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- [00:00]
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- [03:28]
Christian Clark
Good morning and welcome to the athletic NBA Daily Casual Friday edition for July 11, 2025. And guys, you're in Vegas. Well, at least Dave and our guest Christian Clark, who covers the Mavericks, is s you'll be headed there tomorrow. I will be holding down the fort outside of Vegas, outside of the Heat. But Dave, I'm going to start with you because you've been there now two days. You're now the veteran.
- [03:56]
Dave
Too long, Too long.
- [03:58]
Christian Clark
Two days. Too long. You know, I heard yesterday from you that it was a little dead out in Vegas. Heard you spiced it up a little bit, change the locales.
- [04:08]
Dave
Yeah, so I came in a little early and I like, there's a, I like to stay at a different hotel off the Strip. I don't like the Strip. It's not for me. It's too, it's too loud, it's too busy, it's too congested. And the restaurants, I mean, they're fine on the strip, but I like to be off strip. And so I had a nice little pool morning and I was like going to meet up with everyone and then I had a credential issue and so I wound up watching summer league on tv. So I just decided, I went to a second pool. I went to two different pools. I've never done this in my entire life. I'm jealous of my friends that come to Vegas and they're like, they have free time to do so. So I, I sat and read a book. Wow, amazing, amazing day for me. Read a lot of A book set by two pools. And then I watched summer league. Christian was in the building, though. And I don't know how was it. Was it better at the pool for me or was it better in the gym for you?
- [05:05]
E
Dave, that was a great zag. I like to stay off strip in my. You know, I read a book in Vegas that was. That was a good way to start this. It was good, man. It was a lot of fun. I mean, I felt like, you know, the building wanted to be crazy. And I just don't think the Mavericks and Coop made enough shots for like, the lid to blow off there. Like, I feel like they wanted. The fans wanted the lid to blow off and like, it got there a little bit the second quarter when it was Coop and Bronnie a little bit. But, you know, it's still a fun night. It was. It was still fun to see Coup play live.
- [05:38]
Dave
There was that one part.
- [05:40]
Christian Clark
Oh, wait, I just want to quickly, you know, mention the part of the shooting. Right. So Cooper flag last night ended up 10.6 rebounds for assists. 5 of 21 on shooting.05 from 3 of 1 for free throws. Now, it is worth saying that Wemby Victor Webanyama, number one pick last year, also had a bad first game in summer league, but it seemed like there was all of the other elements of his game visible in terms of his basketball iq, his motor, his vision, etc, you know? S. I don't know if you were about to allude to that, but that. That feels like the takeaway for me.
- [06:17]
F
Yeah, he looked big out there.
- [06:19]
Dave
Yeah.
- [06:19]
F
Like ginormous. He just looked massive. And I think that was the main takeaway immediately was just like how massive he looked compared to the. Basically everybody else on the.
- [06:29]
Dave
Although, I have to say we got to ditch this T shirt. It's.
- [06:33]
F
Oh, true. You're right.
- [06:34]
Dave
Yeah. Because I like how many good. Like, I had this conversation with some folks and this is so funny, but, like, Bailey also.
- [06:41]
F
T shirt wear.
- [06:41]
Dave
Yeah. What's going on with the T shirts? Like, when. When's the last great basketball player that wore a T shirt?
- [06:47]
Christian Clark
That's a good. It's very.
- [06:49]
E
Show Norm Pal some respect, man.
- [06:51]
Dave
I will say.
- [06:51]
F
Norm Pal.
- [06:52]
Dave
Yeah.
- [06:52]
F
Norm Pal.
- [06:53]
Dave
Yeah. What I liked about Coop, you know, look, taking 21 shots is awesome. Like, that's a great sign. Right? That's no fear. This is obviously the brightest spotlight that he's ever had in his life. Maybe at this point. Which is funny to say because we've been watching this kid since he was like 13, but it. And it was maybe one of the worst games he's ever played if you asked him. But I thought the. And Christian, you know, back me up here, man. 21 shots in your summer league debut. That's literally what you're there to do, right? Vijay Edgecombe, how many did he take the other day? 27 or something? This is your job.
- [07:26]
E
I didn't look at 5 of 21. And I was concerned. Right Thing like that. It wasn't like that at all. I mean, like, it wasn't, it wasn't just Coop whose three point shot wasn't falling. I mean, it was everybody. And you know, I think that kind of contributed to things, just like being scrunched overall, Like, I think he made the right play. I think he's a pretty good passer. I thought his handle looked good against a lot of that pressure. I mean, the very first. So Jason Kidd has talked about for weeks, hey, look, we're gonna, we're gonna give the ball to Cooper a lot this season. We're gonna put the ball in his hands. You know, I'm going into this game like, okay, how true is that going to be? And it ended up being very true. Like, literally the first play they made a point like, let's get the ball to Cooper. And the Lakers double teamed him. And it was a lot of that. It was a lot of heavy pressure. I thought he handled it pretty well. I mean, as to your point about his size, he is huge.
- [08:11]
F
Yeah, he's a massive guy.
- [08:12]
E
When you talk about his position, I mean, look, I don't know. I guess positions are fluid. He can handle ball. He's going to bring it up. But to me, I look at him and I'm like, I think he's a four. You know, I think he could do a lot of different things. But he's, he's that big to me and I'm like, I think he's a four.
- [08:27]
F
Yeah, he's like a point four. Like he can, you can envision a point forward type of player with him. I mean, he is so big.
- [08:34]
Dave
Aaron Gordon comes to mind.
- [08:36]
F
Aaron Gordon comes to mind. I like, I think to a lesser extent, we saw it with the Portland Trailblazers with Denny Abdia. Now obviously Cooper has a higher ceiling than what Denny can do, but generally like big jumbo forwards who can make plays, who can handle the ball.
- [08:52]
Dave
And by the way, he winds up being able to shoot it. Yeah, that's a guy.
- [08:56]
F
Then he's a pick and roll operator. Then he can do that. I will also Say, like, where his size really showed up was defensively, like, the way his wingspan was able to carve up blocks and steals, deflections getting out in transition. There was this one sequence where obviously where he got the big dunk and then came back the other way, got the steel and then had that like, bas line fade away jump shot. That was when the crowd felt like it really popped for a little bit there. But yeah, he's just so big. And I think that was the biggest takeaway here. You can't take too much from the stats of summer league, just how a guy looks physically. And I thought physically he looked incredible.
- [09:32]
Dave
Well, you know, that's the thing about summer league, right? Like, there are guys out there that stand out physically, and then there are guys that look like maybe they needed another year or two of college. Right? And Coop looks like. I mean, he's NBA body ready, right? Like, he is ready to go day one, not going to get shoved around. And I mean, honestly, like, just thinking about his age and how young he is and what he's going to look like in like three years, physically. Yeah. This guy, when he gets in an NBA weight room, which hopefully the Mavs have, you know, solved their. Their conditioning issues there in the. In the coaching staff. But in three years from now, I mean, this guy is. He's going to be a physical monster if. If the skills develop alongside. I. I just don't know. Now I'm starting to sound like Sam Vesini, who has me so pumped about Cooper Flag. Right. Like, but I can see the vision, you know, when you see him on the court with other guys.
- [10:21]
Christian Clark
Christian, what excites you most when you watch that game of just how Cooper's able to get the ball off the rim and go. I'm immediately imagining, because Anthony Davis is also point forward e. He also can lead the break. And I'm just thinking about this team that already has, you know, lively gaffer that run the floor so well, and then you have these bigs that you could play alongside each other, opposite each other. I just feel like this is all of a sudden going to be this, like, Monstars running team in Dallas.
- [10:50]
Dave
What.
- [10:50]
Christian Clark
What were you looking at and kind of envisioning for Dallas next season?
- [10:55]
E
Yeah, I mean, it's funny you say that. I was literally about to say, like, I think he's going to be an absolute monster in transition. I mean, he's just. He's so intense, you know, attacking the rim, like, loves contact, a good athlete. I mean, I think he's Going to be awesome in the open floor. And they should, they should get to that as much as they can. I mean, to your point, like, definitely a grab and go guy. Like, I think they're going to be. Want him to do that as much as possible. And, and the monsters thing is, is funny and true and accurate. Like, that's, that's totally what they're going for. It's like Anthony Davis playing the four livelier Gafford at the Five Coupe and P.J. washington. I mean, there's, there's a world where they're starting d' Angelo Russell, Cooper Flagg, PJ Washington, Anthony Davis and Derek Lively the second.
- [11:37]
F
That's insane.
- [11:38]
Dave
There's a world in which the Dallas Mavericks hold their opponents to 65 points and score 60.
- [11:44]
Christian Clark
Like, think how big that lineup is. We're talking about offense right now. We're talking about grab and go. I'm just thinking about if I get the ball from the baseline and I turn around and that's the defense set up in front of me.
- [11:57]
Dave
Yep.
- [11:57]
Christian Clark
Like with PJ Washington on a wing and Cooper Flag on the opposite. Like, oh, this is. I don't know. I don't know if I'm more excited about the offense for them or the defense.
- [12:06]
F
No, it has to be the defense, in my opinion.
- [12:07]
Dave
Yeah, they should be a good defense anyway. I mean, they were pretty good when, when AD was healthy last year. And then you don't, you know, it depends on d' Angelo Russell. Right. Like holding up and not being a complete turnstile. But the truth is when you have AD behind you, this is the stuff that gets lost in Anthony Davis, what he did on the Lakers defensively, right. Like this, this floor razor where he was able to clean up mistakes for some of these weaker guys in front. And, and again, LeBron last season was incredible. And so now, now you're gonna pair Anthony Davis, who is the defensive player of the year level guy, with Lively, Gafford, Cooper Flag, PJ Washington, guys that we know are big and physical and can guard. I think Dallas, if everyone stays healthy, is going to have like a top seven defense probably.
- [12:54]
F
Oh, very. They very easily will.
- [12:57]
Dave
And if you have, if you're, if you're that good defensively, you win a bunch of games. They obviously have guys who are going to be able to score. Coop, we'll find out, right, like if he can actually score in the NBA, but AD can give you 25, DLO can give you 18 and 8. I think that they're going to be okay offensively, but I do worry about the spacing on that end, but defensively, man, oof. It's going to be a nightmare. The league has gotten so big.
- [13:21]
E
Yes.
- [13:21]
Dave
Somehow Dallas like drafted a rookie who's ready to play and they got even bigger. They were already big. It's pretty.
- [13:27]
F
Speaking of all these Giants, you know, I thought the best player on the Mavs floor was actually 5, 10. Maybe on a good day, 5, 11.
- [13:37]
Dave
Get the Canadian flag out, please. The Canadian propaganda segment has begun.
- [13:45]
Christian Clark
Here we go, guys.
- [13:46]
F
All right, man, look, I know, I know the Mavs have been trying to find solutions at the point guard spot. Obviously they were higher on Brandon Williams last year, who was impressive for them. I know d' Angelo Russell and Dante Exum are now on the team, but now Ryan Nemhardt, how, how does he factor into everything? Because he had a great first game in summer league.
- [14:05]
E
Yeah, that, that felt like kind of a big get on, you know, undrafted two way slot on draft night for Dallas. It's like, okay, like this, like immediately I was like, okay. I think, I think Brian Nemhard has at least has a chance of like, you know, giving you 10 minutes in December or January when, you know, Dante XM isn't playing or something like that. I mean, I, I love players like Ryan Nemhardt. I know the league is kind of going away from smaller guards, but I love just like, you know, the basketball IQ couldn't be higher. Obviously led the nation in assists last year. I mean, never makes the wrong play. Crafty, really good, like screen navigator. Even though he is tiny. I mean, one of the things he talked about, he's like, I mean, we know what he can do offensively. He's always going to make the right play. He's got the nice mid range game, but he's like, I want to, I want to be Jose Alvarado defensively, you know, I want to just bother people.
- [14:55]
F
That's a tall task. Honestly, at that size too.
- [14:57]
Dave
Well, not that tall.
- [14:58]
Christian Clark
I was just gonna say not that tall. You just gotta hide on the baseline and then right as the pass.
- [15:05]
Dave
511. Honestly, Ryan Nemhardt just get it like a ref shirt and just kind of like throw it on and stand in the corner for a minute and see if you can.
- [15:13]
F
That's awesome.
- [15:15]
Dave
Defensively, again, like having a guy like that who come. This is a rookie coming off the bench maybe, right? Who you're not gonna, he's not gonna be a turnstile. That's huge. That's the most important thing, right? Like, can he come out and be beyond passable on defense.
- [15:30]
F
Yeah.
- [15:31]
Dave
Navigation.
- [15:31]
Christian Clark
I feel like this is. This is a great situation for, like, you know, maybe folks like Klay Thompson that's like, hey, maybe I don't have to be so locked in on the defensive end because I've got this kind of, like, security blanket in the size around me. I could focus on shooting. I could focus on that aspect. But, yes, Ryan Nemhardt absolutely can contribute from a defensive perspective. But when you think about some of these players that might have been turnstiles or could be turn styles, it is really nice to know that that could be, you know, your back line of defense. And that's not even. Not even talking about the first unit. I'm talking still. You still got Gafford and in size behind you, coming in with the second unit.
- [16:08]
Dave
Defense wins championships, guys.
- [16:10]
Christian Clark
It's true.
- [16:10]
E
And fortune favors the bold.
- [16:12]
Dave
Fortune favors them.
- [16:14]
Christian Clark
I like it.
- [16:16]
Dave
Listen, I see the vision is all I'm saying.
- [16:18]
F
Hey, is Nico Harrison just in. In Vegas right now? Like, with the biggest smile? Like, is that the situation?
- [16:24]
E
You know, I didn't see him last night. And there it was a real who's who of mavericks people last night. Patrick Dumont, the governor, was there with. With his son, who had a flag 32 jersey on. Like, it was funny to see, you know, Patrick walk around his son behind him wearing the flag jersey. Cuban was there. Cuban was doing interviews. I love that. Cuban is just a minority owner now, and he's still just, like, holding court and everything. I. I really do love it. J. Kid was there. I mean, man, there was a ton of mass people. But, yeah, I did not see Nico Harrison in the building last night.
- [16:55]
F
Damn. Would have been great. I think it would have been a nice, you know, like, victory lap to take.
- [16:59]
Dave
Yeah, the camera would have found him so many times. I think after that whole thing, you know, when. When AD Went down and that and they kept flashing back to. I. I honestly, I feel like Nico is just like, you know what? Let me not be. Let me not sit in the stands. The camera's really gonna have to work to find him. I. I just. Look, not to rehash the Luca trade because, like, we've done that enough. But if you look. If you look at where they are right now, it's not. They didn't take that big of a step back for who they gave up. Right. Like, they've lucked into this, right? Yeah, they lucked into it. But at this point, you can say, wow, we. We somehow we got through losing. Luka Doncic Yeah, you dodged. We're okay. Because from a talent perspective, they still got Anthony Davis. And then you wind up with Cooper Flag.
- [17:52]
Christian Clark
Well, Dave, I mean, say I know it wasn't luck. It was done on purpose.
- [17:58]
Dave
It's just.
- [17:59]
E
I won't have.
- [18:00]
Dave
I like that conspiracy because it. Look, look, I appreciate that everyone wants everything to have been done right as in this was done on purpose. Luca getting traded to the Lakers is all part of some behind the scenes deep state operation to boost the Lakers. Right? Like this is fantastic drama if it happened that way. Yeah, but.
- [18:20]
E
Well, it's pretty simple, Dave. You trade your best 40 Lakers, you get the number one pick. Pelicans. It's not hard to figure out.
- [18:26]
F
It's really beautiful the way it worked out that way. Oh man, it's. It's.
- [18:29]
Dave
And then Joe Dumars goes and takes over the Pelicans. Very interesting. I don't know. I'm trying to. Trying to tie all these. You know, it's like jet fuel met melts steel beams. Right.
- [18:41]
Christian Clark
Like, let me immediately thinking of that.
- [18:43]
Dave
Tie it all together.
- [18:44]
Christian Clark
The map with all the red strings. What's the guy from. Exactly.
- [18:50]
Dave
Yeah, yeah.
- [18:52]
Christian Clark
So, okay, Christian, I'm asking now you. You watched one game. It's just been one game, but you're envisioning what Cooper Flag looks like within this team. We've had this whole summer of like trying to figure out what Dallas is going to do or not even a summer, a whole season of what is Dallas going to be like without Luca. We've now seen Cooper Flag. What are the holes for Dallas? Because when we, when we look at our tier ranking that we did the other day, I don't know where we ended up putting Dallas, but they definitely weren't in like the finals contender situation. So there's clearly some gaps. But for you, as you're looking at this team and also the conversations you're having with the team, what are some of the gaps that they're looking to fill going into this next season?
- [19:37]
E
Yeah, it's. They're. They're a fascinating team. Like the. Some of the over unders have started to come out and I've been surprised at how low they've been on the Mavericks. Like I saw, I saw 38 and a half wins for the Mavs. Wow.
- [19:49]
Dave
Whoa.
- [19:50]
F
I guess, I guess that's maybe like a injured ad type of season. You know, I may be baking in that stuff.
- [19:57]
E
Yeah, yeah. But like when I look at them, I mean, injuries obviously, like Kyrie, we don't know when he's going to be back. I'm just gonna leave it at that because there's already been so much stuff like that's all I can say right now. We don't know when he's gonna be back. 80 always misses, you know, 20 games it looks, you know, typically in a season I look at just this roster, you know, minus Kyrie. I do have like offensive concerns. Like they were less in the NBA by a mile in like the nine games AD played in last year, you know, how is that offense gonna look when it's heavy? Idiot. To four with one of gaffer lively. That's something you know, I don't know the answer to. And then defensively, I think I do think they're going to be good. But like when I compare them to Oklahoma City, like they don't have the caliber of perimeter defenders that okay. Has like Oklahoma City has the great backline stuff with Hartenstein and Chet to clean up your mistakes. But like, I mean we know they have like the best perimeter defenders too. I mean they got Dort, they got Caruso, they got Case and Wallace. Like the maps don't have that. Like they might start d' Angelo Russell and Clay Thompson, Caleb Martin, I mean he might be their best point of attack. Defenders coming off the bench, you'll flag. He can, he can guard on the ball. He's big, you know, he's six foot nine. Like that's just ask him a lot to guard. Like lead guards.
- [21:11]
Christian Clark
Yeah.
- [21:12]
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- [22:25]
E
Chicken.
- [22:25]
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- [25:26]
Christian Clark
Guys. What are you guys looking at and concerned about for Dallas?
- [25:30]
Dave
Well, I think that, I think Christian kind of nailed their guard and wing depth. They just have none. I, I worried for this team that they're gonna have to give up some guys in some trades to kind of round out this roster. Like, Gafford is probably on the chopping block. If you're, if you're Dallas, you're probably. That's the most movable guy that you can replace in your rotation and still and really get maybe a good high level wing for, you know, Daniel Gafford might get that for you.
- [25:58]
F
But the other thing is like, PJ Washington is extension eligible or right. And has that one year left on his contract from what I remember. And so, like, what does that mean, mean for the deadline for them? Maybe they, that's the way they go out and address a guard. I've always toyed around with the idea of PJ Washington going to the Celtics and, you know, the Celtics kind of giving some assets back to Dallas. Maybe it's like, Anthony Simons, hey, how you doing?
- [26:22]
Dave
You know, now that's a guy who kind of fits right, comes off the bench, can score. I mean, similar to d', Angelo, right? He's going to be this defensive liability that can never guard anyone, but maybe that's enough to get you through this year. Right? Like, because that's all it really is. Like, this isn't a team. And Christian, correct me if I'm wrong, they don't think they're going to win a title this year. This is not a team that's, that's fully constructed even, right?
- [26:43]
F
Oh, I'm curious.
- [26:45]
E
Yeah, that's an interesting question. I mean, look, I think when you just look at Kyrie missing the vast majority of the season, it's just. The answer is no. But I, I do feel like they're in a position where their messaging has to be, we can win a title because they lost in the finals and they said that's not good enough. So, like, right. They're in a tough position organizationally because they've signaled to the fan base we lost in the finals and that wasn't good enough. That was why we traded Luca.
- [27:10]
Dave
They could have won a, they could have won the title Last year. I will stand by this.
- [27:14]
F
Yeah, I agree that they could have.
- [27:15]
Dave
Won the title last year. Even after the Luca trade, they could have won the title. I think they had a better chance before the Luca trade. Right. Like, with Luca out there, you're just better. Better off in all these playoff matchups. Yeah. But if Kyrie doesn't go down, that's a team that does damage to someone in the playoffs.
- [27:32]
F
It would have been very interesting to see OKC vs Dallas fully healthy in the playoffs last year. That was.
- [27:37]
Dave
I get it. But yeah. No, no, Kyrie is. It's tough, right? Like, what are you gonna do? I just don't think you can replace Kyrie. There's not three guys that you can come up with that you can get on this roster that replace Kyrie and what he does. So that's really like, what's going to hold him back this year? Let's say, best case scenario, let's say he comes back in time for the playoffs. Like, he's not going to look like Kyrie, as we already know, because we've seen this over and over and over again. Guys come back from the knee surgery, it's 18 months. It's not a year. Yeah.
- [28:06]
F
So to get that, to trust your body again, that's a whole aspect of being injured, especially a big injury like that. I will say, I think the other aspect to this is just how stacked the west is. I mean, think of the competition, right? They're going to be playing those guys consistently. You're playing OKC four times a year. You're playing Minnesota four times a year. Denver, Houston. I think that, you know, given the injury concerns of AD and given Kyrie being hurt, might be a tough road for Dallas. Like, defense is going to win you games. That's been the point for. In the regular season always. Maybe that just gets you to February, March, to where maybe Kyrie comes back at that point. But 38. What was it? 38 and a half. You said for the win total. Right. I feel like that's a little low.
- [28:50]
Dave
I feel like that's really low.
- [28:52]
Christian Clark
Not giving them 40 is crazy.
- [28:53]
Dave
I'm sorry, you guys. Wait. Okay, so let me. Let me ask you guys, is this a play in team? Is that where you see them?
- [29:00]
F
I could see them being playing team.
- [29:01]
Christian Clark
I mean, like, I want to figure out. We got to ask Andrew, where do we tier them? I think we put them in the.
- [29:06]
F
The top of the play, top of the plane. Could. Could crack the top six in a. In a healthy year type of thing. I think that's where we had them. But also it's just. I think we're dead set on the top four, which is okc, Houston, Denver and Minnesota. I guess if you want to throw Minnesota in there and then from there it's this sort of grouping of teams that if their season goes right, cool, they can pop off in a major way. But yeah, they're probably playing right. Christian.
- [29:34]
Dave
Christian, where do you see them?
- [29:36]
E
I. I feel like there's a lot of different ways it could go. Like, I feel like they've got a wide range of outcomes. I mean, look, I, I do think they can finish top six just because it is. It is a very impressive collection of talent. I mean, there's just a lot of good vets, plus Flag, who I think is going to be, you know, pretty good right away. But I, I think the most likely scenario is a play in team again, which if that's the case, this is my fifth straight year of doing the play in, baby. I'm a. I'm a play in tournament veteran.
- [30:04]
Dave
Oh, yeah.
- [30:04]
F
Between the pals and.
- [30:06]
Dave
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're like the. The opposite of a lucky rabbit's foot, but not an unlucky one. It's like you're somewhere in the middle. Although they did win the lottery. Dude, you watch Christian.
- [30:16]
F
That's true. That's true. Dude. You're like Jonas Valentunas when it comes to the playing. He's been there. Who's been in the play in more, you or Jonas Valentunas?
- [30:24]
E
I've covered Yonas Valentunas a lot in the play too.
- [30:27]
F
Yeah, exactly.
- [30:28]
Christian Clark
You guys have a little. Another red string to tie between the two of you. All right, closing this out. Summer league is underway, obviously starting last night, but you guys are there in person. I just want to get before we head out. What are you guys looking for this weekend? Looking forward to at least. Christian, I'll start with you.
- [30:46]
E
I mean, it's got to be Flag versus Harper, right? I mean, one, you know, one versus two. I'm super high on. On Harper. I mean, I just think he's smooth, he's smart. Yeah. The spurs, they didn't even need Harper to. To beat the crap out of the 76ers the other night. Yeah, but that's it for me.
- [31:04]
Dave
Okay, Dave, I mean, listen, same. I'm here to see these guys face off against each other, especially the bigger names. Like, I actually thought the Bronnie and Cooper Flag was kind of an interesting dynamic. And at some point we're going to Talk about Bronnie James and how much he improved last year. Absolutely. How this is flown under the radar because we all kind of treat him like a meme. But that guy, he looks more athletic this summer, clearly.
- [31:30]
F
Like, he's starting to look like an NBA player, man.
- [31:32]
Dave
Right. Clearly a year removed from, you know, or a couple now. Year. Years. Rem. The heart issue that he had in college, which I forget about, you know, like, all the time. Like, just. I'm. I'm human, too. But, man, he looks great. I'm looking forward to seeing more Bronnie James because he really. He stood out to me athletically early on in summer league, you know, in the. In the other games, too. So, yeah, those guys in particular, I'm.
- [32:00]
F
Looking forward to because I'm not there yet. So I. When I'm there, I'm really excited to watch games in the Cox Pavilion. So there's the Thomas and Max center, which is the big arena, you know, usual vibe of an NBA arena. You get the same vibe. Cox Pavilion. It feels like you're at a high school tournament. And, you know, there's. There's tons of scouts and front office execs and all that stuff flying around, but it just feels like you're, like, locked into this game and it could be Thunder versus Nets, and it's Thomas Sorber and Danny Wolf, and you're like, cool, it's okay. I'm locked in. And we're 5,000 or less than 5,000.
- [32:37]
Dave
I watched Maker commit 10 fouls in that gym.
- [32:41]
E
Sure, yeah.
- [32:42]
Dave
Legendary performance. I love legendary performance. 10,000.
- [32:46]
F
Where were you when it was incredible?
- [32:50]
Christian Clark
Thank you. As for bringing up the lore of Cox Pavilion, because it is. It's a different vibe, literally. Oh, great point. It does feel like an AAU tournament. That's exactly what it is. It's just whoever's on the stage, you're cheering them on. And it's just. You really do lock in just because of how the proximity to the game, of how it feels. And I also love that it's, like, right there, you just kind of. You can leave Thomas back and you walk over and it's a completely different vibe.
- [33:14]
F
It's beautiful. I love it.
- [33:15]
Christian Clark
I am.
- [33:16]
Dave
By the way, I have one note from yesterday.
- [33:18]
Christian Clark
Oh, sure.
- [33:18]
Dave
And something that I'm gonna. I may keep bringing this up during the season, but something I want everyone to pay attention to. All of the spurs were at the game yesterday. Oh, wow. We're at the game every. I mean, Darren, Fox, Wemby, they were all sitting there at the game.
- [33:37]
Christian Clark
Wow.
- [33:37]
Dave
I want to put a pin in that.
- [33:38]
Christian Clark
What is that?
- [33:39]
F
Does that matter to you? Is that important to you?
- [33:41]
Dave
Okay, it does matter to me.
- [33:43]
Christian Clark
I agree with you, Dave.
- [33:45]
F
I'm indifferent. I have no idea.
- [33:46]
Dave
Like, yeah, this is a, this is a. Hey, you know what, guys? You're with us already. And then and that means that they're pro. They're likely like having meetings together. Like this is like a. Yeah, yeah. Mike Weisberg. By the way, shout out to Mike in the comments. Always have good comments. He.
- [34:02]
Christian Clark
That was what I was gonna say.
- [34:03]
Dave
Real Oklahoma City Thunder vibes. I mean, again, OKC is trying to be spurs slightly north. This is the spurs blueprint. But I it stood out to me that every player was at that game yesterday.
- [34:14]
F
I think that area of the country right now, a lot of good hoops, you know, between the Dallas, Texas, obviously.
- [34:21]
Dave
Houston, if Memphis would okay, you know, if they could get it together then, you know, add New Orleans to that.
- [34:27]
Christian Clark
Yeah, I'm sorry for mentioning that because I did notice that and I do think it gives you this indication that one, we care about next year. We care about how you. You're gonna do next year. And don't be afraid of us. Right? We're not. We want to be.
- [34:48]
Dave
I have inside knowledge they team meal was at Komodo at the Fountain Blue, which is a great restaurant if anybody comes out to Vegas. So that was inside info.
- [34:58]
Christian Clark
I like it. Breaking news here, folks.
- [35:00]
Dave
Yeah.
- [35:04]
Christian Clark
They'Re not there, folks. They were there the other night. I. I appreciate that. All right, well, I am most looking forward to matchups for sure, but I think I'm most looking forward to our first NBA daily summerly content. I'm very curious what these interviews are going to look like. Who's going to stop by the set? I'm sure all of you that are listening right now are also curious and that's why you need to subscribe. Make sure you don't miss out on any of it. You need to make sure you're following. You need to make sure you send it to everyone you know and love so that they also feel like a cool kid and can be a part of this. Okay. But appreciate you guys joining us on Casual Friday. Christian Clark, thank you for making the time. Enjoy the rest of summer league. David4 thank you for finding not worth your third pool for today for the weekend so far. Thank you for making Simon S safe travels on the way to summer league and again, thank you all for listening. Enjoy the rest of your day and enjoy summer league talk soon.
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