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Trey Kirby
Yep.
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Tas Melis
It'S clobbering time. It's clobbering time.
Trey Kirby
So great. It's clobbering time.
Tas Melis
It's clobbering time. It's clobbering time.
JD
It's clobbering time.
Tas Melis
It's clobbering time.
Trey Kirby
It's clobbering time. Oh, I believe it's clobbering time.
JD
It's clobbering time. Here's the deal.
Trey Kirby
I'd love to, but I already played two characters.
Tas Melis
It's clobbering time.
Trey Kirby
Do you know what time it is? I do.
JD
Ha ha.
Trey Kirby
It's clobbering time.
Tas Melis
Truth is, it's clobbering time. Apparently I'm no longer in this.
Trey Kirby
Good morning sweet world and welcome to the no Dunks podcast on the Athletic Network. It's Tuesday, July 29, 2025. I was about to say it's clobbering time. I'm J. Skeedes here in the classic factory. And alongside me, as always, Tas Millis.
Tas Melis
Late July, maybe. It is clobbering.
Trey Kirby
Yeah. Next to him, it's the bearded one, A top shot hot boy, Trey Kirby. Ayo. Ayo. And over yonder, making the magic happen, super producer JD Hello. There he is. Here we are. Apologies for starting a little late on YouTube. I had a lot of questions about the Gilded Age.
Tas Melis
Oh, yeah.
Trey Kirby
For my experts here in TK And JD who are ahead of JD have you started season.
Tas Melis
I've started season three. I think I'm three episodes in.
Trey Kirby
And you said you've just started season three episodes in. Okay, I'm not far behind you then. We, like rip through seasons one and two of the Gilded Age.
Tas Melis
Why don't you start?
JD
Oh, I can't stop.
Trey Kirby
Can't stop. But man, that Mrs. Armstrong. Just shut up already. But here we are doing an NBA podcast. We got a bunch of NBA news to go over. And a little bit later, we're going to talk about the Dunk of the year nominees and who we think should have won. Because I actually know who won the fan Vote on NBA.com. yeah. Wow. Yeah.
JD
Talk to Adam Silver.
Trey Kirby
Drop the info. Called him up. He doesn't got. He doesn't have a lot going on right now, so he took my call. But if you're joining us on YouTube, hit the like button. Subscribe, share the show, comment away in the stream. Team and podcast listeners, do us a favor. Leave your boys a five star rating and review. Really appreciate that. Shall we just get into the news and play a little? Is this news? I got the headlines for you guys. You're gonna tell me whether or not they're newsworthy. And we gotta start with Trey on this first one because It's Bulls related. NBA.com Billy Donovan and the Bulls agree to a contract extension. Trey Kirby. Is this news?
JD
Big Bill coming through. This ain't surprising news. I've said it so many times on the show. Most recently when the front office got their extensions. The Bulls ownership wants two things. The don't be the worst team in the league and keep selling out. The United Center. They go hand in hand. There was a time when the Bulls were a joke in the NBA. They had Jim Boylan. They finally fell out of the top of the NBA attendance rankings. And the Bulls said Never again. We're going for the 9th and 10th seed time after time after time. Billy Donman, five years in Chicago. He is under.500 as a coach. He has one playoff game win in one playoff series appearance. Many play and losses as well. But on the other hand, it's like changing the coach does nothing for the Bulls. What are they supposed to do? Go sign Mike Malone. No chance. He comes to Chicago. Go sign Tom Thibodeau. He was already there. They said, no, thank you. Even though you have the best winning percentage in franchise history, the Bulls were more entertaining last year, playing a lot faster. They're competitive in that they could win any game, any night, usually. I averages out to about 38 wins per season for Billy. So I suppose they could go for a cheaper rebuilding coach if they wanted. But what's the point is kind of what I come down to. Billy Donovan is a fine coach. He's not the problem in Chicago. But I do find it very, very awkward for Billy that he left Oklahoma City because he didn't want to rebuild. Mark Dagnall was an assistant coach for Billy. Donovan took over. They won the championship last year, and I think they're closer to the next one than Chicago is. So maybe bit of a miss by Billy there on choosing where he wants to be. But this, to me is just like, fine, whatever.
Trey Kirby
It's like Bulls fans are, like, defeated by this ownership.
JD
Well, I'm supposed to. Okay, yes, yes. I mean, kind of, yeah, but what's a better choice?
Trey Kirby
Right? Right. I mean, let's, I guess, point out, too, that the Knicks did try and. Or they requested with the Chicago Bulls. Hey, can we talk to Billy Donovan? We might like him for our next coach. After they fired Thibodeau and obviously ultimately went with Mike Brown after a lot of teams, including the Bull, said, no, no, you're not talking to our coach. So.
Tas Melis
Yeah, and the Knicks want to talk to everybody.
Trey Kirby
Well, I know.
Tas Melis
Talk to a guy who's 38 and 44, no problem. They'll get after everybody. It's almost like you have to appreciate these Bulls just because of how much they love this mediocrity. I mean, you know, obviously they could check out other coaches and say, maybe we can get better with a younger coach. But it's. It's what they. It's what they are.
JD
Name one.
Tas Melis
Well, any. Anybody who has, like, we just mentioned a Mark Dagnot, like Jordan not just signed with the Phoenix Suns. Maybe somebody younger who has a different idea. But we don't know, and we don't and will a superstar coach come there? No. The bigger problem, like you said, it's the front office and trying to find better players. So I.
Trey Kirby
It's, it's, it's.
Tas Melis
It is one of those things that fans can appreciate. They are different. They are zagging. When most teams are trying this new coach every three years, a lot of the teams are.
Trey Kirby
Yeah, some of them do it every year.
Tas Melis
Yeah. So at the very least they are zagging. They are different. I wonder if they decided to announce this in late July here in clobbering season when nothing is going on. Because we all knew this was coming and this was the, the negotiation started literally months ago. I mean it was, it was June at least and now they're announcing it now maybe they just want some headlines or maybe they just, they just are who they are and that's what's happening.
Trey Kirby
Move by the front office because you just rehire, continue with the coach you have because that's the ultimate meat shield to give you a survivor reference. It's like that's. Then if heaven forbid they don't win 39 games and get into a play in game and it goes even worse than that. Well then you always have the move if you're the front office to well, it's probably the coach's fault and we'll try somebody else. But if you continue on that path you can just, you know, you don't feel fire that coach. You don't try somebody new and you still have that card to play when it comes to saving your own ass. So I think that's what AK and Eversley are I guess wisely doing here. Now. We don't know the length or financial terms of this contract. I don't know, 40 years, 200 billion or something. But it's just. You said it, Taz. It's strange in today's NBA landscape where yeah it's this like ever revolving door of coaches in most spots in most franchises and the Bulls are doing the opposite. It's like some franchises, the Kings would have had three or four different coaches by now. Suns would have as well.
JD
Like Kings have had three different.
Trey Kirby
Exactly.
JD
Since they've had and Billy Donovan.
Trey Kirby
And they look at 39 and 43 as okay because as long as the place is packed, they're happy with that. But it's very mid.
Tas Melis
Yeah.
Trey Kirby
One playoff victory. DeRozan went for 41 in that game.
JD
Great game.
Trey Kirby
It was an awesome game.
JD
I think Middleton got hurt. I was going to game three in Chicago. I was fired up.
Trey Kirby
Oh Right.
JD
This is going to be awesome. No, Middleton DeRozan coming off a huge game and they lost by 30. Worst home loss in playoff history for the Chicago Bulls. But at least they announced this extension. The last time Billy Donovan got one didn't even know until months afterwards in the season was starting. I was like, oh, by the way, he's going to be around for the rest of his life. Yeah.
Tas Melis
Yeah. With the number one in attendance. I know that they rank number one in attendance, but it sure doesn't feel that way. Right. Like it doesn't feel like that place is rocking at any point. It is Chicago, so there's enough people in there. But when we say it's the number one, well, yeah.
Trey Kirby
Mediocre basketball team. So yeah, I think it changes from night to night on how they're playing. Like TK said, it's usually a coin flip when you head down there. I guess. I don't know what their home record was, but I assume it's around 500.
JD
Yeah, probably right.
Tas Melis
Probably right.
Trey Kirby
They've had a pretty quiet off season I guess, all things considered. The Bulls, Right. They re signed Trey Jones to a three year deal. They traded Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro. Yep. And they drafted the French kid Sengue at a with a number 12 pick. And that's sort of all they've done here. And in also re extending their front office and coaches. Yep.
JD
And giddy is the big thing that's still hanging over the head for the Bulls. And they're going to get a good deal on him. They're going to be paying him like way less than Emmanuel Quickley is making from the Raptors. Like these are teams that are very similar. The Raptors did change their coach getting rid of Nick Nurse. I don't know that Darko has been better. He's throwing pizza parties. The ball moves more but the team is worse even though they're paying more than the Bulls do for their thing. So there are different ways to do it and you still can end up in the play in tournament. It's all about the players and I think that's more of the Bulls front office strategy trying to stick around for a long time. They're drafting Everybody that's 19 years old. Just wait on this guy. Just wait to see how good a Sengate can be. It's only going to take five years. You can't fire me until we see what he's going to be. So yeah, it definitely feels like some dominoes are lining up from a job security standpoint. But if you get in with the Bulls, you're good for a long time.
Trey Kirby
Yeah, a lot of stability with that contract. Donovan is the third longest tenured coach in the NBA. I guess he's tied with Mark Dangall and Ty Lue in terms of like hiring around the Same time in 2020, summer of 2020. The only coaches with their current teams longer. Eric Spoelstra with Miami, Steve Kerr with Golden State, and then those other three guys. And Dagnault champion Ty Lue does have a title. Obviously not with the Clippers. And then Billy Donovan.
JD
Right. So, I mean, two of the three haven't won anything.
Trey Kirby
That's right.
JD
Mark Dagnaut's good, though.
Trey Kirby
Yeah, that's right. He just got there. He just got there. It's just. It's crazy. It is crazy that he's had one playoff victory and then. Yeah. You've got to play in games and generally come up short in those too. In one or done.
JD
Only if they play the Heat.
Trey Kirby
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Anything else on, Billy boy? Is that so?
Tas Melis
They are right.
Trey Kirby
Yeah. And they're gonna keep selling out the place, I assume. Yeah, it's gonna change.
Tas Melis
Sold out. But it's never really. It's not packed. It's not packed. Come on. These are Bulls game. No, I haven't. But you said the exact same thing two months ago when they weren't.
JD
They weren't playing two months ago.
Tas Melis
Oh, okay. Man.
Trey Kirby
They definitely played two months ago.
Tas Melis
No, no, excuse me. For my two months. When they were in the in season or the play in tournament. You. You said they were not. They were not buzzing. They're not. They're not. Yes.
JD
Yeah, they lost that game by 30. Once again, they did lose another game by 30. That's the thing. The Bulls team is not good. Like, look at all of these teams in the play in tournament. If their team is bad, the fans aren't that enthusiastic. Hawks. It's not loud down at the Hawks Arena. It ain't loud in the Raptors. We're talking about them not showing up at the beginning of the third quarter every single time we watch the. The Wizards have no fans. Right? Like, if your team is mid. They're not going to be loud. But they sell out.
Tas Melis
I don't think they sell out. Even if the attendance numbers. That's. That's the bigger thing. We have to know what these attendance numbers mean, what they are, how they get there. Like, they literally could be a bunch of corporate numbers.
Trey Kirby
They do have a huge stadium.
JD
Too big a stadium in the NBA.
Trey Kirby
So I'm sure that comes into play.
JD
But percentage wise, they are still selling out. And I mean, they're, they're a massive brand. That's the thing with the Bulls as they operate like they are a small market franchise. When they are a massive, massive brand that does sell out, they should be better. They should be operating like teams like the Knicks and the Lakers will be. Even the Clippers, like, use their market size to their advantage. And the Bulls don't do that. They have a fan base that's built in, ready for the team, that supports the team no matter what. Even if they keep winning 38 games a year, they still sell out. That's the problem, is that they're still there. And it's like, okay, here's how you change things. Boycott the team. Good luck getting everybody in Chicago on board with that.
Tas Melis
It's not happening or the world. I mean, they're such a huge brand. They are a corporate seller, that's for sure. I would love to see every single seat on camera to see how many people actually walk into that arena. It's so dead quiet a lot of the time because, yeah, they are mediocre, but it is sold to corporations, really, to companies, really. It's. It's super quiet.
Trey Kirby
Next headline here, guys. Tell me whether or not it's newsworthy. From Shams. Jonathan Kaminga in no rush to accept a Warriors contract offer. Is this news?
Tas Melis
Well, this is news for Kaminga. This is the absolute worst time to be a restricted free agent in the history of restricted free agency since the inception. Nobody signs them. And there's a few reasons for that. No team has salary cap room. No team really goes about this to sign restricted free agents. They would rather, a lot of players would rather just sign with the original teams, which makes a lot of sense because they make so much money that way. And so that's happening. Combined with the fact that teams are learning what the CBA rules are. Right now, there are just no offers for these restricted free agents. In general. We can go down the list. We mentioned Josh Giddy, you go to Cam Thomas. It keeps going. So Quentin Grimes. So this is a terrible time for Jonathan Kaminga. So, yeah, this is news for Jonathan Kaminga. It can go both ways. I mean, he got a $7.9 million offer from the Golden State warriors for one year. That. That is his qualifying offer. Will he go back there for that number? I think there is a possibility of that because these other teams that are reportedly going to sign him to something a little bigger, whether it's the Suns or the Kings, it ain't going to be all that much. It won't be much longer, I don't think either. So there's that. But there's also him wanting to play more rather than go back to the Golden State warriors where he will just be part of this rotation. And if we're injured and we need you or there's foul trouble and we need you to score like you did in that series against Minnesota Timberwolves, like he did very admirably, four straight games, then we'll use you. But I can understand him going to another direction. I could go both ways on whether or not he'll come back because you could see the Golden State warriors just saying, all right, go ahead, go take that $2 million off or two year offer, excuse me, from the Sacramento Kings for a little bit more. They'll get something back in sign and trade. And then they go sign Gary Payton the second, bring him back Al Horford, D Anthony Melton and Seth Curry. Those will be the names that come to them and that's the end of their rotation. I could see that happening. I would probably lean towards that. But Jonathan Ming ain't going to get a lot. I mean, you could see restricted free agency the last. Now it's since 2001. This is going to be like the 25th time. This is literally the worst time. Especially with the new cba. That's the biggest thing going on right now.
Trey Kirby
Yeah, I guess the new news from this headline with Kaminga, because we've talked a lot about Kaminga, obviously his free agency over the last couple months. But the warriors front office showed an extra level of motivation last week. According to Shams, in conversations with Kaminga's agent, delivering what they believe is a fair offer to bring back Kaminga. But Kaminga hasn't found anything they presented appealing. I'm pulling direct quote there from Shams. That's how he put it. So it's like, what are they offering? What does that deal look like? I'm fascinated by that because we've also had reports where Kaminga and his team, like they want up to like 30 million per year. You gotta assume the warriors are obviously not anywhere close to that.
JD
Trey Mark Stein reported that The warriors offered two years, $40 million.
Trey Kirby
Yeah. Okay. So that's a big gap. If you want 30 million and they're giving you an average annual salary about 20 million.
JD
And it's a really short contract. Two years is pretty tight. Which means the warriors, if you just look at their salary Cap sheet. You can tell they're trying to stay clear for 2027. They are very nervous about having anything gone post Steph Curry.
Trey Kirby
Right?
JD
They haven't traded any of their picks after. Theoretically Curry would be retired or anything like that. And if they're really trying to make a go of things during the last years of Steph Curry's career, they would be trading those guys, but they're not. They're still trying to do their two timelines thing. I don't know if I think this is news because the headline is this guy's in no rush to accept their offers. Free agency started four weeks ago. I think it's pretty obvious that the deals just aren't out there for Kaminga. It's like basically the Kings are interested right now because they are the Kings. So I think you can at least tell Jonathan Kaminga you're going to be playing in California this year. The Bulls are another team that he's been rumored to be attached to. It seems hard for them to get him just because of the trade pieces going back. But what it feels like is the warriors want to find a way for Kaminga to stay at about $25 million, which allows them to to keep a $25 million tradable salary slot around. I think that's a huge piece of this that Fred Katz is mentioning over at the Athletic. The warriors don't have like that middle of the road salary to throw into a trade like they did with Andrew Wiggins for Jimmy Butler last year. You need that to kind of grease the wheels to get these deals done. Also, if it's like right under 25 million, I think they still can offer Al Horford the taxpayer mid level, which is like he's on deck for that. But the warriors really need to figure out what's going on with Kaminga so they can know how much to offer Horford. Cuz right now a team could swoop in and maybe woo Al Horford and that's like the number one target for Golden State. They haven't made a move thus far. So if they lose out on Horford and end up with Kaminga coming back on a qualifying offer, it's the most awkward possible result for Golden State. And I don't think it's something they want going forward with this team because they clearly don't want Kaminga on the team. If they did, they would have paid him last summer or right now if they really wanted to keep him around. They just want him as an asset and they're figuring out A way to not use, lose the asset. Whereas Kaminga is like, I want to play basketball for some sort of team. There's just no deals out there for him. So tough timing on his behalf. Maybe he takes that little tiny deal, makes it awkward in Golden State, balls out and gets overpaid next summer. I don't know.
Trey Kirby
Right. He has until I think October 1st to accept the standing one year, $7.9 million offer that the warriors can no longer rescind. Like, it's up to Kaminga on that decision. But yeah, whether the Kings, the Suns, the Bulls, another team can get into a sign and trade and make that work. It is funny that the warriors have done nothing and a big reason is because of this Kaminga, you know, sort of staring contest. Like they have done nothing. They have not signed or traded a player at all this summer and they obviously still have things to do with that roster and they're still trying to compete for a title after the big Jimmy Butler moves. So it, it's, it's very weird here where we are with Kamingo, but this could go on for months still. Tess.
Tas Melis
Yeah, it feels like Big Al is destined for Golden State.
Trey Kirby
Well, yes, I agree, being.
Tas Melis
Yeah, if it would feel like if someone was going to swoop in, it would have happened by now because it's late July and Sal Horford, I know he's old, but he could be a guy who comes off your bench and helps you win a quarter in a playoff game. That is for sure. Z Horford, that would just seem to me to be the guy that's going to fill out this roster because yes, they do want to go after the title, but they are pay guys the big amount and it seems like they're going to be the guys that pay a little amount and have no middle of the road guys in terms of just numbers.
Trey Kirby
He's just also, I mean, the money is a very important part of this, don't get me wrong. But there is that whole element of like how he feels about. Yeah, well, Kaminga, how he feels about Steve Kerr and Kerr's thoughts on him and how he uses them. Like that is a part of this, no doubt as well. Like he seems offended. Like he was not in the rotation in the first round.
Tas Melis
Yeah.
Trey Kirby
Against the Rockets. And then. Yeah, you're right. Then they had to go to him when everybody got injured. Like, and he played pretty well. Like, so he's obviously like, you know, he thinks like he's, he thinks he's a star. They maybe don't believe that he has a lot of shortcomings as a player and maybe doesn't want to work on those elements that they really need from a guy out there around superstars like Curry and Butler and obviously Draymond as sort of connector. But it's a weird situation. I don't know what's going to happen. I guess I think if I'm betting he like, yeah, he feels like he'll end up on the Kings in some sort of. I don't know who it, I don't know who's coming back in in that scenario.
JD
Moody, like in warriors fans really want Keon Ellis, which would be an awesome fit for them.
Trey Kirby
Yeah, we'll see. We'll see.
Tas Melis
The Anthony Melton's gonna try and be the, the Keon Ellis. We'll see if he comes back healthy. But it's.
JD
Yeah, it's just a tough time on delay, I think. Right. Like Mel has to wait until Kaminga and like.
Tas Melis
Right. Yeah.
Trey Kirby
All of them can't enjoy their summer, these guys.
JD
What's that Horford doing right now exactly?
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Brandon
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Trey Kirby
Yep.
Brandon
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Trey Kirby
We're really doing this, huh?
Brandon
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Tas Melis
Goodbye, Truckee.
Brandon
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JD
Hello, other Truckee.
Brandon
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Trey Kirby
Well, somebody who is enjoying their summer is Jokic. This guy, man. Espn. This. This headline was everywhere over the last couple days. Nicola Jokic emotionally celebrates after his horse wins race. That is a late July headline for you, T.K. is this news?
JD
No, no, no.
Trey Kirby
Look how happy he is.
JD
Yeah, I know. I thought he was talking a horse. Literally thought he was hugging a horse, but there's a little jockey back.
Trey Kirby
He pats the horse here. Good job.
JD
But I mean, I wouldn't say this is news. Maybe it's a little bit of news how much he loves his horse.
Trey Kirby
It's amazing.
JD
You think he got his horse drunk? I thought he was, like, spraying champagne all over it. Like, he probably hangs out with his horse as a buddy.
Tas Melis
Yeah.
JD
Not just as a. As a riding beast. You know, he probably just like, hey, we're going out to the bar.
Trey Kirby
You're coming with. Yeah. He won. Yeah.
Tas Melis
Yeah. It's funny you speak of.
Trey Kirby
Why the long face at the bartender?
Tas Melis
It's funny you speak of. Go out to a bar because I'm reading Mike Finger's book on Nikola Jokic, who has an incredible upbringing with horses. This guy just loved horses when he was a kid. Mike Finger went to Serbia to be with Jokic and his family and to be with his horses. Just to hear. To hear. Not. Not so much with, but with the horses, but to hear about what happened.
Trey Kirby
By Mike H.
JD
I'm glad to hear he's recovered after that Charlie biting incident.
Tas Melis
This guy will hug horses. Even when guys were practicing basketball around on a track, they'd run on the track and he would just be within. On the grass, within the track, just hugging horses. Being with horses, he's like, you guys go play what you run. Gotta do what you do for basketball. I'm just gonna be with my horses. This guy absolutely loves them. They are his friends, and he would go to bars with his friends, but he'd rather just be with horses. This guy just loves them.
Trey Kirby
Everybody Comparing his reaction to winning a horse race to him actually winning an NBA championship and how different it is. Like, you know, him popping the champagne bottle when he won the title was like, half assed. He's like, basically just wanted to get the hell out of there to go be with his horses. And then he wins this big race, I guess, in Serbia, and obviously he's jumping the barrier and he's hugging horses, hugging jockeys, he's spraying champagne, he's crying. I mean, he's emotionally happy over this win. So, yes, this seems more important to Jokic, at least, you know, in. In the pecking order of things. And that's fine. It's just amazing that he's one of. He is the greatest basketball player currently in the world, and it's like he could care less because he likes this way more.
JD
Yeah, he's more proud of his child, but his child is a horse.
Trey Kirby
I actually start to feel, like, almost sad for Jokic in a way, because this guy loves horses. He loves horse racing. But, like, God made this man 6 11, 285 pounds. Like, it's the worst size for a human that loves horses. You can make someone like, a jockey. A jockey's like 5 foot tall, 115 pounds, like, probably max. And this guy's 2ft taller and, like, 3 times the weight.
JD
It's like, do you think he's proud, though, that he's closer in size to the horse that he is?
Trey Kirby
A good point.
JD
I don't know.
Trey Kirby
Yeah. Like, and maybe that's. Horses respect him and they run faster for him because they're like, he's basically a human horse. Maybe. Basically. But it's amazing. It's heartwarming. But it's also sad. You know what I mean? It's like, that guy would love to be a jockey. It feels like more than anything. It's like he never can be.
JD
He never can be.
Trey Kirby
You could, like, literally, you'd have to divide Jokic into, like, three people, and then you'd have three jockeys.
JD
I need to try one place in show. Oh, how about three jockeys riding. But it's Jokic. His and his two brothers.
Trey Kirby
Oh, God.
JD
But he's on Clyde's.
Trey Kirby
Oh, it's amazing. It's like in the movie Barbie. Doesn't you have the famous line? Ken has the famous line. My job is just beach.
JD
That's right.
Trey Kirby
That's. That's Jokic. Except my job is just horse.
JD
Just horse.
Trey Kirby
Guy loves it. God bless him. Congrats on the big win. Like, what did He. How much. Like, how much money did he win? I know. It's not about the money for.
JD
It's about celebrating the horse.
Trey Kirby
Yeah. It's about seeing those muscles. Incredible.
JD
Does this horse have a name?
Trey Kirby
Yeah, it's. That one was called. It's called Demon something. Okay. Yeah. I forget the second part.
Tas Melis
Ken said my. My job is just beach.
Trey Kirby
That's what he said.
Tas Melis
Didn't he shouldn't. He said. But he doesn't like the beach or he.
Trey Kirby
No, Ken loves the beach.
Tas Melis
Oh.
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
Tas Melis
But I just.
Trey Kirby
He's not a lifeguard. He's not really a surfer. He's just. My life is beach.
Tas Melis
Yeah. Yeah.
Trey Kirby
Because you can see Jokic, but horse.
Tas Melis
Yeah.
Trey Kirby
Although it's not really. I mean, it's one of his jobs. He is a professional basketball player.
Tas Melis
Yeah. That's why I asked about Ken is because I see him saying my life is just basketball and being disappointed. Sad, you know, because he's so good at it. There's great line in the. In the book where he says people are asking him, you know, about basketball and all that, but he's like, why would I go play basketball when I'm already the best at it? He literally says that when he's a kid. Why do I go? Why do I gotta practice when I'm already the best? That's great. He's right. He's right. But he just wants to be with this horse who now they're the best, I guess. How many does he own?
Trey Kirby
Well, I'm seeing. I assume tons.
Tas Melis
Yeah, yeah, many.
JD
Some of his horses names include Brenno, Lamar, Amy, Del Duomo, and Dreamcatcher. I have a feeling the first two are slop that I'm being fed here. Those don't sound like horse names.
Tas Melis
Lamar. Lamar Odom fan make sense at all?
Trey Kirby
All right, let's move on here to our next headline from Mark Stein. Lakers believed to prefer to let LeBron James leave after the 2526 season. Is this news from Mark Stein?
JD
Yeah.
Tas Melis
Flying. Yes, fine. It's News. I think LeBron is definitely keeping everything open after this season. I. It feels really weird to say that, but it does feel like we're at a point here where he will move on from the Los Angeles Lakers after this coming season. I always thought it would be a. A numerical palindrome for the seasons that he played because he started with seven with the Cavs and four with the Heat, four back with Cleveland. Then I thought he would end it after seven with the Lakers. But this is eight going into Los Angeles here, coming this coming season and. And then he's just going to go somewhere else. It feels that way. He was hanging out with Jokic's agent. Jokic's agent who's not a horse somehow.
JD
He's like, how about a big jockeys league?
Tas Melis
Yeah. I feel maybe he's looking at big, big jockey LeBron sitting on a horse.
Trey Kirby
Never seen LeBron on a horse. I don't think we've seen him do like basically everything else in his life.
JD
Maybe that's what he's trying to do here.
Trey Kirby
Maybe.
Tas Melis
But would it be surprising for LeBron to go pair with. I'm not saying he's going to Denver, but something like that where he's, he's broadening his. The horizons. I'm going to play with the European. Maybe he's going, yeah, but, but the best of the best of the best. Like somebody else maybe. Yeah, I know Luca is, is a European, but just change it up with Jokic. Yeah, I wouldn't. It wouldn't surprise me that he would leave the Los Angeles Lakers and, and.
Trey Kirby
From the Lakers side of this, because that's the headline that this is like their widely preferred scenario just to like let him obviously sort of expire his contract then. And then he could elect to go wherever he wants if he so chooses. Because it's sounding like LeBron is going to play after this.
JD
That's sounding like it.
Trey Kirby
It's not going to be sort of a one and done or a final year there in la. He's going to continue and maybe get to that magical number 25 that will impress Trey Kirby.
JD
That's a good number. That's a really good number because I think he's passing Vince Carter this season. Right. To be the most played 25 is like a cool even number. 23 would have been perfect. You know, maybe he does decide to retire after this year or 23 for a lot of his career. But things are definitely weird in Los Angeles. Trading for Luka Doncic turned out to be equivalent to NSYNC releasing Gone. You're like, man, this is a banger song. But wait a second. This is a Justin Timberlake solo song released by NSync. Is Justin going solo? Guess what? He did this trade turns out to be Luka Doncic is the head of the Lakers. He is the solo act for the Lakers right now. And LeBron, sorry, you've been Justin your entire career. Now you are JC Chase. Oh, hey, man. JC Dropped the first post in sync solo single. It wasn't good.
Trey Kirby
He didn't do it.
JD
I'm just saying he has lost his status within his own group, just like JC did. And now LeBron is trying to have to figure out where he goes after the Lakers because it's not going to be there. They're tilting towards a younger team. A $50 million contract for a guy who is 23 years into his NBA career doesn't seem like something that the Lakers are super interested in. That being said, I do think that LeBron's best chance at a championship is sticking around with LA for this year. Luka Doncic looks great. He's on a new workout routine. He only eats six hours a day. The other 18 completely fasting, doesn't have a single calorie. The Lakers won 50 games last year. I picked them to beat the Timberwolves in the first round. They got completely smashed. Didn't happen. But they were at least competitive team. They've gotten better this off season, I do believe, just because at the end of last year they had five players. So it doesn't make sense for LeBron to go anywhere else this season. But I do think he'll be somewhere else next season.
Trey Kirby
And even Stein wrote, it all depends on how this coming season goes. Yeah, that's for LeBron, for the Lakers, for everything.
Tas Melis
Because they're going to try and be good.
Trey Kirby
Yes, they should be.
Tas Melis
Yeah, they should be. They've got Luca. How do you guys all feel about the pictures of him on the front cover? Is he ripped with that low angle camera? Obviously he's going to look better. It's difficult to really buy into every single muscle on his body after it's been photoshopped a little bit. I mean, he looks better. Yeah, he's working out. No carbs, no sugars, just pumping it. Yeah, he looks better. They are better. They're lighter. Gabe Vincent shaved his face super light. Now he's lighter. Yeah. Yeah, he looks. He looks.
JD
Wow.
Tas Melis
He looks totally different.
Trey Kirby
Wow. Yeah, I haven't seen that.
Tas Melis
He looks like a different man.
Trey Kirby
He's in men's health too.
Tas Melis
Oh, no. Not ripped like Gabe Vincent.
Trey Kirby
It on a clean shape, but it's fine with Luke. I age 85.
Tas Melis
Yeah, get him in there. See that?
Trey Kirby
Wow.
JD
Okay.
Tas Melis
Actually throwing me off guy.
JD
Different guy.
Tas Melis
Yeah.
JD
Gabriel Vincent. I'll call him.
Tas Melis
Yeah, Obviously Luke is going to look better. He's literally holding a dumbbell while he's working out. So it's going to be slightly revenge body.
Trey Kirby
That's what he's doing here. He's like, screw you, Mavs. Screw You, Nico Harrison, you literally called me fat when you shipped me out. Well, I'll show you.
Tas Melis
I mean, he's fit.
Trey Kirby
You do a lot of wonders with the photoshops and these photos and all that.
Tas Melis
But I believe Sasha Baron Cohen ripped.
Trey Kirby
I believe the diet talk, though, and like him actually committing to a real off season where instead he's smoking the hookah all offseason. He's like in the gym or at least the diet and stuff like that.
Tas Melis
Yeah, no, I buy it.
Trey Kirby
That's scary for the.
Tas Melis
Yes. You see him in those. All those Jordan photos where he had the Jumpman visit with. With all the guys. All. All the Jordan guys. I don't think he had an alcohol beverage in his hand. Everybody else did. It sure feel. Felt like Jess Sims did the. Great. Just. I think she did. Anyways, they did a Cheers. Anyways. There's that part. But then he goes on the. I think he was on the Yankees broadcast. He just looks like normal Luca. When you just have a normal camera in front of him. He's just. He just looks like Luca. But anyway, he works out. He doesn't have a better vertical as. As was said in that. It was at the si.
Trey Kirby
Well, it was said he had a 42 inch vertical at the combine. Right. Is that what was said? Which he wasn't at? Yeah, so I think it was. I think AI man, AI got the writer there. I think they've corrected that or at least removed it.
Tas Melis
They removed it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was a Gemini. A Google Gemini.
Trey Kirby
Okay, so you're not. You're not as convinced that. That he's gonna cook this year because.
Tas Melis
He'S gonna be really good.
Trey Kirby
Okay.
Tas Melis
He's Luka Doncic.
Trey Kirby
Well, we're going to see him at the Euro basket in theory.
Tas Melis
Oh, that's going to be amazing. He's going to. Yeah, he's going to be incredible leading into next season. It's easy to forget that he was injured for a long time last year with the Mets.
Trey Kirby
Are you saying Luka Doncic is going to be an MVP favorite heading into the season for the, what, fifth, sixth year in a row? Maybe this is the year. Maybe this is the year.
JD
I've seen him look ripped after going to Slovenia for a summer. He has. He has come into season in shape before.
Trey Kirby
And I don't want to gloss over this because you mentioned it. Jokic's agent did post to Instagram a not so subtle post of himself on a yacht with LeBron James and his longtime business partner, Maverick Carter. And the. The Caption read, quote, the summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026. End quote. That could be the big jockey league coming bjl, but it could be something. But it could be something else. TK Like, I don't know, like, LeBron does not have anything released or anything posted without, like. It's always a calculated move. So what? I don't know what you took from this.
JD
I don't think he's playing in Denver ever.
Trey Kirby
Okay.
JD
I don't know what it means. Maybe LeBron and Maverick are talking about their future league that's going to apparently challenge the NBA. Maybe this is somehow involved with, like, the NBA's foray into Euro League basketball as well. But LeBron, Rich Paul, Maverick, Carter, they are power players in the NBA, as is Nikola Jokic's agent. So something interesting is going to happen. I don't necessarily think it means that LeBron is going to end his career playing for the Nuggets. That seems pretty unlikely to me that he's be rocking number 23 there. But something's going to change between this season and next season, so we shall see what it ends up being.
Trey Kirby
I couldn't stop looking at LeBron's gnarly ass foot in that photo.
JD
He's got a weird foot.
Trey Kirby
He's got that one toe that, like, goes over on top of the other toes.
Tas Melis
I didn't notice.
Trey Kirby
We had that big debate whether he had a sixth toe. It's all mashed at the end. Anyway, he had a big foot up on the yacht. Can't wear boats or, sorry, shoes on the boat, so.
Tas Melis
Makes sense. But, yeah, that's usually. He has a hand in every single thing. It's odd to have a photo right in front of his feet. That's where the photo is.
Trey Kirby
I thought you were gonna say. You said he usually has a hand in every little thing. This time he had a foot. Yeah. I thought you were going.
Tas Melis
I was just looking at his glasses. He's got those thin, framed glasses, those stylish glasses that he's never worn. But I. I do agree. There's something European. It feels like. Like he owns a part of a soccer team. There's the talk about him owning, obviously, the Las Vegas expansion team, if that ever happens. Yeah. Could it be the NBA's foray into Europe and him having a part of that? I don't know what Misko Renatovich has anything to do with that at all. But he's keeping things open. The guy is always always thinking LeBron.
Trey Kirby
Is either teaming up with Jokic down the line or he's buying a horse.
JD
Could be buying a horse.
Trey Kirby
He's getting in the horse game. Next headline here, Sporting News. Knicks not extending Mikhail Bridges until $175 million Star has situation settled. I'll tell you right now, that's $175 million star. That's Giannis. I don't know why they didn't put Giannis in the headline there, but that's who they're talking about. This idea that the Knicks are not going to extend Bridges because that would then make him maybe not be able to be included in a trade. If Giannis were to become available and the Bucks were to move off of him and the Knicks could put together a package. Is this news, TK.
JD
Medium news. I would say in that the takeaway for me is that nobody in the NBA is convinced that the Giannis thing is over in Milwaukee and that waiting to see what Giannis's ultimate decision is going to be will continue to be one of the main narratives for the NBA for the rest of this season. Depending on how things go into next season, even into the 2028 season when Giannis Antetokounmpo has a player option his last year of the deal in Milwaukee, Giannis has never made an actual trade request.
Trey Kirby
Right.
JD
It's more like, show me you're still committed to winning and I'm going to be here. Still committed to winning. The Bucks at the very least, have shown they're still committed to winning, waving Dame Lillard and bringing in Miles Turner. At the very least, you're saying we're using our $50 million salary slot for a guy who can at least play somebody you think matches up well who you wanted to be here. So I think that's interesting. But Ian Begley says in this piece, when Mikhail Bridges does extend, I think that would tell you Giannis is put to bed. So I'll be watching to see if Mikhail Bridges signs a deal. Because you're right, whoever trades for him would rather have the option of paying him whatever they want or not paying him whatever they want. And maybe it makes it easier for him to fit into a deal. But teams like the Knicks, obviously, I think the warriors are a big time Giannis monitoring team, and then the Hawks have to be as well, since they have so much of what Milwaukee has traded away that it would make sense for the Bucks to get their picks back if they were to ever do stuff like that.
Trey Kirby
But.
JD
But until the Bucks start playing basketball and we see some results, whether good or bad. We're not going to hear the last of Giannis and where his next team might be, Milwaukee or otherwise.
Trey Kirby
Right. Bridges is eligible to sign a four year, $156,156 million max deal with the Knicks, and that's been that way since the finals ended.
Tas Melis
Yeah.
Trey Kirby
And again, if you do extend him, then he's ineligible to be traded for six months. Again, that's part of maybe this whole waiting on Giannis decision or waiting for the start of the season. But what do you think?
Tas Melis
Well, this isn't news. This is just pointing out the obvious, that they can't just go say, hey, we're going to pay a fourth guy here and we're going to be mediocre. They just don't know how good they're going to be in 26, 27. So not this season, but the next season. They're already paying three guys monster deals. Cats making 57. Oh, geez. Making 42. Jalen's making 38.
Trey Kirby
Deal.
Tas Melis
Great deal. Great, great deals. That being said, I understand why they're not giving Mikhail Bridges a ton of money. They don't know what they're going to be this next coming season. Was that a bit of luck going to the conference final? No, they were great, but it still makes sense to keep the, the table open. Yeah, they gave up a ton to get Mikel Bridges, all those draft picks. But this is, you know, a bit of a sunk cost thing. They can't just say, hey, Mikel, we're going to sign you to this long term deal and we're just going to be a mediocre team. So I think that that's.
Trey Kirby
The Knicks are not a mediocre team and in the conference this coming season, they're going to be, you're going to see everybody have them as a top three team. No doubt. Maybe top two, sure. Right.
Tas Melis
They're, they're better than a mediocre team. But they just won. Was it 50 wins this, this coming. This past season was a 51. Yeah. So them having 173 million tied up in 26, 27, along with Josh Hart, who they've got signed, it's 173 million. Are you just going to go pay Mikel Bridges to, hey, we're going to win another 50 wins the next couple years. I, I don't think that the conference finals appearance was luck, but it just makes sense not to sign somebody to a long term deal. Do they want to be, you know, without winning the championship do they want to be the Celtics saying, hey, we've got all these guys that we're paying now we got to trade one of these guys. So that's what it is. I mean, it's just being smart. So no, not news, but just, just smart management. But that got a great deal on Jalen Brunson, as I said.
JD
Hearing you say it though, it makes me think that Mikhail Bridges is not long for New York. He seems the most tradable of all those guys. Like OG's already signed to his deal a little bit more. I think at least after this season his reputation is ahead of Mikhail Bridges. I think Bridges kind of took a step back his first year in New York, figuring out where he fits in. Obviously, Brunson is the cornerstone of the team. He took the deal to be able to be able to sign his buddies. And then Cat, I guess, I don't know. Cat, I guess is a question mark. If a team decides that they think he could be their number one guy, he's got such a big contract that it could bring somebody else back. That's interesting as well. But we just saw with the Desmond Bane deal and like you're saying with the Celtics, it doesn't make sense to have four super highly paid guys at the top of your salary cap sheet. And that's what the Knicks are looking at whenever they do the McHale bridges extension. So I think even once he signs the deal, that'll still be a guy that they're shopping quite a bit.
Trey Kirby
Yeah. And as for the Knicks off season, it's been pretty quiet. Like they didn't have a lot of like options this off season, but they signed Jordan Clarkson to a one year deal to obviously give them a little boost in scoring off the bench. And then Yabaselle, Gershon, Yabaselli to, I believe a two year deal is what they got him for. So he's their center trying to like. Yeah, exactly. Get their roster a little more intact here. And they're going to be a good team. And I, and you seem to agree that they're going to be a. I mean if everybody stays healthy, they have the talent to easily be a top three team in this Eastern Conference this.
Tas Melis
Year with all of the injuries they were last year. So yeah, this year with, with that injured Celtics team, sure. They didn't just win 51 games. They weren't an incredible team. But that's why they go and get a new coach to try and change it up.
Trey Kirby
The Mike Brown of it all.
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Yep.
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JD
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Trey Kirby
All right, a few more headlines here. The Athletic says Richard Jefferson agrees to return to espn. Doris Burke spots still in question Task start with you here.
Tas Melis
Is this news Richard returning. This is news good for Richard. Gets to be on tv. Gets to keep doing it.
Trey Kirby
That's.
Tas Melis
That's why it's news. Nothing more, nothing less.
Trey Kirby
What about the Doris Bart Doris Burke part of it all?
Tas Melis
Yeah. That interesting. Yeah, she's. I think this is more about Doris and what she wants to do in life in general. Maybe she wants to change it up. Maybe she wants to go be part of a coaching staff and in some ways, maybe she wants to go to the wnba in some ways. I don't know. I don't know that that part is. That's up to Doris, but I don't.
JD
Know if it's up to Doris. It doesn't seem like it's up to Doris whether or not she will be on the number one team. At least they're considering Legler and I think it was Rocky. Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson, they had their moments, but I don't know that they were completely hitting. ESPN is the premier broadcaster of the NBA. They've got the Finals, but I don't know that I would say that their broadcast talent is the best of the three partners we've got going forward. Amazon has Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan and then Michael Grady and Eric Collins. Their color guys are Stan Van Gundy, Bones, Dell Curry, Wade Nash, Candace Parker. I'm pretty interested to hear all of those guys and woman Candace Parker there on the broadcast. NBC has Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle. They have Michael Grady as well. Is he doing it both Amazon and NBC?
Tas Melis
Yeah, I think he is.
JD
Yeah, that's what it seems like.
Tas Melis
And doing some local games for Minnesota still.
JD
Yeah, you're gonna hear a lot of Michael Grady and then a guy, guy whose last name is Gannon should have wrote down his first name because I'm sure it's not Rich.
Tas Melis
I would have gone with Rich.
JD
Then we got Reggie, Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, Austin Rivers, Derek Fisher, Scal, Robbie Hummel and Brad Dougherty are their color analysts. So I think you're looking at both NBC and Amazon and saying I would kind of rather hear from them going into next season.
Trey Kirby
Yeah, I guess with Richard Jefferson, Amazon prime, they were interested in him, but he is sticking with espn and then Doris Burke of it all. Like they were. Remember we talked about like they were contemplating ESPN was and I guess slash ABC with the Finals, like, are we going three man slash woman booth? Are we going two man, potentially woman booth. And maybe that's something to decide. Maybe they just go with Breen and rj. Although Tim Legler's name has always come up as a potential like replacement to slot in there if Doris Burke leaves. Here's what I know about Doris. This like, I guess it's the opposite of restricted free agency right now for NBA players. Bad time to be a restricted free agent. I think a pretty damn good time if you're in The NBA commentary game. Because there's a whole bunch of other places with a whole bunch of other games that you could go and work for. So whether Doris Burke is still with ESPN or not, I don't think she's going to have a problem if she moves on from espn getting picked up by Amazon or NBC like in a heartbeat, I would imagine added to the team. That's my just hunch.
Tas Melis
So.
Trey Kirby
Because there's so many spots now in all of these games to cover on all these networks now. And you just went through, you listed like literally like 25 people there. So we'll see whether or not they stick with her and that team. You know, we've, we've had our issues with that squad. I would say those three. But I thought there, I thought the finals was getting a. I don't know, there was a little bit more chemistry being built at times. Maybe that was part of the games being really good. I'm not sure. You know, it sort of, it's like goes hand in hand, the entertaining basketball with then maybe the broadcast.
Tas Melis
Yeah, this isn't the, the Chicago Bills picking Billy Donovan as a coach. There ain't no stability with the ESPNs. No, the roster we've gone through the Doc rivers era, the J.J. redick era, that was super short and so they haven't, they haven't had time to really build any chemistry. So that's, that was a part of all of this. But yeah, whether ESPN is going in another direction, that they are going in another direction in terms of the, the talkers, the Pat McAfee, the Stephen A. Smith era, that. So that's a different direction. As far as the A team here with the, with the finals, it's, it's. Does that mean Doris Burke just doesn't go to another team if she's not part of the A team and she sticks with it. Can she still be on broadcast?
Trey Kirby
Of course. Right.
Tas Melis
Like if she wants to.
Trey Kirby
I mean, in ESPN's defense with Doc Rivers and J.J. reddick, like they were hired to join the booth and then those guys were like, oh, I want to be a coach again. I guess I'll just go coach that team. So it's like, I mean, at a certain point you have to be like, oh, it's not really their fault. I don't think they're like, I'll take this cushy ass job and then I'll go and coach again. See you later. Sorry, you gotta fill the spot. But you're right. They're always cycling through them.
Tas Melis
Who's your favorite color analyst of the cspn?
JD
No, just everybody.
Tas Melis
Oh, of everybody.
JD
National. National. Not locals.
Trey Kirby
Oh, not locals. Okay. Can't give you a Clyde. A Clyde Frazier. Keeps it real with the Knick.
JD
Yeah.
Tas Melis
If I'm going a fun route, because there's two types of analysts. There's the fun person, the Richard Jefferson, the Dwyane Wade. I think he was super fun with no Eagle. And then there's the more the stability one. I think Dwayne Wade's making is he's shooting up the rankings in terms of fun one. But I'm excited about the Legler sort of analyst and I can understand why they're maybe balancing a three person booth with Breen Legler to. To substitute for. For Doris Burke. They're similar to me. They can be similar.
Trey Kirby
The. The Amazon, like hires and stuff. And what they've said in press releases I'm fascinated by is like, they're making it sound like some of these guys will be in the studio and then like suddenly be like on a call as a color commentator and like they'll sort of like be interchanging that way. It's like, oh, it'd be fascinating to see like the game. They're two different skills, obviously, but not that some of these guys and women can't do both. But I think you're quickly going to learn like, ooh, maybe he's better suited at studio than he is for game action. Or not. Because again, they're so different though. Do you have a favorite? Who's your favorite?
JD
I'm most excited to hear Wade and Iron Eagle, which is funny because he was with Noah Eagle on the NBC squad previously. I would have Legler ranked really highly. And I do like listening to Reggie. He's like, he can get annoying, he can be a cornball, but the dude loves watching basketball and he's excited to watch it. And he says something ridiculous every single game, for sure. But he's high on my list, to be honest.
Tas Melis
Yeah. Yeah. From Amazon, just zooming out and thinking we're going to be doing this differently because the game is changing. That. That's the interesting part to me in that maybe they just don't have traditional broadcasters anymore. That whole thing is constantly changing in their eyes. We'll see how much it actually happens on the broadcast or whether they just go back to standard stuff.
Trey Kirby
Here you hoping for Kevin Hart on the sidelines, like an All Star Game.
Tas Melis
That wasn't an All Star Game.
Trey Kirby
Okay, final headline here. Entertainment Weekly says air Bud returns to bring peak 90s nostalgia to theaters in 2026. Air Bud is back. Trey Kirby to steal your line. He's back. That was a different dog, of course. Way different way.
JD
Rip to Buddy died in 1998. What a blow up for Buddy. A stray dog made his way to America's Funniest Home Videos, to Letterman, to movies and television. Beautiful story. Yeah, I guess they've made like 9 million Airbud movies, but this is the first one to go into three theaters.
Trey Kirby
Yeah, this will be the original Air Bud movie in the franchise.
JD
15Th they ever get one. Like, let him ride a horse.
Trey Kirby
His dog never rode a horse. Ain't no rules about it though. Yeah. From what I can tell, no, no, I don't think he's gotten on a horse, but yeah. This new movie is going to center around a 12 year old boy named Jacob who moves into his father's childhood home in Ferndale after he passes away. He discovers an old VHS tape of Air Bud and encounters a stray golden retriever. What a coincidence. Which he names Buddy. And the two bond and they join a basketball team. They chase their championship dreams. But it's not like I bring that up because they're saying it's not like a. Just like a remake. So there's something new to this one. To Air Bud returns. Tas, you pumped?
Tas Melis
Absolutely. Absolutely. I'm excited. It's got to be a new duck. That's it.
Trey Kirby
Okay.
Tas Melis
And that's cool. Like our. Our man Christian. Christian and Scooby. It's got to be a new duck. You know, things happen.
Trey Kirby
Things happen with secrets.
Tas Melis
We'll see. We'll see what happens with Bud. But I'm looking forward to in that. First time in the theaters. First time in the theaters.
Trey Kirby
We're going for sure.
JD
I can't believe we're going.
Trey Kirby
We're going opening night and we're dressing as dogs.
JD
We're dressing as dogs.
Trey Kirby
Yes.
JD
Dress as referees. Every time he comes in, blow a whistle. Change the rules.
Trey Kirby
I would like to see in this Air Bud return some better basketball being played by the dog. Because that was one of our Criticisms in Air Bud 97, the movie we did a film session on. We actually re released this for all you podcast listeners. We threw it up on YouTube as well. So go check that out. We dropped it over the weekend. We re released it over the weekend. And we talked about like, he wasn't playing the greatest basketball. I mean like, like, you see the photo. He's dunking and it's like, he ain't dunking.
Tas Melis
He Ain't dunking.
Trey Kirby
No, no, no. He's like just bopping the ball with his nose every once in a while.
JD
Yeah, according to Buddy's Wikipedia page, part of that was putting olive oil on the ball.
Trey Kirby
Are you serious?
JD
And the Buddy would try and bite at it, but couldn't get a grip and it would shoot. But it is. Look, this is.
Tas Melis
Why was there olive oil on the ball?
JD
Make it slipperier. I guess his canines didn't pop into there.
Trey Kirby
Yeah, I was just doing a little.
JD
Buddy research this morning. I hope this dog shares some genetics with airbud, the original. That would be a nice touch, but some things we need to see. Airbud, the first one came out in 1997. The game has changed quite a bit. Buddy's got to be shooting three quarters.
Trey Kirby
You got taking those mid range.
JD
We don't want shots. And number two, Christian and Scooby should have a cameo in this.
Trey Kirby
Yes.
JD
I don't know if you guys watched Happy Gilmore 2 yet.
Trey Kirby
No. Yeah, I wasn't hearing the greatest of things.
JD
Look, it's a 30 year old sequel that came out on Netflix. It's, I would say 99% cameos.
Trey Kirby
Yeah, I heard there's a ton.
JD
So there's a lane here to go. Cameo heavy in Air Bud returns. You got to have Christian and Scooter there.
Trey Kirby
I like must. I like it.
Tas Melis
Okay, you got a cgi. The dog.
Trey Kirby
Sorry, like crypto.
Tas Melis
Yep.
JD
Cgi.
Tas Melis
Because then you're gonna see some actual basketball.
Trey Kirby
Oh, you're taking away a good acting gig from a real dog.
Tas Melis
You want to see better basketball.
Trey Kirby
Not sit nor stand for this or roll over.
Tas Melis
We don't need to see good basketball. It's fine. Okay, so then you're fine with him just. Just popping it in with his nose? Yeah, just. Just not much basketball. I would just show a play and then, you know, we'll see a play like 30 minutes later. It doesn't have to be many.
Trey Kirby
Just so you're saying though, if we go cgi, like, we can have Buddy like.
Tas Melis
Yeah, dunking. He could. He could be a basketball playing dog. It's a magic dog anyway, so who cares?
Trey Kirby
It's not a. No, it's a normal dog.
Tas Melis
I don't think so.
JD
Well, I think it's magically.
Trey Kirby
I don't know. I think it wasn't one of the moral of the stories. You could teach a dog tricks. You can teach a dog new tricks.
Tas Melis
Right, right, right. But you can't teach a dog to play basketball. I'm sorry, I You can't.
JD
It's got to be born with it. Yeah, it's got to be born with it.
Tas Melis
So CGI the dog, and then you're gonna get some basketball. Not many. Not much. Possible. You mentioned Netflix because Happy Gilmore. I watched Running Point, which is a Netflix series with Joe. Mandy just hops in there for a quick hello shout out to Joe. Manny. They don't show many. They don't show many basketball plays in Running Point. No, no.
Trey Kirby
That's smart, though, because.
Tas Melis
Exactly.
Trey Kirby
It'll probably look like crap. Right?
Tas Melis
Yeah, yeah. There's not much. There's no basketball to be played. Same with the doc. He doesn't gotta play. You can just bop a ball.
Trey Kirby
He's talking about, you want Air Bud. Air Bud returns, and he never touches a basketball.
Tas Melis
He's a coach. Do you think people remember the original Air Bud? Nobody cares about the basketball. That was a billion years ago. Oh, people talking about kids. We're talking about kids. It's about the kids. Yeah. It's a formative movie for some people. Yeah. They're not kids anymore.
Trey Kirby
I remember the Titans and I remember Airbot.
JD
Will you watch Original Airbud before Airbud Returns?
Trey Kirby
I have to watch. I have to watch all 14. I gotta know what he's doing. I gotta see those soccer skills.
JD
That's a good day, man.
Trey Kirby
What's. What's the football? Golden Retrieve.
JD
Golden Receiver.
Trey Kirby
Golden Receiver. Yeah, that might be. And then there's like. Yeah, there's a million. I think he gets into maybe the Olympics. Does he start doing winter sports?
Tas Melis
I didn't go that deep, if I'm being honest.
Trey Kirby
Okay. And just other news. I don't have headlines for you, but congratulations to. Tyrese Halliburton proposed to his longtime girlfriend Jade. Jade Jones. I did not know that was her name. What a badass name. Sounds like an actor name. And the Clippers reintroduced Chris Paul, who called the Return to LA a no brainer. So they did a little press conference for him. He seemed pumped. And we already brought up Luca and his hot new body on the COVID of Men's Health. People are pumped about you. Got anything for On Air Bud and the franchise for me?
JD
Look, I will say that some of these, I don't think they should fall into the sequel realm. There's a whole section called Air Buddies that goes Air Buddies, Snow Buddies, Space Buddies, Santa Buddies, Spooky Buddies, Treasure Buddies, Super Buddies. This is a completely different franchise to me.
Trey Kirby
Okay.
JD
Dog adjacent. Surely. But it doesn't sound like a dog is playing sports to Me.
Trey Kirby
Right, right, right, right.
JD
But then they get into the search for Santa Paws.
Trey Kirby
Yeah, come on now. But those are not. They're not cartoons, right?
JD
I don't know, man. Well, no, I don't think so.
Trey Kirby
Okay.
JD
I don't think they are. These look like full films.
Trey Kirby
Okay.
JD
The first five. The first five were athletes. Golden receiver, World pup, Seventh inning, Fetch Spikes back. That's good.
Trey Kirby
Yeah, these are.
JD
That's good.
Trey Kirby
Good names.
JD
Getting back to basics. I like that. Return to form.
Trey Kirby
Air bud. Return.
Tas Melis
And just to add to the news, Tracy McGrady joining the NBC crew as a studio analyst beginning this fall.
Trey Kirby
I mean, everybody is working for one of these three now networks. It's pretty amazing.
JD
He needs to show up in the giant pants for his very first appearance.
Trey Kirby
Oh, yeah.
Tas Melis
Throwback shout out to Devin on the stream team for pointing that out. Yeah, the. I guess he's not going to be an analyst in games. We don't got to go in deep, but who knows?
Trey Kirby
Yeah, he could be moving on. The NBA ID fan favorites campaign tipped last week, allowing fans to vote across the NBA app, NBA.com, social media to decide the best moments from the 2024, 25 season. The voting started with dunk week. I think a big part of that was because they were, sorry, dunk of the year. Because it was dunk week. So they started with that one. We got six nominees, guys. We're going to show them to you here on YouTube. For the podcast listener, I'll tell you what the dunks are and we can just run through these. JD first dunk nominee for dunk of the year last year. Good old Canadian boy, Jaden Sharp flying for the one hand dunk against the Wizards. After that sort of backcourt steal, he just skies up there and throws it down with some authority and then hits.
JD
The ground maybe highest vertical on a.
Trey Kirby
Dunk this year, something like that. I think that is right. Thank you for bringing up dunk scorer. Oh, yeah. Then we have as a second nominee, Jalen Green detonating on Cade Cunningham. And the pistons after again a steal from Amen Thompson. And poor Cade there just gets left on an island and Jalen was a huge dunk. Pascal Siakam a nominee. We're going to the finals. Remember this one, the Tyrese Halliburton sort of like spinning. I mean call it a no look pass. You know, he put some flair on the pass and then Siakam dunking on the Thunder. Who got hammered there? Was it Dort? No, I guess it was jdm.
Tas Melis
Yeah.
Trey Kirby
So That's a nominee. Then Jalen Johnson. I had forgotten about this dunk against the Pistons again. He loses the ball sort of as he goes for the dunk and then sort of punches it home. You'll see it here on the replay. It slips out of his hands.
JD
That's amazing.
Trey Kirby
And he spikes at home like he's air bud in a volleyball movie. Olive oil on that ball maybe. And then we have LeBron James, the big left handed dunk. He sort of switched hands. Yep. In air tasks like that one. Then he got a steal right away. Oh, that was a big dunk for LeBron, especially a left hand dunk like that. And then the final nominee, John Morant going baseline against the Celtics and avoiding Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis with the double pump reverse. So those are the six nominees Test.
Tas Melis
Yeah. So many to be left out as well. I mean, there's lots of good ones. Shane Sharp, I guess it's just. It just looks spectacular, you know, the lean back while he's hammering at home and there's a defender flying by. I think I'd. I put that.
Trey Kirby
Do you die?
Tas Melis
Number one.
Trey Kirby
A dunk points though. When the guy does fall down, I always wonder about this. Like, does it. Or maybe you could say it makes it even cooler that he like fell to the ground as he sort of got hung up on the rim there.
JD
This one, I do think it makes it cooler.
Trey Kirby
Okay.
JD
Because it looks like he gets a little bit of a boost from champagne when they collide mid air. You can tell he is thrown off from a balance standpoint. So he's probably trying to save his ankles when he lands. And I don't know, I just think that makes it look like he jumped even higher since rather than just his feet hitting the ground, his whole body hits the ground. So it's like, whoa, you just fell 60 inches.
Trey Kirby
Yes.
JD
That looks crazy. I think I would vote Shade and Sharp, but I do love the Jalen green one. I think it's cool that there's history between him and Cade Cunningham as well. They've got a big beef dating back to high school. So a cool two on one dunk draft pick wise, if the Pacers win the finals, I would probably vote for Siakam's dunk. Major moment.
Trey Kirby
Yeah.
JD
Is that game six?
Trey Kirby
I think. I think it was in India. Yeah.
JD
Yeah, exactly right. They were turning the tide and who knows what could have happened in game seven. We all know what went down with Tyrese Halliburton there, but man, what a massive, like Momentum play. I feel like Siakam had maybe just scored on the previous possession as well. Or maybe he had a block on the other end. But I don't know what it was. But Siakam was hooping in this game and this was a. A very cool NBA finals play. And then the little Braun like switch hands, I think is so cool how quick he does it and then to actually have some power on it was pretty sick as well. And he also should have gotten the foul call because he gets hit across the shoulder and face.
Trey Kirby
He gets smoked there. Yeah, I mean that's. Look, there's a reason why they're the nominees for dunk of the year. They did a pretty good list here. Even though, like you're right task. They left a lot out, including Quentin Grimes with the highest dunk score of the year, which I thought was pretty funny. Wasn't even a nominee. Yeah, my fine. I guess top three. I'm down to Sharp, Siakam and John Morant's dunk, which I have to tell you guys did win the fan vote. The Ja Morant, you know, a little double pump there. Reverse it is. So it's like the most unique of these to see. Sort of like what you would see in a dunk contest type of dunk where he avoids the two defenders. It's like crazy how this ball goes like it barely touches the mesh. It feels like it just goes like straight through. Pretty good celebration too. So that ended up winning the fan vote. And maybe part of that's John Morant being a fan favorite too. But they ultimately thought that maybe it was because it was last. People went through all the dunks. Oh, this. It's like the best dunk is the last dunk you've seen. You know, so maybe that happened. Came into play very different.
Tas Melis
Very different with the emphasis on the dunk in comparison to the rest. As you said, it's. It stands out for that reason. But yeah, so many left. Jalen Green had another monster. What about DeAndre Hunter? Anyways, there's. There's a ton. There's a ton.
Trey Kirby
John Collins we've talked about. He did have that big one on Kobe White where he.
Tas Melis
Yep.
Trey Kirby
Chicken winged him in the face. That was a big dunk score as well. But let's hear from you out there, everybody in the stream team. Which one would you have voted for? Would you have gone John Morant? Would you have gone Siakam Sharp? Any of those other ones? Or maybe one left off and then Tas, you wanted to talk a little Bit about Wedgie of the Year, because we saw that. That list there. Yeah. No fan vote for that.
Tas Melis
Where's the wedgie? We get. We'll. We'll give you four nominees. Wedgie of the Year, it's the fruit of the loom. Wedgie of the Year sponsor. I just made that up. Jeremy Grant, I found, is a pretty unique one to start. It's kind of a scoop, kind of a finger roll. It's a unique wedge. You don't see that very often. Then Joel Embiid on a free throw. Now somebody else comes in, a couple of guys come in and jam it in there. But I included Joel Embiid because he literally is so mad. He's just staring at the rim for so long, forever. If you're watching here on YouTube, look at him. She's just standing there. That's emblematic of the Sixer season. This one is good. It's an overtime wedgie from Jamal Murray. Cam Johnson is the guy who jumps in. So future teammates there. An overtime wedgie. And then Jason Tatum to finish it off. 43 points late in the game. And he finishes his 43 point point triple double game with that shot. And then he goes to the next. Yes. Plus a Wedgie deep shot. There's. There's lots of good ones out. There's an NBA cup one out there. There is Gary Trent, like, with just like the quick release wedgie barely touching the ball at the end of his shot clock. We had Kelly Olenek just messing up a lot and getting a wedgie. That was a good one. But I don't know. I don't know which one I would give it to. Whether it's Jeremy Grant, Joel Embiid, because not really Joel Embiid, Jamal Murray, or a Jason Tatum.
Trey Kirby
I think I'd vote Tatum. I sort of like that. It was like he had that monster game and that was his last shot. And like you said, he's laughing at it. It's like, okay, I guess that's the time to come off here. So I. If we're being honest, we had a down year for wedgies. We only had 48. We barely had any in the playoffs. It was unbelievable. We had like, what do we have? 2 or 3 in the playoffs or.
JD
First round only for sure.
Trey Kirby
Yeah. So I'll go Tatum. That would get my vote, I guess.
JD
I like the story of the Tatum and the reaction to it. My vote would go to Jamal Murray, just because that looks like a wild play and I can't believe the ball actually stuck up in there. It looks so gentle the way it actually gets to the rim after he gets fouled. Slash blocked and I don't know, just surprising that it would stick.
Tas Melis
Yep.
Trey Kirby
According to wedgie tracker.com three guys had two wedgies last season. John Conchar, Keegan Murray, Max Christie. Okay. Those are the only three guys that did multiple wedgies in the. In the calendar year.
Tas Melis
Yeah. Keegan Murray was all. Was one of those NBA cup ones, was a defense. Since we're counting the guys that get wedgies, we're the only ones. I think it's you actually who picks because over the years we haven't really picked a. Hey, it's this guy's wedgie like defense really, who contributes.
Trey Kirby
Well, I mean if a guy blocks the wedgie in to me, he gets credit for the wedgie. Otherwise the wedgie doesn't happen. Yeah, sure. The ones where it gets difficult is like the like sort of that embiid free throw, missed free throw one. It's like it's two guys, sometimes three guys jostling for a rebound. And it's like them doing that gets it stuck in there. It's like, I don't know. Who the hell do you give that one to?
Tas Melis
Yeah.
Trey Kirby
So that's when we get like the. We zoom in, enhance who touched it, who really forced it.
Tas Melis
Yeah, the Keegan Murray ones definitely. On defense. Great defense. Maybe we should have an offensive wedgie of the year and a defensive.
Trey Kirby
Oh, wow. Wow. Okay.
Tas Melis
Because Keegan's good. He was good at that. Are the King's gonna be good this year? Who knows? I don't know. It's an interesting team. Man. What a mystery. What a mystery.
Trey Kirby
All right, we'll call it there. We had a little bit of news and notes. We went everywhere in today's show talking about coaches and restricted free agency and horses and dogs, magazine covers and dogs, wedgies and dunks. A little bit of everything. If you enjoyed it, hit the like button. Subscribe podcast listeners. Five star ratings and reviews. We're going to be talking more movies, a whole lot more movies in the coming month. We are doing Jurassic Pals. That will be our new series where we watch and review every Jurassic park movie from the franchise. There's seven in total. We're going to start obviously with Jurassic park from 93. And next week is when we're gonna drop our first one. So late next week is when Jurassic Pals will start showing up in your YouTube feeds and your podcast feed. So don't worry, you don't have to find Anything new as we start breaking down these movies? And I think, look, we're all excited for this first one.
JD
You were already saying very excited for the first one.
Tas Melis
Yeah, yeah.
JD
Six after that are a little more questionable, but I'm excited to see what's going on. What are you guys doing?
Trey Kirby
I'll throw this out. Right?
JD
Ingen. Isn't that their. Their scientists, Their lab in general?
Trey Kirby
That's who. That's who Samuel L. Jackson works for. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Okay, cool. He gets a W2 from Ingen.
Tas Melis
He does, he does. Well, it's Costa Rica, so I don't know if that.
Trey Kirby
Oh, interesting, interesting.
Tas Melis
Well, it's off the coast of. It could be its own thing anyways.
Trey Kirby
Hey, save it, save it, save it.
JD
Tax documents for the employees, for sure.
Trey Kirby
We did have a lot of fun doing this for the Fast and Furious franchise back in the day. So we're bringing it back for Jurassic Park. Hey, we still have time to switch to the Air Bud franchise if you want. Do you want to watch a lot of Air Buddies? I mean, it's 2026.
JD
Next summer.
Trey Kirby
Maybe next summer. Maybe next summer. We're looking ahead. But again, that's coming next week. But we should have a podcast for you later this week. Hopefully, NBA News maybe hit the beach. So if you've got questions, email them in. Nodunksincmail.com is the best way to get them to us. Nodunksincmail.com until then, later this week. Clipper Bros. You heard it here first.
JD
Have a great time. Turn up. Love you guys. Awesome.
Tas Melis
Thanks for joining us. And remember, shout out to all the dogs, horses, and dinos out there.
Trey Kirby
Brace the day, people.
JD
Banking with Capital One helps you keep.
Tas Melis
More money in your wallet with no.
JD
Fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One bank guy. It's pretty much all he talks about.
Tas Melis
In a good way.
JD
He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast, too.
Tas Melis
Ah, really? Thanks.
JD
Capital One Bank Guy. What's in your wallet? Term supply. See capital1.com bank capital1na member FDIC.
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This episode is sponsored by Hulu, so. All right, guys and girls, is happening. King of the Hill is officially back.
JD
It's been 15 years, and now Hank and Peggy are finally returning to Arlen.
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Texas, after a little detour to the Middle East. But home's looking a bit different these days. Bobby's all grown up running a German Japanese fusion restaurant in Dallas.
Tas Melis
Because why not?
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And yes, he's still fumbling through his feelings for Connie.
JD
Boomhauer's now an online ladies man. Bill's seen better days. And Dale, well, he's still just Dale.
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So yeah, Arlen's changed. But the alley boys still posted up where Hank left them, beers in hand, Alamo's on ice. Same hill, new day, an all new season. The King of The Hill arrives August 4th. Streaming on Hulu Disney+ Carol, you're in remission.
Trey Kirby
I think what gets me most about this whole journey that I've been through is just how many jigsaw pieces come together to help someone like me. I've met people who have just packaged the drugs, just this white box saying World Courier on it. But I once better say thank you to every single person that works on these things because they've saved my life. Every single one of them. Every minute, World Courier makes another life changing delivery.
Tas Melis
Learn More Search World Courier.
No Dunks - Episode Summary: "Kuminga Rumors, Jokic Wins A Horse Race, Dunk of the Year & More!"
Release Date: July 29, 2025
Hosted by Skeets, Tas, Trey, and JD
The episode of "No Dunks" kicks off with a light-hearted and humorous exchange among the hosts, establishing the casual and engaging tone of the podcast. Skeets welcomes listeners to the show, followed by introductions of his co-hosts: Tas Melis, Trey Kirby, and producer JD.
Discussion Points:
Notable Quotes:
Key Takeaways: The hosts express skepticism about the effectiveness of Donovan’s extension, questioning whether retaining him aligns with the Bulls' competitive aspirations. They highlight the paradox of maintaining high attendance despite mediocre team performance and discuss potential future scenarios if the Bulls continue their current trajectory.
Discussion Points:
Notable Quotes:
Key Takeaways: The discussion highlights the challenging landscape for restricted free agents like Kuminga, where limited offers and team cap constraints hinder reaching desired contracts. The hosts contemplate the Warriors' motivations and the broader implications for Kuminga's career trajectory, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding his next move.
Discussion Points:
Notable Quotes:
Key Takeaways: Jokic’s victory in horse racing serves as a testament to his multifaceted personality and interests outside basketball. The hosts admire his dedication to his passion for horses, providing listeners with a glimpse into the personal side of one of the NBA’s premier players.
Discussion Points:
Notable Quotes:
Key Takeaways: The Dunk of the Year segment showcases some of the most spectacular and memorable dunks from the current NBA season. Ja Morant’s victory reflects his flair and the dramatic nature of his performance, highlighting his status as a fan favorite. The segment emphasizes the entertainment value and athleticism inherent in NBA highlights.
Notable Topics:
Notable Quotes:
Key Takeaways: These segments cover a range of NBA-related topics, from player movements and team strategies to broadcasting updates and entertainment news. The hosts provide insightful analysis on LeBron’s potential free agency, the Knicks’ roster decisions, and the evolving landscape of NBA media coverage. Additionally, they infuse humor with discussions about the nostalgic return of the "Air Bud" movies.
The hosts wrap up the episode by teasing upcoming content, including a new series reviewing the "Jurassic Park" franchise titled "Jurassic Pals." They encourage listeners to engage by leaving ratings and reviews and share their excitement for future discussions on movies and more NBA content.
Notable Quotes:
Key Takeaways: The episode concludes on an enthusiastic note, with hosts promoting future content and inviting continued listener participation. The anticipation for the "Jurassic Pals" series highlights the podcast’s commitment to diversifying their content offerings.
Overall Summary:
This episode of "No Dunks" offers a comprehensive dive into current NBA happenings, blending serious analysis with lighthearted banter. Key topics include the Chicago Bulls’ strategic decisions regarding their coach, the complexities surrounding Jonathan Kuminga’s free agency, and the personal interests of star player Nikola Jokic. Additionally, the hosts engage listeners with interactive segments like Dunk of the Year, while also touching on broader NBA narratives and entertaining segments like the return of the "Air Bud" franchise. The episode exemplifies the podcast's ability to balance in-depth sports analysis with engaging and humorous content, making it informative and enjoyable for both regular listeners and newcomers alike.