Are the Thunder Champions in Waiting?

Summary

PTI Episode Summary: "Are the Thunder Champions in Waiting?"

Release Date: May 29, 2025
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Mike Wilbon

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1. Introduction

Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon kick off the episode by sharing a light-hearted moment about Washington D.C.'s oldest resident, Willie Mae Avery, who recently celebrated her 110th birthday. This brief personal exchange sets a friendly and casual tone for the episode.

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2. NBA Playoffs: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Tony Kornheiser introduces the primary focus of the episode: the Oklahoma City Thunder's impressive performance in the NBA playoffs. The Thunder secured a decisive victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, building a 30-point lead by the second quarter and ultimately clinching the series.

Notable Discussion Points:

• Thunder's Dominance:
  Tony (05:00): "The Thunder are the second youngest team ever to reach the NBA Finals behind only the 1977 Bill Walton Trail Blazers."

• Mike Wilbon's Analysis:
  Mike (01:34): "I see a team, Tony, that looks damn near like a championship team... They are smothering them with defense."

• Anthony Edwards' Performance:
  Tony (03:03): "Anthony Edwards had another lackluster game last night. He had 19 points, which is eight below his season average."

• Team Comparisons:
  Mike (03:03): "This resembles young championship teams like Kobe and Shaq or Steph and Draymond."

Conclusion: Both hosts agree that while the Thunder exhibit championship potential, challenges such as injuries and team dynamics remain.

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3. NBA Playoffs: Knicks vs. Pacers Series

The conversation shifts to the Knicks-Pacers playoff series, with the Pacers leading 3-1. The Knicks face significant hurdles, including a questionable status of their key player, Karl Anthony Towns.

Notable Discussion Points:

• Injury Concerns:
  Tony (05:22): "Karl Anthony Towns has a left knee contusion and is questionable for tonight's game."

• Knicks' Chances:
  Mike (05:22): "The Knicks are already vulnerable defensively, and if Towns is not at his best, they're going to be really in trouble."

• Series Outlook:
  Tony (07:58): "Indiana has won six straight playoff games on the road. This is Indiana's series at this point."

• Mike's Perspective:
  Mike (07:58): "I have eyes. I have seen the playoffs to this point. Indiana is better just by a little."

Conclusion: While fans may root for the Knicks, the hosts lean towards the Pacers advancing, citing Indiana's consistent playoff performance and the Knicks' defensive vulnerabilities.

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4. NHL Playoffs: Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Bringing in expert analysis, the hosts welcome ESPN hockey analyst PK Subban to discuss the Florida Panthers' recent performance and their chances in the Stanley Cup Final.

Notable Discussion Points:

• Panthers' Dominance:
  PK Subban (13:49): "This team doesn't look like they're slowing down. They look like the best team in the league and Stanley Cup champions."

• Team Improvements:
  PK (14:43): "The Florida Panthers are in a better position than they were last year. Players like Brad Marchand and Seth Jones are making significant impacts."

• Hall of Fame Insights:
  Mike (10:02): "They've beaten Carolina in these games 21-10 for the third straight time."

Conclusion: PK Subban asserts that the Florida Panthers have no visible weaknesses and are poised to secure their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance, showcasing their enhanced roster and strategic gameplay.

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5. NHL Playoffs: Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars

The discussion moves to the Oilers' challenges, particularly the absence of Zach Hyman, and its impact on their playoff aspirations.

Notable Discussion Points:

• Impact of Zach Hyman's Absence:
  PK Subban (15:59): "His leadership and physicality are a huge loss to the Edmonton Oilers. It could be a critical loss when it's all said and done."

• Oilers' Performance:
  PK (16:38): "The Oilers haven't been willing to grind Edmonton down. They haven't done that job this series."

• Stars' Response:
  PK (16:18): "They have not played to their strengths consistently."

Conclusion: The absence of Zach Hyman poses a significant challenge for the Oilers, potentially altering the dynamics of the series against the Dallas Stars, who have otherwise dominated with their top players.

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6. Additional Sports Topics

MLB Highlights:

• Paul Schemes' Success:
  Tony (19:57): "Paul Schemes, the overall number one pick in the 2023 baseball draft, was a huge and immediate success last year with the Pirates."

NBA Memories:

• Larry Bird's Anniversary:
  Tony (20:54): "Happy anniversary Larry Bird on this day 45 years ago, the Celtics superstar won the NBA's Rookie of the Year award."

NFL Updates:

• Joe Flacco's Role with the Browns:
  Tony (22:07): "Flacco prioritizes his own performance, telling reporters, 'The best way to be a mentor honestly is to show people how you go to work.'"

NCAA Commentary:

• Expansion of March Madness:
  Mike (22:55): "Leave March Madness alone. Don't people ever just see something that's a masterpiece and not mess with it?"

Miscellaneous:

• Washington Capitals' Season Struggles:
  Tony (23:24): "The Rockies have lost five straight. They're now 9 and 47."

Notable Quotes:

• Tony (13:35): "Florida now 23 and 10 on the road in the last three playoff seasons."
• Mike (14:29): "The Thunder seem to be wanting to just walk right through that to get to the point where they can flex like this, too."

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7. Closing Remarks

As the episode wraps up, Tony and Mike reflect on the day's discussions, expressing anticipation for upcoming games and the evolving playoff landscapes. They encourage listeners to engage with the podcast through various platforms and tease the next episode's topics.

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Summary:
In this episode of PTI, Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon delve deep into the NBA and NHL playoffs, analyzing standout performances and pivotal moments. The Oklahoma City Thunder's potential as championship contenders is thoroughly examined, alongside the Knicks' struggles against the Pacers. In the NHL, the Florida Panthers' dominance and the Edmonton Oilers' challenges are highlighted with expert insights from PK Subban. Additionally, the hosts touch upon various other sports topics, providing a comprehensive overview of the current sports landscape.

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Note: All timestamps correspond to the original podcast transcript provided.

Transcript

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[Mike Wilbon]

Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. Tony Washington DC's oldest resident, Willie Mae Avery just turned 110.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Toni Kornheiser, she was two years above me in high school. I remember her well. I think she was one of the cheerleaders, I think. I'm not sure. Football.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm going back. Cheerleader, born in 1915. I mean, that's, you know, 110.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's a long time. That's really. It's a long time, hon. I'm close. I don't know that I want to get there though. It's a long time. Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, the Knicks try to stay alive. The Panthers make it back to the Stanley Cup Final and BK Suban joins us for five good minutes. But we begin today with the Oklahoma City Thunder overwhelming Minnesota right from the start last night, building a 30 point lead in the second quarter and cruising to a series ending win. The Thunder the second youngest team ever to reach the NBA Finals behind only the 1977 Bill Walton Trail Blazers. Wilbon, what do you see when you watch the Thunder?

[Mike Wilbon]

I see a team, Tony, that looks damn near like a championship team. I mean, I know they got to finish it. You don't want to take anything for granted. That would be completely arrogant if they felt that way. And they're going to have the Pacers or Knicks. Seems like the Pacers next a worthy opponent. But Oklahoma City looks formidable. They are dominant at times to hold the Timberwolves to last year's conference finalists to nine points in the first quarter. And it's the way they're doing it. They are smothering them with defense. They're basically daring Minnesota to do the things that Minnesota has done somewhat successfully the last two years. Daring Anthony Edwards, daring Julius Randle. And it's working. It's bold, it's creative, it's flexing. And you look at them and you say, okay, we need to move on now to the next thing. And of course we are moving on to the next thing. But Tony, I've been around long enough to have been around some Young championship teams that featured the likes of Kobe and Shaq, you know, and Steph and Clay and Draymond. I've been around them at the beginning. This, to me, is resembling that. And things can unravel it. An injury, you know, contract squabbling. Things can happen. But right now, where we sit, coming off last night, that's what it resembles to me.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, this comes as no surprise to me at all. They've been a monster at home all season. They were 35, six at home in a regular season, eight and one at home during the playoffs. You know, they got beat pretty bad in game three right by Minnesota. And they came back right away and they won game four and game five without any problem. And as you say, they held Minnesota nine points as a joke in the NBA in a conference finals. Nine points in the first quarter. What are we talking about here? They won 19. They're better than Minnesota. They won 19 more games in a regular season than Minnesota. And I know how much you love Anthony Edwards, but he had another, and I stress another lackluster game last night. He had 19 points. That's eight below his season average. In three of these games, he's been in the teens. He's their best player. You can't score in the teens. He was one of seven for three. In Minnesota's four losses from three, he is six of 31. That's 19%. Afterwards, Edwards said nobody was going to outwork him next year. And I thought to myself, I don't really know what you're talking about. Nobody said you didn't work hard. They're a better team and they figured out how to defend you. They figured it out. I mean, they're good. They're real good.

[Mike Wilbon]

Antonio, you're right. That's a great point about the work. He's going to have to have organizational help. He's going to have to have some realizations at 23, there's time to do that. But Oklahoma City, he better be careful, he and everybody else, because they can lap you if you don't get it together and somebody wins a championship and really starts to explore how great they can be. Other folks. Minnesota can be in trouble.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'll just say this very quickly. I'm going to give credit to Minnesota. They made a big trade. They still got back to the conference finals, but they need something more. And you know who's out there? Kevin Durant's out there. Kevin Durant could get them to the top.

[Mike Wilbon]

Good point.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's go to the. Let's go to the one remaining NBA series, the Pacers and the Knicks tonight. And Wilbon, you are in New York for this. The pacers lead the series 3 1. They've won both games in Madison Square Garden. Karl Anthony Towns has a left knee contusion. He is questionable for tonight's game. Towns is New York's second leading playoff scorer. He's averaging 26 in the series. Wilbon, do you like the Knicks chances of forcing a game six?

[Mike Wilbon]

Tony? Les, when I look on the screen and see Karl Anthony Towns limping like that, and all credit to Karl Anthony Towns for getting back up and staying on the court in game four. And you know he's going to try to play tonight. He's going to. He's going to go out there. But Tony, they're having enough trouble when whole and relatively healthy keeping up with Indiana. As a matter of fact, they can't really keep up. It's like it's a track meet and they're out there against Usain Bolt. And then if Karl Anthony Towns is limping, I mean, the Knicks are already vulnerable defensively and if he is not at his best, whatever that is, they're going to be really in trouble defensively. So he's their second best player, second most important player all the way around. You know, I want to see the Knicks, you know, extend this series. I love the conference playoffs. I'd like to see more basketball, but the way the Pacers are going, it's hard to really see the Knicks putting together the kind of effort that's going to extend the series.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is a different Michael Ray Wilbond than I saw a couple of weeks ago. When you first got to New York City, you were so excited. You were all around the basketball. Everything you heard, everything you saw was about the Knicks and you felt that energy from the Knicks. I know that I said on this show yesterday that there were four series remaining in hockey and basketball, and I thought only one of them could get to a game six. And I thought it was the Knicks could force that to happen. And I still think that. But I. I have eyes. I have seen the playoffs to this point. Indiana is better just by a little, but they've been better in the same way that Tyrese Halliburton has been a little better than Jalen Brunson. There's some numbers here to run. Indiana has won six straight playoff games in a row on the road. This game is on the road. They're 13 and 3 overall in the playoffs. The only game they ever lose is game three. This is game five. So, like I say, I'd love to see the Knicks win, but intellectually, I sort of feel that it's Indiana's series at this point. I will differ from you in this regard. If somebody said, why would you like the Knicks? I would say Jalen Brunson because he's really tough and he's fearless. And they would say, well, Karl Anthony Towns might not play or may be diminished. That's going to hurt them. And I would say, I'm not so sure about that, because if you put all the pressure on Brunson, I think he might respond. The one bet I would make tonight is that Thibodeau will play Brunson 44 to 45 minutes. If not more than that. If not more than that.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, but, Tony, I just worry that they're worn out. I hear you. Because we got those plus minus numbers that suggest you can do the Knicks do better with one or the other off the court. I don't think that's going to apply, but we'll see shortly.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Mike Wilbon]

I had hope for the Hurricanes last night, too. They jumped out to a 2 nothing lead in the Panthers. You know, I had the remote in my hand. I clicked away, I clicked over to the basketball, and when I checked back about four minutes later, they were down 3, 2 en route to a 53 loss. Florida now returns to the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive season. The defending champs reacted like they won a midseason game. Tony, what do you make of how the Panthers won and how little they marked the achievement?

[Tony Kornheiser]

You and I had this conversation earlier today. Like you, I was watching on television. Then it was one nothing Carolina. Then it was two nothing Carolina. And Carolina was playing at home. And I said to myself, ooh, you went out on television and you picked Florida. You look like a dope. But then I remembered what our friend Bernie Wolf, the goalie, had said, that the most dangerous league to have in hockey is a two nothing lead. And then I went, I went to the basketball and I came back and like you said, it was three to two. At that point, you know, I. You know, I felt that I could exhale and I could stop writing my note of apology. Look, how did they win this? Florida won this. Honestly, like champions. They were down two zero on the road to a team that was six and zero when it had scored the first goal in the playoffs. You come back on that one, Mike, then that has the pedigree of a champion, as far as I'm concerned. Florida now 23 and 10 on the road in the last three playoff seasons. And not coincidentally, they're in the Stanley cup for the third straight time. They beat Carolina in these games. 21, 10 again, third straight time. This is odd to me because there was a run like this recently. Tampa Bay made it in the last six years. There's always been a Florida team.

[Mike Wilbon]

Florida.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Not a Florida man, but a Florida team in the Stanley cup final. How do you explain that? How do you explain that from a warm weather site?

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, Florida and Carolina, I mean, they just. They're all over the Stanley cup conference finals and final. And I. Look, Tony, we're talking about, you know, two dominant performances last night. Even though, you know, five, three may not sound dominant. As you just said it, it was dominant. What Florida did, being down two goals on the road in that game. They are where Oklahoma City seems to be entering. There's a door that says champion over the Florida Panthers. And, you know, the Thunder seems to be wanting to just walk right through that to get to the point where they can flex like this, too, kick it down the road. And something on the road just going, we're kicking out. Yeah, impressive.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just for 10 seconds. They didn't celebrate at all. Why exactly would they celebrate? This is a stop along the way for them. This is a staging area. They don't care about this trophy. They didn't touch it. They want the other trophy, the big one. Let's take a break. Let's do it. Coming up, where are these Panthers vulnerable? We're going to ask PK Subban.

[Mike Wilbon]

We're also going to ask him how the Oilers might be impacted by the loss of Zach Hyman.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I was two for two last night, Wilbong. But I sweated out the hockey, sweated out the hot.

[Mike Wilbon]

It was two nights and I was ready to, you know, start hugging and kissing Carolina. Not so fast.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Basketball was like 197 after the first four.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's dig back into the Stanley cup playoffs with our great friend ESPN hockey analyst PK Subin. Let's start with this. The Florida Panthers looked absolutely dominant against the Hurricanes, but tell me, where exactly are they vulnerable?

[PK Subban]

Where they're vulnerable right now is the fact that they are going to their third Stanley Cup Final. You have to think that they're a little bit tired and worn down, but this team doesn't look like they're slowing down. Honestly, it doesn't look like their energy's anywhere but where it needs to be. Going into the Stanley Cup Final. They look like the best team in the league and Stanley cup champions. You want to ask me where their weaknesses go through their defense? Maybe you see one there, Annette, you ain't seeing one there. And you're definitely not seeing one up front. And in every category, every facet of the game of hockey. You heard Rod Brindemore say it. This team is the standard now in the National Hockey League. So I don't see a weakness right now with the Florida Panthers.

[Mike Wilbon]

Wow, pk, that leads me to wonder this do you think this team is as good as the team that won it all last year? Better. I mean, how do they compare in your mind?

[PK Subban]

You know, at the beginning of the year I said to myself, there's no way the Florida. How are they going to get better? How are they going to keep all of these guys and you know, they Let a couple guys go. Some depth players, you know, Stenland and you know Lamborghini. Lamborghini there on the fourth line. But they go and get a guy like Brad Marchand and people want to say he's agey. Does Brad Marchand look like he's aged? At times he's looked like the Florida Panthers best player. He's playing on their third line, guys. So you know, you look at Seth Jones, an upgrade from Oliver Ekman, Larsen, of course, because of his age, the fact that he can lug minutes, he looks like a new player out there. So I have to say the Florida Panthers are in a better position than they were last year. Luster Ainen's a year older. Lundell is a year older. Barkov is healthy. Matthew Kachuk now, who missed most of the season, is healthy. They're in a better position. And Bobrovsky, when is he going to slow down?

[Mike Wilbon]

He.

[PK Subban]

He's still bobbing and weaving. So I think the Florida Panthers are in a better position than they were last year going into Stanley Cup. And by the way, they get that series done in five games so they get some time to rest. Unbelievable job.

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, the Oilers are hoping to do that as well. Oilers stars tonight, Game five. What exactly does Edmonton lose with the absence of Zach Hyman PK A leader.

[PK Subban]

In the locker room and a physicality on the ice. We can talk about him being a 50 goal scorer and what he brings to their power play, but they got guys that can the puck in the net. It's the physicality and the leadership and the experience. For me, this is a huge loss to the Edmonton Oilers. It could be a critical loss when it's all said and done.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wow. So then you're leaving open the possibility that they could even lose this series. That's interesting. They've outscored the Stars 13 to 2 since they lost Game 1. It appears to have been lopsided. Maybe this changes things. But to this point, why has it been so lopsided?

[PK Subban]

Well, the Edmonton. The Edmonton Oilers best players have been the best players in the series. Not the best players on their team. The best players in the series. That's a problem for Dallas. Dallas, you can put all the X's and O's as you want together, but you bet, when the bright lights come on espn, we spend all this money on marketing about how big the moment is. The players got to get the memo. I don't know. Ratnon's got to show up tonight. Rope hints has to have an impact. Heiskonen has to have an impact. He's got his feet wet now. I know he's been injured for a long time. Jamie. Ben has to have an impact. We have to see him out there tonight. All those players, your season's on the line. You're against the league's best player. And right now, a team that's trying to get back to the Stanley cup again, they're going to need their best players to be their best players tonight. They have not been good enough. They haven't played to their strengths. They haven't been willing to go to the dirty areas enough and do that consistently. You got to grind Edmonton down. They haven't done that job this series.

[Mike Wilbon]

All right, before we let you go a little bit, I know you're going to be keeping one eye on game five in Madison Square Garden tonight. Who you got, the Knicks? Extend. Extending this thing or the Pacers ending it?

[PK Subban]

Listen to me right now. I got Knicks. I've been saying Knicks in six. I got the Knicks winning tonight. Definitely. I think this is time. They're big players, got to show up. I don't like Indiana. I don't like the look of their team. I don't like the smell of their players when I walk by in the Garden. I'm a Knicks. Listen to me, Knicks. Let's go. Jim Dolan, the whole crew. Buckle up and strap in. It'll be rocking tonight. I got the Knicks winning tonight. Let's go.

[Mike Wilbon]

There we go.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Thank you, pk.

[Mike Wilbon]

Pk.

[PK Subban]

Thank you.

[Mike Wilbon]

Appreciate it.

[PK Subban]

Thanks, guys.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You can catch more PK tonight during the game and starting with a Point at 7:30 Eastern. Wilbourne, of course, thinks he'll only have one eye on his actual job, but I don't think so. I think he'll have both. Let's take one last break. Still to come, the president of the NCAA indicates that the expansion of March Madness is a top priority. That's dumb.

[Mike Wilbon]

Joe Flacco explains his issue with mentoring the Browns two rookie quarterbacks. Is Joe Flacco still in the league or is he in some AARP location undisclosed?

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's. He's not only still in the league, he's actually effective.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy time people. Happy 23rd birthday. Paul Schemes, the overall number one pick in the 2023 baseball draft out of national champion LSU, was a huge and immediate success last year with the Pirates. Skeens started the All Star Game, was National League Rookie of the year. He was 113 with a 196 ERA, 170 strikeouts and 133 innings this season. Schemes is just 4 5, but he pitched 623 scoreless last night and he won. His ERA is 215 and he routinely throws pitches 100 miles an hour. Skeens recently pitched that rare complete game, but it was eight innings because it was a 10 loss. Pittsburgh Pittsburgh is a perpetually bad team. You wonder how long Skeens will be happy there or if he will want to leave.

[Mike Wilbon]

You think he's going to be on the Barry Bonds plan? That he's going to be out of there sometime soon and have the greatest years of his career somewhere else? That would be kind of sad for Pittsburgh. They're great sports fans there. I'd be sad to see that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy anniversary Larry Bird on this day 45 years ago, the Celtics superstar won the NBA's Rule Rookie of the Year award after averaging 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists. Bird beat out his great rival Magic Johnson, who went 187 and 8. Magic, of course got the last laugh by winning the NBA title over Philly, just as his Michigan State team had beaten Birds Indiana State team for the NCAA Championship the year before. Birds presence on the Celtics helped them go from 29 wins to 61 wins. And this was before Mike, before Parish and McHale got to Boston. Yeah, we will watch now to see if Cooper Flagg, a similar kind of player to Bird, will improve Dallas like.

[Mike Wilbon]

That Kornbread Maxwell tiny yard ball. Even Dave Cowins was on that team. Tony if that is true, if Cooper Flag can do that, then the Dallas Mavericks will indeed get over the loss of Luka Doncic. If he's that good and he's playing with guys who can play, you know, especially if they get Kyrie back and Anthony Davis is out there 70 games or so then that the COVID ain't bare in Dallas. But if they do that, leave Nico alone. Free Nico.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Nico didn't have much to do with the ping pong balls. Come on now. Happy trails to active mentoring for Joe Flacco. Flacco finds himself competing with rookies Dylan Gabriel and Shador Sanders, along with fourth year man Kenny Pickett for the Brown starting quarterback job. But the 40 year old veteran says he prioritizes his own performance, telling reporters, quote, if I say I don't want to be a mentor, I look bad. If I say I do want to be a mentor, I look like an idiot that doesn't care about being good and playing football. The best way to be a mentor honestly is to show people how you go to work.

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, the question is they're going to need him. Are they going to need him this year? One of the young bucks going to win that position. How soon do we see Shador Sanders under center? That's what most of us care about. No disrespect to Mr. Flacco, who's had a distinguished career.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He has. He's won the Super Bowl. Let's go to the big finish. NCAA president Charlie Baker says one of his top priorities is to expand March Madness. Your reaction?

[Mike Wilbon]

No. Leave March Madness alone. Don't people ever just see something that's a masterpiece and not mess with it? The Washington capital say they mistakenly emailed season ticket holders calling next season Alex Oveskin's last. Your thoughts, Mr. D.C. my thoughts are.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They did it deliberately to scare people into buying tickets for this year? Of course they did. The Rockies have lost five straight. They're now 9 and 47. How do you feel about that?

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, the last three of those came in really feel they were not beat downs like they should have been. Worries me about the Cubs bats, but I'm fine with their last three losses. Longtime Patriots center David Andrews is calling it a career. How are you going to remember it?

[Tony Kornheiser]

He was undrafted. He got to play and win two Super Bowls. He got the snap to Tom Brady, which is, I'm sure was a lot more fun than the last few years. He had a great career. Last one, Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round in straight tests despite a blister on his left big toe. I'll bet you're impressed.

[Mike Wilbon]

Oh, yeah. And center Zverev Copel, golf keys Pegula. They all advanced too. Impressed with all of it. Glad they're in the field still.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're out of time. Try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Mike Wilbon]

And I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads. You can get the podcast on the app or Apple podcast. Time to go to the Garden, Tony.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Enjoy the game. Enjoy the game. The atmosphere will be great.

[PK Subban]

I'm so excited.

[Toyota Ad]

In case you didn't know, these young men are driven. They are prodigies, the savants, the ones we've been waiting for. Like Damian Lillard, for instance. He doesn't seek guidance or mentorship. He's a leader. He isn't waiting for the baton to be passed to him. He's taking it for himself. He's relentless in a pursuit of greatness, always pushing to one up himself. He is accomplished, but far from satisfied. He embodies what it means to have an unstoppable drive and are shaken up the status quo in their community and beyond. And Damian Lillard drives a Toyota. A new generation of Toyota drivers are here and they want you to know one thing. You can't stop my drive.