Rookie Rainmaker, Report‑Card Reckoning, and a Crimson Curveball

Summary

PTI Podcast Summary

Episode: "Rookie Rainmaker, Report‑Card Reckoning, and a Crimson Curveball"

Date: February 27, 2026
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Special Guest: Charles Barkley

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Main Theme

In this engaging PTI episode, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon dissect the latest on a record-breaking NBA rookie, expose eyebrow-raising NFL team report cards, and debate college football power plays between Alabama and Ohio State. The episode peaks with a lively “Five Good Minutes” segment featuring Charles Barkley, discussing all things NBA: tanking, load management, TV deals, and his own health journey.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Con Knipple’s Rookie Three-Point Record (NBA)

• [00:57 – 03:55]
• Context: Charlotte Hornets rookie Con Knipple sets a new NBA rookie record with 209 made threes in just 59 games, surpassing Keegan Murray's 206 threes in 80 games.
• Wilbon’s Take:
  • "The milestone itself is a deal. Mid deal. But what Con Knipple's doing this season as a rookie is a big deal." [01:34]
  • Sees Knipple as his pick for Rookie of the Year over more hyped prospects.
  • Praises Knipple’s efficiency (44% from three) and impact on team success.
• Tony’s Perspective:
  • Points out Charlotte's significant win increase from prior seasons (from 19 up to 29 wins already).
  • Excited about Knipple’s potential, even daring to compare his clutch potential to Jerry West.
  • “He is leading the NBA in made threes right now. He's ahead of Steph Curry.” [03:17]
  • Both hosts see Knipple as a product of the Steph Curry revolution.

2. NFLPA Team Report Cards Leak

• [04:00 – 07:00]
• Background: More than 1,700 players rated their NFL teams on categories like ownership, facilities, and coaching. The players’ union wanted to make the results public; a court prevented it, but ESPN still obtained the data.
• Key Findings:
  • Miami Dolphins rated first; Pittsburgh Steelers last (F- in locker room and facilities).
  • Surprisingly, the top-rated teams didn’t make the playoffs and their top-rated GMs were fired.
  • Wilbon: Dismisses the report as “nonsense,” except the family treatment rankings, which genuinely matter for free agency decisions.
  • Tony: Notes that success on the field doesn’t correlate with these grades—e.g., Chiefs rated 27th in facilities but still dominant.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “You let the locker room go to hell so it helps you get the new stadium you’ve demanded across state lines.” – Wilbon [06:29]

3. Alabama vs. Ohio State Scheduling Drama (College Football)

• [07:00 – 10:34]
• Situation: Alabama may drop a scheduled future series with Ohio State due to SEC rules limiting non-conference opponents.
• Wilbon:
  • “Hell no...you don't have to add Ohio State.” [07:40]
  • Argues SEC teams have enough tough games already; adding more is punishing yourself.
• Tony:
  • Feels if Alabama ducks the game, “they're going to look like cowards.” [09:04]
  • Wants the big matchup as a fan; acknowledges the perception issue.
  • References how far in advance these schedules are made and how conference expansion complicates things.
• Wilbon on the Big Ten:
  • Delivers a pointed jab at Ohio State’s perceived arrogance but admits “they always do [earn it] on the field.” [10:25]

4. NBA’s Biggest Issue: Tanking vs. Load Management

Guest: Charles Barkley

• [12:14 – 18:34]
• Moderator Question (Tony): “I think tanking is the bigger issue for the NBA. Wilbon thinks it’s load management—who is right?”
• Charles Barkley:
  • Sides with Wilbon: “I'm going to go with my brother, Wilbon...There's always been tanking...but I think we have to address it.”
  • Suggests all lottery teams get one ping pong ball—no extra chances for worse records. [13:09]
  • On load management: “It's unfair to the game and to the fans for you to make 80, 90 million dollars and say, I can't play basketball two days in a row. That's a travesty.” [13:39]
• Proposes:
  • Teams below .500 shouldn’t be allowed to raise ticket prices. [13:51]
  • NBA should do more to make game broadcasts easier for fans to find; “We’ve done a disservice to the fans and to the game.” [14:37]
• Health Update:
  • Barkley reveals weight loss journey, down from 355 to 270 lbs, aiming for 265. Emphasizes it’s not just about medication, but also changing habits and working out. [15:39]
• On the Eastern Conference:
  • Now favors the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Knicks and Pistons due to their depth and margin for error in the playoffs. [16:53]
• Spurs and Wembanyama:
  • Loves Victor Wembanyama’s game, but still sees OKC and Denver as Western Conference favorites. Praises Stephon Castle as underrated. [18:07]

5. Rapid Fire Headlines & Closing Thoughts

• [21:10 – 24:59]
• Chris Godwin’s 30th birthday featured with NFL career highlights.
• Mike Conley Sr.’s triple jump anniversary and athletic legacy.
• Wild goalie Philip Gustafson’s “gutty” (literally) NHL performance—played despite being sick on the ice.
• College Basketball Preview: Which upcoming games are biggest? Highlights Michigan vs. Illinois, Virginia vs. Duke, Kansas vs. Arizona.
• NBA Notes:
  • “Shay Gilgeous-Alexander cleared to return...is that a big deal?”
    Wilbon: “Yes! The Thunder was just 5 and 4, they need him back.” [24:01]
  • Spurs break losing streak, Bulls remain “wizard level irrelevant.”
    Wilbon: “The Bulls are wizard level irrelevant.” [24:26]

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Notable Quotes / Memorable Moments

• Kornheiser on Knipple:
  • “What if this kid ends up being Jerry West? What if he ends up being Mr. Clutch? What if he shoots that well?” [03:05]
• Barkley on Load Management:
  • “It's unfair to the game and to the fans for you to make 80, 90 million dollars and say, I can't play basketball two days in a row. That's a travesty.” [13:39]
• Barkley on Team Ticket Prices:
  • “If your record is below 500, you should not be able to raise your ticket prices...I would love for all sports to adopt that.” [13:51]
• Wilbon’s dry wit:
  • “The Bulls are wizard level irrelevant.” [24:26]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Starts At | |-----------------------------------------------|------------| | Con Knipple Sets Rookie 3P Record | 00:57 | | NFLPA Team Report Cards | 04:00 | | Alabama–Ohio State Scheduling Controversy | 07:00 | | Charles Barkley Five Good Minutes | 12:14 | | Barkley on Tanking vs. Load Management | 12:39 | | Barkley on Games’ TV Access | 14:37 | | Barkley Health Journey & Weight Loss | 15:39 | | College Hoops, NBA Rapid Fire | 21:10 |

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Tone & Style

True to PTI’s unique blend of humor, banter, sharp opinions, and sports-nerd specificity. Wilbon and Tony riff as old friends and rivals, peppering space for Charles Barkley’s candid, folksy wisdom and colorful analogies. The episode crackles with friendly jabs, analog sport-to-life metaphors, and deep dives for the stat-obsessed, all without dropping their trademark accessibility.

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Summary

This PTI episode is a fast-paced, insightful ride through headline sports debates. The hosts celebrate a potential new NBA sharpshooter, poke fun at the NFL’s foibles, and highlight the shifting sands of college football schedules. Charles Barkley’s segment steals the show, merging laughter, real talk about the NBA's biggest headaches, and honest reflections on health and fandom. If you missed the episode, rest assured you’ll be up to speed—and likely laughing or fiercely agreeing with at least one big opinion.

Transcript

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[Mike Wilbon]

pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. It's National Polar Bear Day.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Tony, do you have a favorite bear? I'm Tony Corn Hy.

[Mike Wilbon]

Cody Parky.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, you get it.

[Mike Wilbon]

I know he just plays golf.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Play golf with him.

[Mike Wilbon]

I forgive him for double doink. I do. I forgot all about him.

[Rich Eisen]

Really.

[Mike Wilbon]

I have really let it go.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You get the pictures that I sent to you with me and him?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Nice kid.

[Mike Wilbon]

Better than that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, he's a nice kid.

[Grainger Commercial Voice]

You got.

[Mike Wilbon]

I don't know. Vidka, you played golf with Gail Sayers once. Love Gail Sayers. I know.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's one of the greatest of all time.

[Charles Barkley]

You know that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Welcome to pti boys and girls. In today's episode, NFL players rake their teams. Ohio State dare Alabama to drop it from the schedule. And Charles Barkley joins us for five good minutes. But we begin today with Concanipa, the Charlotte Hornets rookie wing who last night made eight three pointers giving him 209 threes made this season. Best in the NBA and a record ever for rookies. The old rookie record was 206 by Keegan Murray of Sacramento four years ago who took 80 games to get there. Knipple has played 59 well on con Knippel's milestone. Big deal, little deal, no deal.

[Mike Wilbon]

The milestone itself is a deal. Mid deal. But what Con caniple's doing this season as a rookie is a big deal. It is such a big deal to me. One like a lot of people I've started paying attention and then even watching the Charlotte Hornets play because of the way they play. Yes, they have a mellow ball who's exciting, but it was exciting in just an empty calories way before now. Tony, with Knipple out there, I'm going to tell you this. You know I vote for postseason award, regular season awards. Right now he would be my rookie of the year ahead of his Duke teammate who I know is a bigger deal, has numbers in lots of categories and has not been a disappointment on any level.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's an all star but nipple does

[Mike Wilbon]

not have the ball in his hands because ball has it in his hands and yet when he touches it he is fire. He's shooting 44% from three. That team is viable and he's the difference, Tom.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, he appears to be the difference. Last year Charlotte was 19 and 63. They already have 29 wins and they have 22 games left to go. He is a bigger. You cannot make a judgment as to how big a deal this is right now. You have to wait for a few years. For example, the guy who held the record, Keegan Murray, right Now, he averages 14 points a game for Sacramento.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's fine, but it's not All Star level. No, right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And he has not made 200 threes in any season since.

[Mike Wilbon]

But he doesn't really have an impact on the game. This kid does.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Like you. I was fixated last year on Cooper Flag. Duke on Cooper flag. And look, when Knipple went fourth overall in the draft, I was surprised and I thought that was maybe too high. But look, as we're saying what he has done, look at the wins and the losses. I'm going to say something. I don't mean it to be sacrilegious. I don't. Because Cooper Flagg is going to be a great, great player. What if this kid ends up being Jerry West? What if he ends up being Mr. Clutch? What if he shoots that? Well, he is leading the NBA in made threes right now. He's ahead of Steph Curry. It's the only name I want to mention and I want to mention it for a reason. And by the way, at 44.2%, he can shoot all night. Nobody's going to tell him not to.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's the next generation. Steph Curry. He's a child of Steph Curry. The game has changed Step Curry.

[Mike Wilbon]

Steph Curry changed it. By the way, more than anybody, this kid reminds me of a young Chris Mullen. Okay, okay. Range is deeper for everybody now. But canip. I saw him play like AU or something. It was a AU And I just remember thinking, when you can shoot like this, don't tell me that everybody's as good as you or better than you. Hardly anybody's better than him. Not this year. Let's move to this year's NFLPA team report cards. An arbitrator ruled the union couldn't publish them. But the arbitrator couldn't stop ESPN from getting our hands on them. More than 1700 players rated teams in various categories, including ownership, facilities and coaches. Miami rated first. That must surprise you. Surprise me? Does Pittsburgh ranked last?

[Tony Kornheiser]

That surprised me, too.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

The NFL claims the survey isn't scientific valid. Of course it's not. What, with that said tone, what result intrigued you more? I know you surveyed those.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is the thing that the court said could not be public.

[Mike Wilbon]

But here's the Pentagon Papers.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Here's what happens. They send this to every single player. And you know who wants it public? The NFLPA wants it public. Because they want to shame the teams at the bottom.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's what they want.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So Miami is first, Minnesota is second, Washington is third. And you know what they have in common? Besides good snacks and family friendly activities? They have this in common. They didn't make the playoffs. The guy who was the general manager at Miami got an A. General manager at Minnesota got an A. You know what they have in common? They got fired. First place. You're fired. Now Pittsburgh is last. They say that Pittsburgh has an F

[Mike Wilbon]

minus on the locker room and the field facility. Mean the field. That field. Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They made the play.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's why you can't pay us any attention.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, let me.

[Mike Wilbon]

Every coach got an A or A plus except like two of them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Harbaugh got an A. Got an A. The jets have no wins. The guy in Washington, Dan Quinn, got a plus because he wears his hat backwards. They were 5 and 12.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's nonsense. The whole thing is nonsense. The union wants it out there. Now. Here's what's not nonsense. The part about how they treat the families. Because when you look at free agency, right, that's important.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That becomes important.

[Mike Wilbon]

It is. It is important.

[Tony Kornheiser]

How about the fact that Kansas city was rated 27th and they got an F on locker room. Kansas City in the last seven years, five times to the super bowl, three wins. You think the locker room's killing them? Because I don't.

[Mike Wilbon]

I bet you this, though. I bet you the Chiefs as a club, you let the locker room go to hell. So it helps you get the new stadium you've demanded across state lines. Okay, but it's not, you know, New

[Tony Kornheiser]

England was rated 26th. New England, the plane wasn't so heavy. D D in food. D in food. F on team travel.

[Mike Wilbon]

How hard is it to get great chowder?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Where did they go this year? They went to the super bowl this year.

[Mike Wilbon]

So again, fun dismiss.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Dismissable. But for us good to talk about good television, let's move to college football and a story about two of the great powers, Alabama and Ohio State. They are scheduled to meet in 2027 and 2028. But Alabama has also recently scheduled Georgia State in 2028, a fourth non conference opponent. And the SEC only allows three. This has led to speculation that Alabama could drop Ohio State. Ohio State's athletic director told the Columbus Dispatch, quote, we expect the two game series to be played. We should never be afraid to play anybody.

[Grainger Commercial Voice]

We should.

[Mike Wilbon]

Where?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Ohio State.

[Mike Wilbon]

Boom.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Unquote. Wilbon. If you were Alabama, would you keep Ohio State on your schedule?

[Mike Wilbon]

Hell no. No, no. Now that the SEC teams are playing nine SEC games. No. You just added a schedule, a team on your schedule that is probably like 50% chance of being the top 10 or 12 team. I'm glad you could get. Maybe you get one of the bottom ones. It's a conference schedule, so it could be top five. So you don't need another one of those. People go crazy. They overreact to every loss you have. No, no. It doesn't mean you get to play Wofford four or five times like every SEC scene seemed to do at one point. But you don't have to add Ohio State. You don't.

[Rich Eisen]

Sorry.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So look, I'm not going to put myself in Alabama's shoes because obviously we both agree that playing Georgia State is very, very, very, very easy compared to Ohio State.

[Mike Wilbon]

Of course it is.

[Grainger Commercial Voice]

Right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But I also think that if Alabama opened against Ohio State and won that game, they'd be almost assured of getting into the playoffs. Because didn't Ohio State open against Texas?

[Mike Wilbon]

If you lose it and you wind up being a three loss team because you got that tough conference.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't know. I'm not sure about that. And I mean from a fan standpoint, I want to see Alabama and Ohio State and outside of Tuscaloosa, nobody really wants to see Georgia State and Alabama. Right. Here's my sense, because here are the notes that I took. If Alabama ducks this game, they're going to look like cowards. That statement by the Ohio State athletic director is flowing.

[Mike Wilbon]

It was.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We are unafraid. And it looks like Alabama is afraid at that point. I am hoping they went into this with their eyes open. I am hoping both schools.

[Mike Wilbon]

No, but those, those schedules years in advance.

[Rich Eisen]

How many years?

[Mike Wilbon]

I guarantee you the schedule was made before the SEC mandated nine, not eight.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Alabama and Ohio State know who the other one is and they wanted that game. They wanted that game.

[Mike Wilbon]

You know what? This one, I'm a Big Ten guy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, I got Big Ten news for you. I'm.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm inclined, as you know, to favor my conference.

[Charles Barkley]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

There's one school that often, too often, there's a word I want to use. Three letters, but I won't do it rhymes with donkey. There's one school that acts above all the others all the time and it's the Ohio State University. And by the way, they've earned a lot of that, particularly on the football side, not everything else.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let me give you.

[Mike Wilbon]

But not necessarily let me give you

[Tony Kornheiser]

another Big Ten school. Indiana, national champions. You know they played out of conference this year. Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State. Indiana State without Larry Bird.

[Mike Wilbon]

It needs to beef up.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know who they got next year? North Texas, Howard and Western Kentucky. Now they Howard game.

[Mike Wilbon]

They are is the Howard game here in Washington.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I doubt that they earned it on the field. They beat Oregon. They beat Ohio State.

[Mike Wilbon]

Never going to say Ohio State doesn't earn it on the field because they always do. But they know what the situation is in the sec. They know they don't care.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That guy, the AD there, he can stand behind that statement forever. Let's take a break. Coming up, I think tanking is a bigger issue than load management. And Wilbon disagrees. We're going to ask Charles Barkley to decide.

[Mike Wilbon]

We'll also ask him whether he thinks Victor Wimbanyama needs to go through playoff heartbreak or whether he can go straight through OKC in Denver.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What a title. What word rhymes with dunkey? That's three letters. You want to tell me off the air?

[Mike Wilbon]

Monkey. Oh, that's more than three letters. That's six letters. Okay.

[Celsius Energy Commercial Voice]

All right.

[Rich Eisen]

Dunkey.

[Mike Wilbon]

You said yeah.

[Rich Eisen]

Donkey.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, not donkey.

[Mike Wilbon]

They get it.

[Rich Eisen]

Donkey.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Inside the NBA has moved to espn, which means Charles Barkley is now our colleague. He's our first ever guest. We're thrilled to have him back in the show. And before we went on the air, we were talking about golf courses, of course, and the fact that Chuck is wearing his 76ers, the team that drafted him. Everything is good. Let's start with this. I think tanking is the bigger issue for the NBA. Wilbon thinks it's load management who is right.

[Charles Barkley]

I'm going to go with my brother, Wilbon, because we. Tony, there's always been tanking in the NBA. There's always been tanking. I think we have to address it. I don't think we should reward losing honestly. Everybody in the lottery should get one ball and whatever happens, happens. But when you start saying you're going to get extra ping pong balls for losing, I think that's what the problem is. I think every team in the lottery should get one ping pong ball and take their chances.

[Mike Wilbon]

But as you said, load management. I know load management has to just annoy the hell out of you, Chuck.

[Charles Barkley]

Well, what bothers me is from the fans, Mike, because obviously I don't hate on these young guys. They're making 50, 60 million dollars and with this new TV deal, they're gonna be making 70, 80, 90, 100 million dollars. I think it's unfair to the game and to the fans for you to make 80, 90 million dollars and say, I can't, I can't play basketball two

[Tony Kornheiser]

days in a row.

[Charles Barkley]

That's a travesty.

[Mike Wilbon]

You said the other day you prevent tanking teams from raising ticket prices. What kind of reaction did you get to that,

[Charles Barkley]

Mike? I've been saying this for years. I don't think, not just basketball, I don't think any sports team, if Your record is below 500, you should not be able to raise your ticket prices. I'm not saying you gotta win the championship. I'm not even saying you gotta go deep in the playoffs. But when your team is 500 or less, you should not be able to raise ticket prices. I've been saying that for many years and I would love for all sports to adopt that.

[Mike Wilbon]

Tell us what else. We love these sessions where we get to pick your brain about the league and what's going on. You and I do this more frequently now. We're going to let Tony in on it. What else would you do? What other Stuff do you see about the game? And you say, if I was commissioner today and I do this

[Charles Barkley]

well, I think we've got to find a way to make sure fans. Mike, you've been beating this drum for a long time. It is so difficult for fans to find the games now. I think we've done a disservice to the fans and to the game. We've got to find a way to let the fans know because the fans are the backbone and we want to support these networks. I'm so honored to be on ESPN now because it's the greatest sports network ever. But people don't even know when NBC games on NBC. When they own Peacock. They don't know when the game's on Amazon. And we got to be very careful because, you know, we got an 11 year deal and it's a team deal. The players are going to be successful, but we want the networks to be successful also. I think the number one thing we got to do is make sure we let the fans know exactly when the games are on.

[Grainger Commercial Voice]

Here, here.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Said you want to.

[Rich Eisen]

That's it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You're done with questions. Can I ask off an off book question?

[Mike Wilbon]

Let you in.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What do you weigh now? You look great. What do you weigh now?

[Charles Barkley]

I weigh 270. I started doing road.co doing zip bound at. I started at 355. I'm at 270 and I want to get to 265. So I'm right where I want to be. But what's going to happen, Tony and Mike, when I get to 265? I'm gonna get off the drug because I don't think anybody wants to be on drugs their entire life. I'm gonna take a month off and see what happens with my body because even though I'm taking a shot, I've changed my eating habits and I'm working out. To me, that's the biggest misconception, the notion that you can just take a shot and lose weight. I had to change my eating habits and I had to start working out. But I'm very excited where my body is now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

265 shouldn't be that hard. You only have five to go. You could do that by next Thursday if you wanted to.

[Mike Wilbon]

You could do that.

[Charles Barkley]

Well, well, I'm gonna try. But you know, that's the thing, you know, because I tell people you gotta eat because hey, you didn't.

[Mike Wilbon]

I didn't get fat.

[Charles Barkley]

Not eat.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do.

[Charles Barkley]

I like to eat.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, let me go back to basketball. Apparently our Inside people say that you have switched from the Knicks to the Cavs in the Eastern Conference. Why not the Pistons?

[Charles Barkley]

Well, I watched the Pistons play the spurs the other night and my criticism of the Pistons has been Cade, Cunningham and Duran have to play great and one of them didn't play great and they lost. The reason I like the Cavs, there's really nobody on the Cavs who have to play great. James can have a bad game, Donovan Mitchell can make up for it. Mobley can have a bad game, Allen can make up for it. So that's. I think they got more room for error. So my personal pick right now is the Cavs in the east because the margin of error, because you're great players, they're gonna have a bad game here or there. But the Pistons, as great as season, they have Cade, Cunningham and Duran have to play great if they're gonna beat go deep in the playoffs.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm glad you mentioned San Antonio because you know from personal experience that teams historically have to experience heartbreak in the playoffs before they're able to win. Do you think that Victor Wembanyama and the spurs are the exception? Can they go that far in the playoff, Charles, without having had that personal playoff heartbreak?

[Charles Barkley]

I love Victor Wembanyama. I think what they're doing in San Antonio. Listen, the most underrated player in the league now is probably Stephon Castle. That kid is a flat out beast. But I still like OKC and Denver. I do. I like those two teams in the West. But hey, listen, Wembayama, what that young man is doing, it's great for the league, it's great for San Antonio. But I still like OKC and Denver in the West.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's great for us that you're on espn. Thank you, Chuck. Thank you.

[Mike Wilbon]

Appreciate it. See you soon.

[Charles Barkley]

Thank you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Brothers, if you can catch Charles and Ernie and Kenny and Shaq on NBA tip off immediately following this high quality program, let's take one last break. Still to come, there are at least three big men's college hoops game this weekend, which is the biggest.

[Mike Wilbon]

And Shay Gilgeous Alexander makes his return from injury tonight against the Nuggets. Two teams Charles mentioned. Big deal.

[Tony Kornheiser]

How does Charles look? Look? He looks great. He looks good, right?

[Mike Wilbon]

He looks great.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Looks great.

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[Rich Eisen]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy time people. Happy 30th birthday. Chris Godwin Godwin is one of two premier wide receivers in Tampa Bay along with Mike Evans, but as a free agent, Evans could be leaving. Godwin has two years left on his contract with the Bucs. Both were injured, missed a lot of games last season. Godwin played in nine games, had just 33 catches for 360 yards and two touchdowns. He has gone over a thousand yards receiving four different times and has 41 career receiving touchdowns. Godwin was a third round pick by the Bucs in 2017 out of Penn State. Was a Pro Bowler in 2019 when he had 86 catches, 1333 yards and nine touchdowns. While in Tampa, Godwin has caught passes from Heisman winners Jameis Winston and Baker Mayfield, but he won a Super bowl with Tom Brady.

[Mike Wilbon]

Quite a tandem. You would think a team would really try to try to figure out a way to keep those two together on their own roster Evans is only going to something called the hall of Fame.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

And yet it's like they're both just going to be vapores.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sort of like Cincinnati, where you try and keep them both. If you like your quarterback. Happy anniversary, Mike Conley Sr. On this day 39 years ago, the great long jumper and triple jumper set the world indoor record in the triple jump, going 58ft, three and a quarter inches in a meet at Madison Square Garden. Conley said he knew he nailed it because, quote, my toes were almost coming out of the pit, unquote. Conley won the gold medal in the triple jump in Barcelona in 1992, the silver medal in Los Angeles in 1984. Conley's son, Mike Jr. While not an Olympian, has been a steady, valued NBA point guard for the past 19 seasons. After being traded twice and waived this season, Conley recently re signed with Minnesota. Originally drafted by Memphis and remains that franchise's leading scorer.

[Mike Wilbon]

Mike Conley, as a Chicago kid, went to Luther South High School. I had one of my best games pitching against Luther South. I wonder if Mike Conley, who's like, you know what? I don't know if he played baseball, but he's such a great athlete at a time where people played everything.

[Charles Barkley]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

Mike Conley Sr. Do you think struck him out?

[Tony Kornheiser]

You think he struck him out?

[Mike Wilbon]

I'd like to think I had some success.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy trails. To the final minute of last night's game to Philip Gustafson. Minnesota's goaltender stopped 44 shots as the Wild beat the NHL leading Colorado Avalanche 52 in Denver. Gustafson left it all on the ice, including whatever was in his belly. Illness led him to vomit in the with about a minute remaining, and he was replaced for the finish. Wild coach John Hines called it, quote, a real gutty performance, unquote.

[Mike Wilbon]

You get that the moment that happens, the referee should have the power to come in, point to both benches and say, he's gone. Well, they took him. If you can do it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, no, no.

[Mike Wilbon]

You forced out, like, concussion protocol.

[Rich Eisen]

All right.

[Mike Wilbon]

Was it vomit protocol?

[Tony Kornheiser]

That would be great. Big finish quickly. Shay Gilgis. Alexander cleared to return from his abstrain tonight against the Nuggets. Is that a big deal?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes. The Thunder was just 5 and 4. They need him back in the lineup. He wants to be MVP maybe again. Time to get back. UConn women beat Georgetown by 32 to move to 30 and 0. Undefeated still on the season. Is that significant?

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're the best team in the country right now, and it's without Paige Beckers and they were a championship team last year. The spurs. Your Spurs 110 in February. You Bulls 0 and 11. Bigger headline in Wilbon world.

[Mike Wilbon]

The Bulls are wizard level irrelevant. So that's the spurs college hoops this weekend. Michigan, Illinois, Virginia, Duke, Kansas at Arizona. What's the biggest game?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm gonna say Kansas at Arizona, but all three were really big games. Last one. Cavs at Pistons tonight. Are you intrigued?

[Mike Wilbon]

I am. But if Donovan Mitchell is out, and he apparently is, the Pistons at home ought to win this convincingly.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The Pistons should have been Oklahoma City.

[Mike Wilbon]

Don't try the game twice.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Don't you think we're out of time? Try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Corner.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm Mike Wilbon. Have a great weekend, knuckleheads. And now, here's NBA Templ off pti.

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