didn't play 40 seconds against Serbia. That's all. He didn't play in Sweden. He didn't play Three minutes and then this one was six minutes because he was struggling. But then in that fourth quarter, he turned it on. They are on this, this connected way of playing. So them against Greece is going to be my highlight. Or though, are you looking more forward to the other semifinal or is this the one to watch?

[B]

I mean, I do like the idea of Finland pulling an upset against the German team, who has been awesome and has been great for the past three international competitions that we've been watching. You know, the upset potential is really cool, but I think Greece vs Turkey should be an awesome game with two guys at the absolute peak of their powers right now in Giannis and Sengun going to head to head. Often matching up, I would think, if not always matching up. So it should be a banger for sure. One thing I wanted to ask you, Tass, I heard this when we were watching Germany versus Slovenia. The soundtrack to a Eurobasket game is a little bit different. You're hearing basically all wedding songs played through the intercom. They played Country Road by John Denver. They played like almost the whole verse. They cut it off and the fans just kept on singing like it was Sweet Caroline at a Boston Red Sox game. Is Country Road by John Denver a basketball song in any sort of way?

[A]

I could not believe that when I heard it. I. And I. And I heard the fans continue to sing it and I thought, whoa, whoa, whoa. Is this being piped in? How you tell me these fans in Latvia know. Know this song?

[B]

They were locked in. They sing it for like 30 seconds straight. I feel like.

[A]

Yeah, I guess I. I guess they know the song number one or it's on the. Maybe the words are on the jumbotron.

[B]

Sing along.

[A]

Yeah, I always thought, man, that John Denver's full of shit, man. I never thought that you would see that ever. But it was. It is. It's almost. They were also doing close ups of the players, like they often do, you know, slow mo with the players. And they're doing that to take me home. Country Roads. And it was almost like a little depressing, you know, Know, just a little sad to see these faces. I'm like, whoa, whoa. But anyways, it was a great song. Jules chiming in here on the Stream team. What do you mean Country Roads is a banger here in Europe? It's a great song. It is a great song. I just didn't know it was a banger.

[B]

It's just unusual to hear it in a basketball context. I think my buddy Big Nick, you know him, every Friday morning when we play Pickup basketball. The first song he plays is Country Road by John Denver. And every week I'm like, john Denver, what are we doing? That's. That's a baseball song to me. You can tell me it's a football song, but it definitely feels weird inside to listen to that song. Yeah, that's an outdoor song.

[A]

It definitely feels more like an outdoor song. Although, I mean, the tracks that they're playing in these games are all sort of surprising to me.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. I didn't.

[B]

Girls multiple times.

[A]

Yeah, they play some oldies, no doubt. Even the Kendrick Lamar. I just didn't think that they play it. I thought maybe that was banned. We love Drake here, but nope. And anyways, maybe I'm just not cultured enough. I consider my. My background Greek, but maybe I just don't know here because there's a lot of people in here in the stream team saying Germans just love this song. Maybe I just don't know what Europeans like.

[B]

The people love Country Road. It's an undeniable hit. I just didn't know it had a basketball following.

[A]

Everybody's going crazy.

[B]

We're going to get canceled off saying Country Roads is an okay song.

[A]

I mean, obviously it's a good, good song. I will say one thing that I. I want cancelled is the. The old man phone celebration I saw from the. From. It just happens with a lot of athletes and it happened with Alan Omich of Ser. Or Slovenia. Yeah, Slovenia. Just get rid of it, man.

[B]

Yeah, I thought that was funny.

[A]

He.

[B]

He did the. He did the phone call and then he slammed it like it was a receiver. Like he. Like he was getting a call on the landline in 1990, and he did it for a tip in on an offensive rebound. I'm okay with it when you're calling long distance, but when you're calling from the doorstep, I don't think it's quite the same.

[A]

All right, that was great stuff. Great stuff, everybody. Great to see these comments. I didn't know that Country Roads is big in Germany and the Netherlands and football stadiums, but I do know now after seeing JZB times trip say that Country Road is an Oktoberfest banger. Actually, I'm gonna have an I'm putting.

[B]

On my basketball playlist. That's as simple as that.

[A]

Done and done. All right, we will be back on Friday after Greece, Turkey and Finland. Slovenia can't wait for those two games. I'm sure we'll talk about some things going on in the NBA world as well. Adam Silver had his press conference. We got the rule about heaves at the end of quarters and how they won't be given to the player, they'll be given to the team so it won't lower the percentage. Can't wait to hear your opinion on that, Trey. On Thursday, Jurassic World Dominion will drop. Our Jurassic Pals series continues. This one's dropping. On Thursday, Jurassic World Dominion. Can't wait to see that. That. I'm going to watch it again.

[B]

You're going to watch it again? Wow.

[A]

Wow, wow. Yeah, no sports going on.

[B]

That's the one with bugs.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Jurassic World. We got bugs.

[A]

Also, just so you know, new episode of no Buffs dropped. The season 49 cast has been announced. So you, Trey, along with SK Nora and JD you talked about it. As this show is going in a couple weeks it starts and you can find no Buffs on its own feed. Find it in the show notes wherever you're listening or watching. If you haven't jumped over to YouTube or Spotify or Apple. But no Buffs is absolutely everywhere.

[B]

That's exactly right. You get to meet 18 of your new best friends. It's a great time to get in.

[A]

Great time to get in. So we will see you here on Friday. Make sure you watch no Buffs or our Jurassic World Dominion recap. But for now, Clipper Bros. You heard it here first.

[B]

Have a great time. Turn up. Love you guys. Awesome. Thanks for joining us. And remember, take me home, Clipper Bros. To the Bros. I'm a Bros. Los Angeles. Clipper Bro Ho.