Ja Morant and Westbrook Blunders + Nets Need Lottery Luck | Slam N Jam

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Athletic NBA Daily - "Ja Morant and Westbrook Blunders + Nets Need Lottery Luck | Slam N Jam"

Release Date: April 5, 2025

Hosts: Andrew Schlecht and Alex Spears
Guest: Mike Smelts
Segments Covered: Western Conference Race, Player Performances, Awards Discussion, Favorites Segment, Wheel of Fandom

---

1. Western Conference Race

Alex Spears kicks off the discussion by highlighting the intense race in the Western Conference, where the fourth seed through eighth seed are separated by just two games.

Minnesota Timberwolves' Dominant Week

• Performance Highlights:

  • The Timberwolves secured four consecutive wins, including a notable victory over the Pistons.
  • A heated altercation in the Pistons game resulted in five players and two coaches being ejected. Notably, Marcus Sasser received a suspension, and Beef Stew was handed an additional game suspension due to his history of on-court disputes.
  • In their subsequent game, the Timberwolves achieved a double-overtime win against the Nuggets in Denver. Anthony Edwards scored 24 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, while Maxwell Killian Walker contributed 26 points, including five three-pointers and game-winning free throws.

  "Anthony Edwards who scored 24 of his 34 in the fourth quarter in overtime..." [03:41]

• Nuggets' Struggles:

  • Nikola Jokić set a new NBA record with a 61-point triple-double (61 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists), the highest single-season points total for any player.
  • Despite Jokić's performance, the Nuggets fell to the Spurs in their next game as coach Michael Malone rested Jokić after he played 53 minutes the previous night.
  • The Nuggets remain third in the West, half a game ahead of the Lakers.

Golden State Warriors' Resurgence

• Key Performances:

  • The Warriors also swept four games this week, including crucial wins against the Grizzlies and Lakers.
  • Stephen Curry showcased his shooting prowess with 52 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists against the Grizzlies, hitting 12 three-pointers.

  "Steph had 52, 10 and eight including 12 three pointers..." [03:41]

  • In the game against the Lakers, Brandon Pajemski emerged as the X-factor, scoring 28 points with eight three-pointers, signaling his importance to the team post the Jimmy Butler trade.

  "It was Steph's fourth career game with 12 plus three pointers..." [03:41]

• Standings Impact:

  • The Warriors have climbed to the fifth spot in the standings, just a game behind the Lakers and 1.5 games back of Denver.
  • An upcoming matchup against Denver is anticipated to have significant playoff implications.

Oklahoma City Thunder's Streak

• Current Form:

  • The Thunder continue their impressive run with 11 straight wins, averaging a 21.5-point margin per game.
  • With a record of 64-12, they are now 14.5 games ahead of the Rockets, who they will face on Friday night.

  "The Thunder are now 64, 12, 14 and a half games up on the second seed Rockets..." [03:41]

Cleveland Cavaliers' Milestone

• Historic Achievement:

  • The Cavs surpassed the 60-win mark with back-to-back victories over the Clippers and Knicks, marking the first time in franchise history they achieved this without LeBron James.
  • At 61-15, the Cavs are on pace to potentially set a franchise record with 67 wins if they win their final six games.

  "This is the first time in franchise history the Cavs have won 60 games without LeBron James..." [03:41]

Brooklyn Nets' Lottery Position

• Performance Review:

  • The Nets finished the week with a 2-2 record, placing them likely in the sixth spot for the upcoming draft lottery.
  • Despite their current struggles, Colin Helwig from Nets Daily pointed out that the Nets are 8-7 on the road against Western Conference teams, a statistic shared by only a few Eastern teams like Boston and Cleveland.

  "The Brooklyn nets are currently 8 and 7 on the road against Western Conference teams..." [15:54]

---

2. Player Performances and Highlights

Giannis Antetokounmpo's Historic Game

• Triple-Double Record:

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo achieved a rare 35-point, 15-rebound, 20-assist game, marking the first instance of such a performance in NBA history.

  "He had a 35, 15, 20 game against the Sixers, which is insane..." [20:02]

Denny Avdia's Breakout with the Portland Trail Blazers

• Season Improvement:

  • Denny Avdia has shown significant improvement, now averaging 22.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 51% from the field.
  • His performance has been pivotal in the Blazers' improved record post All-Star break.

  "Denny had his best week of the season this week. In three games he put up 30 and 12 with almost seven assists per game." [18:02]

Ja Morant's Game-Winners

• Key Moments:

  • Ja Morant delivered crucial game-winning shots, notably a step-back three against the Heat and an overtime game-winner that provided relief to Grizzlies fans amid a challenging season.

  "My favorite moment this week was the Ja Morant game winner against the Heat on Thursday night..." [22:15]

Westbrook's Overzealous Play

• Playoff Implications:

  • Russell Westbrook's aggressive play led to crucial turnovers and fouls in the Nuggets-Wolves game, highlighting his tendency to make loud plays that can sometimes backfire.

  "Just like watching that game and seeing how it played out, it couldn't have been any other player than Westbrook..." [22:15]

---

3. Awards and Player Improvement Discussion

Most Improved Player Debate

• Candidates Discussed:

  • JJ Redick and PODC proposed renaming the award to recognize high draft picks on max contracts who have become All-Stars.
  • Alex Spears and Andrew Schlecht debated potential candidates like Dyson Daniels, Christian Brown, Evan Mobley, and Tyrese Maxey.

  "I think Dyson Daniels win, who's the favorite right now? I think that's a, that's a great story..." [10:44]

• Insight:

  • The traditional view of the Most Improved Player award is evolving, with a focus on contract status and overall team impact.

---

4. Favorites Segment

Favorite Quote

• Hawks Fan Incident:

  • Alex Spears recounts a situation where two Hawks fans were playing tic-tac-toe during a timeout. When one fan, James, injured his knee, the opposing fan continued the game. Shamia Morton, the in-game host, intervened to check on James, emphasizing sportsmanship.

  "She said, 'Can you just be kind and come over here with me and check on James?'..." [12:18]

Favorite Stat

• Brooklyn Nets' Road Performance:

  • The Nets are 8-7 on the road against Western Conference teams, a noteworthy statistic given their overall standing.

  "The Brooklyn nets are currently 8 and 7 on the road against Western Conference teams..." [15:54]

Favorite Player

• Denny Avdia:

  • Alex Spears praises Denny Avdia for his significant improvement and pivotal role in the Blazers' turnaround.

  "He is one of those guys that's bigger in person than you realize..." [18:02]

Favorite Moment

• Ja Morant's Game-Winning Shot:

  • Andrew Schlecht highlights Ja Morant's step-back three-pointer against the Heat as a standout moment of the week.

  "My favorite moment this week was the Ja Morant game winner against the Heat on Thursday night..." [22:15]

---

5. Wheel of Fandom Segment

Focus on the Brooklyn Nets

• Guest Segment:

  • Mike Smelts joins the show to discuss the Nets' challenging season, reflecting on the team's decisions and future prospects.

  "It's been a pretty unique year for the Nets. It's the first time that they've been bad and haven't traded away their draft picks since 2010." [32:35]

• Team Analysis:

  • Mike Smelts expresses frustration with the Nets' lack of promising young talent and points out the team's reliance on aging players like Noah Clowney.

  "Noah Clowney is the poster boy for that. They are making him shoot like five threes a game..." [37:15]

• Draft and Rebuilding:

  • The discussion touches on the Nets' multiple first-round picks and the challenges of rebuilding a competitive roster.

  "The Nets are going to have four first-round picks this year and just an insane amount of salary cap space." [36:45]

Nets Trivia Game:

• Interactive Quiz:

  • Alex Spears engages Mike Smelts in a trivia game about Nets history, covering topics like total assists, three-point attempts, leading scorers, and regular-season awards.

  "Andrew, who leads the Brooklyn Nets in total assists?" [59:28]

• Notable Moments:

  • Mike Smelts correctly identifies Ben Simmons as the Nets' leader in total assists for the season.
  • The game highlights the Nets' historical lack of regular-season award winners, with Derek Coleman being the last to win Rookie of the Year in the 1990-91 season.

  "The last time a Brooklyn Net won one of those awards, which award was it? It was Rookie of the Year and it was Derek Coleman." [65:26]

---

6. Conclusion and Upcoming Wheel of Fandom

• Next Week's Focus:

  • The Wheel of Fandom will spotlight the Portland Trail Blazers, with anticipations around Denny Avdia's continued performance.

  "This week's Wheel of Phantom team will be the Portland Trailblazers." [77:42]

• Call to Action:

  • Listeners are encouraged to leave five-star reviews on Apple Podcasts and participate in The Athletic's survey for a chance to win Amazon vouchers.

  "Please leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. We'll read it on the show." [77:55]

---

Notable Quotes:

• "Anthony Edwards who scored 24 of his 34 in the fourth quarter in overtime..."
  — Alex Spears [03:41]

• "He might be the best basketball player I've ever seen close up. Besides myself."
  — Anthony Edwards [14:52]

• "I think Dyson Daniels win, who's the favorite right now? I think that's, that's a great story."
  — Alex Spears [10:44]

• "He commands a room. He's amazing."
  — Andrew Schlecht [09:01]

• "James's opponent continued playing the game while Shamia Morton became increasingly concerned for James."
  — Alex Spears [12:18]

---

Key Insights:

• The Western Conference remains highly competitive, with several teams jockeying for playoff positions.
• Individual performances, especially by players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Denny Avdia, are spotlighting the evolving dynamics of their respective teams.
• The Brooklyn Nets are in a rebuilding phase, grappling with a lack of promising young talent and relying on veterans, leading to mixed sentiments among fans.
• The discussion on awards indicates a shift in how player improvements and achievements are being recognized within the NBA framework.
• Interactive segments like trivia engage listeners and provide a deeper dive into team histories and player contributions.

Conclusion: This episode of "Slam N Jam" offers a comprehensive overview of the current NBA landscape, highlighting pivotal games, standout player performances, team strategies, and engaging fan interactions. Whether it's the Timberwolves' resilience, the Warriors' shooting excellence, or the Nets' rebuilding challenges, listeners receive an in-depth analysis enriched with insightful discussions and memorable moments.

Transcript

[Andrew]

This message is brought to you by Apple Card.

[Mike Smelts]

If you're like us on the show.

[Alex Spears]

You'Re always on Triple Double Watch.

[Mike Smelts]

That's why we were impressed when we learned that Apple Card was posting numbers of their own.

[Alex Spears]

That's right, with Apple Card, you can earn 3% daily cash back at Apple and 2% back on everything you buy.

[Mike Smelts]

Using Apple Pay, not to mention 1% back on everything else. That's a stat line that any fan can appreciate.

[Alex Spears]

Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app on your iPhone today and start using it right away with Apple Pay.

[Andrew]

Subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch terms and more at applecard.com as we head into.

[Unknown]

The playoffs, it's safe to assume there will be a few calls made by the refs that will be hard to accept. But you know what isn't hard to accept? Discover. Believe it or not, Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. You heard that right, 99%. So make a good call for your wallet and get discovered. Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. Learn more at discover.com credit card as.

[Andrew]

A Salesperson, the search for the right buyer or buying groups can feel like you're endlessly sifting through leads and hoping they're ready to buy. I've been there before as a salesperson, going door to door just just crossing your fingers, just hoping that something will come about. But thankfully, LinkedIn Sales Navigator is more than just a tool, it's your strategic sales partner. LinkedIn Sales Navigator is the sales intelligence platform that helps professionals effectively prospect and engage high value customers, drive higher revenue and increase sales performance. Sales Navigator helps you target the right buyers, surface key signals such as job changes or which accounts you should prioritize, and shows you hidden allies so that you can find those buyers that are most likely to convert. Whether you're looking for new clients or strengthening relationships of current accounts, LinkedIn Sales Navigator has new AI features designed to help sellers find the right people and get right to the right conversations. All at scale. Fueled by LinkedIn's 1 billion-member platform, Sales Navigator gives you the most up to date first party data enabling you to unlock conversations with the people that matter. Ready to get right to the right conversations? Try LinkedIn Sales Navigator now with a 60 day free trial at LinkedIn.com mvashow23 that's LinkedIn.com nbashow23 for a 60 day free trial. Terms and conditions apply. Welcome to the Saturday Slammin Jam here on the Athletic NBA Daily on today's show, we're talking about the most approved player, our Players of the Week. And Mike Smelts joins the show to talk about the Brooklyn Nets. Before we get to al's top stories of the week, we're going to direct you guys to our quick survey about your podcasting habits. Go to the athletic.com athletic/survey25 again. Three lucky entries will get $100 to Amazon on a voucher, so you should go do that. If you're a longtime listener or even a new one, we'd love to hear from you. From all the Slammers, all the Jammers. Again, go to TheAthletic.com Athletic Survey 25. That's TheAthletic.com athletic survey 25 again. If you want this to be a review for Slammin Jam specifically, you need to leave it for the Athletic NBA Daily. So please go do that. We would very much appreciate that. With me today, my good friend Alex Spears. Alex, tell me about the top stories this week.

[Alex Spears]

Well Andrew, the top story this week was the race to the finish line in the Western Conference with the fourth seed through eighth seed only separated by two games. First, it was a big week for the Wolves. The Wolves won all four of their games this week and did so loudly in a win over the Pistons. We got a big old dust up in only the second quarter. This started between Nas Reed and rookie Ron Holland. Confrontation between Reed and Holland quickly grew as Dante DiVincenzo beef stew got into the mix and the mass of players and coaches went into the first row under the basket. In the end, five players and two coaches were ejected from the game. Four players I mentioned, plus Marcus Sasser were suspended a game, though Beef Stew got an extra one for his history of on court beef. And in their very next game, the Wolves were involved in one of the more memorable games of the year, a double overtime win over the Nuggets in Denver, their sixth straight win over Denver going back to last year's playoffs. For the Wolves it was Anthony Edwards who scored 24 of his 34 in the fourth quarter in overtime and to kill Alexander, Walker scored 26 including five three pointers and the game winning free throws after Russell Westbrook fouled his three point attempt as time expired in the second overtime. Now for the Nuggets it was already a tough loss, but it was made even tougher because Nikol Jokic had one of his best games ever, putting up 61 points which is a career high for Jokic and the most points scored by any player this season. He also had his customary 10 rebounds, 10 assists, making it the first ever 60 point triple double. And to add insult to injury, the Wolves game was the first night of a back to back for Denver. They had to play the spurs the next night and because jokic had played 53 minutes, head coach Michael Malone opted to rest him leading to a second straight loss. The Nuggets remain third in the west however, but just a half game up on the Lakers. While the Timberwolves have the same record as the Grizzlies, who are currently in sixth. Those two teams will meet next Thursday in a game that could decide the final guaranteed playoff spot. Elsewhere in the west, the Golden State warriors continued their charge up the standings, also winning all four of their games this week including two crucial ones over the Grizzlies and the Lakers. In the win against the grizzlies, Steph had 52, 10 and eight including 12 three pointers. It was Steph's fourth career game with 12 plus three pointers. He and Clay are the only players in NBA history who have done that more than once. Jimmy Butler scored 27 in the game which was his highest as a Warrior, and Draymond had a 13, 10 and 12 triple double. Now in the win against the Lakers, Steph was good again, 37. But it was Brandon Pajemski who was the x factor, scoring 28 including a career high eight three pointers. In the 20 games Brandon Pajemski has played since the Jimmy Butler trade, Pods is averaging 14, 6 and 3 while shooting 41% from three point land. The warriors have moved all the way up to the fifth spot, only a game back of the Lakers and a game and a half back of Denver. And by the time you hear this, Golden State will have had a huge matchup versus Denver on Friday night. Now at the top of the West, OKC's winning streak continued stretching to 11 straight wins after winning all four of their games by an average margin of 21 and a half. This week the Thunder are now 64, 12, 14 and a half games up on the second seed Rockets who the Thunder play on Friday night. This week we'll also see the Thunder play the Lakers twice in three days. Two juicy matchups that could preview a future playoff matchup but are also critically important for the Lakers final seeding in the East. The Cavs cross the 60 win mark with back to back impressive wins over the Clippers and Knicks. This is the first time in franchise history the Cavs have won 60 games without LeBron James on the team and at 61:15, the Cavs have a chance to set the franchise record for wins at 67 if they win their final six games. Now the Bucs, who had their first full week without Damian Lillard, they got two needed wins after a four game losing streak. Combined with the Pistons losses to Minnesota and okc, the Bucs have jumped back ahead of the Pistons as of Friday morning in the standings for the time being. But something to look ahead to is the final two games of the season when the Bucks and Pistons play twice in three days. Now at the bottom of the standings. The Sixers announced this week that Tyrese Maxey would be out for the rest of the season. Not too concerning, but more importantly, it was announced that Joel Embiid will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee that's been bothering him all season and and he'll be reevaluated in six weeks. Finally, Andrew it was announced this week that Carmelo Anthony will be elected into the Basketball hall of Fame. Carmelo won an NCAA championship as a freshman at Syracuse. He won three consecutive gold medals as a member of the Olympics team and had a decorated NBA career making 10 All Star games, six All NBA teams and making the NBA 75th anniversary team. In his best individual season, the 2012-13 season with the Knicks, Melo averaged 29. 7 for a 54 win Knicks team, finishing third in MVP voting. He also led a 54 win Nuggets team to the Western Conference Finals in 08 09. He'll be remembered as a lethal scorer, averaging over 20 points per game for the first 15 seasons of his career. He holds the franchise record for most points in a game by Nick and finishes his career with over 28,000 points 12th on the all time list. Congrats to Melo and those were the top stories this week.

[Andrew]

Congrats to Melo. Also easily the coolest person I've ever been in the room with.

[Alex Spears]

Just yeah, we love Melo.

[Andrew]

He commands a room. He's amazing.

[Alex Spears]

It didn't even go well in OKC and it was.

[Andrew]

Well, it didn't go well, but everybody thinks he's very cool. Let's go to our BETMGM Line of the Week brought to you by BetMGM. Now this week we're gonna talk about the most improved player and when asked about the most approved player award, Lakers head coach JJ Redick and PODC said just call it the high draft pick that's on a max contract and now is an all star. Just call it that. Whoever's that guy because that's what it has become. So you take a look here and a lot of it. I think he's probably referring to Kate Cunningham in this who now is second to. To Dyson Daniels. Is this because of a certain podcast that happened this week? Christian Brown's got like a long shot at like +12,500. Same with Zubots and Evan Mobley, Tyler and Tyler Hero. But you have thoughts on most improved?

[Alex Spears]

Oh, I think, I think J.J. should be happy. I mean Jason Daniels, Christian Brown as two of the top three. I mean those are the types of guys he's talking about. Zubots. Yeah. But also like I think he was being asked this in reference to Austin Reeves who does not appear on this list. But probably, you know, that's perfectly good candidate as well. I get what he's saying. I do think it's been like that traditionally. Like when Jaw won it was like.

[Andrew]

Yeah. The last two winners though are Tyrese Maxey and. And Markkanen who do not fit that description.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah, I think those well marking and now technically he was a high draft pick and is on a max contract now.

[Andrew]

But at the time, yeah, at the time he wasn't.

[Alex Spears]

But yeah, I think if, like if Dyson Daniels win, who's the favorite right now? I think that's, that's a great story. Like that is a. Yeah. The perfect representation of a most improved player in my mind.

[Andrew]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, there. I mean there's some guys that fit that description but like you also have like CJ McCollum in there and you have Jimmy Butler in here and Gordon Dragic and once upon a time, Ryan Anderson won the award and Aaron Brooks won the award.

[Alex Spears]

So those are some good ones.

[Andrew]

You know, like those are, those are some good candidates and I hope Dyson gets it. He deserves recognition somehow and I'm sure like a lot of people like he'll be put on the all defense team. Like no one cares how much with the all defense team. Like give him one of the major awards. He's been one of the stories of the season. So. Yeah, I think. I agree.

[Alex Spears]

I agree, Andrew. Now it's time to move on to our favorites, starting with our favorite quote this week. And my favorite quote this week came from Hawks in game host Shamia Morton. During a timeout break, two Hawks fans were playing tic tac toe the game where for each layup you make, you get to put down an X or an O in the middle of the court. The game started and before one of our participants, James could even attempt his first layup. He slipped on the court and appeared to suffer a major knee injury. While this was happening, James's opponent continued playing the game while the Hawks in game host Shamia Morton became increasingly concerned for James. James. Oh, no. Let's make sure my guy is good. And then when the other participant officially won, she said, she said, can you just be kind and come over here with me and check on James? Now, some people out there, they were questioning the sportsmanship of the other participant who continued playing the game. But if you watch the replay, Andrew, to his credit, he did briefly pause before laying down the final winning marker. It did look like he might not have continued the game if not for one. Harry the Hawk. Yes, that's right, the Hawks mascot. If you watch it back, he was standing at mid court. He's the one that motioned the fan to go ahead and win the thing. So if you have beef with the winning fan for not being appropriately concerned about James, direct that toward Harry the Hawk. The good news out of all this is the Hawks did provide an update to TMZ saying that James, the injured season ticket holder, he's in good spirits. He expects a full recovery. That's about as bad a night as you can have attending an NBA game. And I hope the Hawks get him something nice, maybe like a signed team, basketball or jersey or something. But we're all thinking about you, James, especially Andrew, who has a recent experience messing up his knee while playing a child's game.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Alex Spears]

Hopefully when he's fully recovered, James will be able to enjoy that video with his family. Because there are admittedly are some funny parts. None more so than Shamina Morton's commentary as she tried to figure out how to handle that situation.

[Andrew]

Oh, no, James. Yeah, I definitely feel for James. That's. It's awful. The recovery from. If it is acl, it's. It's awful. My quote. I have a couple quotes. These will be pretty quick. One from Jared Allen. He had this fast break dunk at. Late in the fourth quarter against the Knicks the other night. He's all alone. He kind of brought it back really far and it was cool. And somebody asked him about it, like, it looked really cool for a big man, honestly. And he said, and this just. If you haven't like, seen Jared Allen a lot, he's re. He's just so genuine and just such a big dork. And he was like, I was trying to.

[Alex Spears]

He.

[Andrew]

He said this about the dunk. I wanted to look like LeBron trying to bring it back he said, I looked at the replay and it was nothing close to that. And he is just, he's cracking up the whole time. It's just a joy. Like he said, such a great season. And then Anthony Edwards after that crazy Jokic game and it was in good spirits because they just won this game. He said that might be the best game. That might be the best game of my life that I've been a part of. Nicola Jokic bra, my God, he might be the best basketball player I've ever seen close up. Besides myself. To myself, which is. That is an all time quote. That is an all time, not even just ant quote, but an all time NBA quote. Myself to myself is so, so good. So I love both those.

[Alex Spears]

Those are good ones. Andrew. That brings us to our favorite stat. And my favorite stat this week is actually about our wheel of fandom team, the Brooklyn Nets, because I was spending some time on the Nets Daily blog.

[Andrew]

More Nets content for all you Nets heads.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah, you got, you're getting your fill for the year. This week I saw a stat that I just thought perfectly summed up this weird season for the Nets where they trade for their own picks back and then they're unable to lose as many games as some fans might have hoped for. So while the two wins this week pushed the Nets firmly into that six spot in the reverse standings, it's really hard to blame those wins when they come against the Mavs and the Wizards. You know, one team's really struggling, one team's just really bad. But if you're a Nets fan feeling disappointed in their current lottery position, want to get mad at something, look no further than this stat from Colin Helwig on Nets Daily. The Brooklyn nets are currently 8 and 7 on the road against Western Conference teams this season. Above.500 on the road against the Western Conference. The only other teams in the east who, who can say that are Boston, Cleveland, Detroit and Indiana.

[Andrew]

That just doesn't make sense. That just doesn't make sense.

[Alex Spears]

It's incredible. And I know some of that came at the beginning of the season, you know, when, when they were a little bit more of a complete team when.

[Andrew]

They had been Simmons, you guys, when they had Ben Simmons, they did have.

[Alex Spears]

Ben Simmons, but still above.500 on the road against the west for a team that's going to finish with the sixth worst record is pretty impressive.

[Andrew]

Yeah, that just, I, I can't even wrap my head around that. My stat is this Isaiah Hartenstein for the Thunder. He's taken 19 threes, he's made none of them all season and now I'm at the point where I need him to miss four more because if he does, we talk about all these Thunder records this season. He will have, he will have, he will have the record for the most missed threes in a season without a makeup, which is currently held by Tom Garrick, who is a Chicago Bull of the early 90s. And he was a guard, by the way. You know who else is a guard who missed every three they took was Magic Johnson. He was O of 21 one season. I've become kind of obsessed with this stat and it's, it's one that I just continue to just be amazed at. There's been a lot of Thunder home games and all I can hope for at some of these games is to just see another clank three from Isaiah Hartenstein. So keep firing away, Isaiah. Keep missing them. You're almost there.

[Alex Spears]

That's, that's a great one because I did not know that as a Thunder fan and I'm also now very excited for it, man. Tom Garrick. I'm looking at his basketball reference rookie year 0 13. Then he has 4 for 21 on 5.

[Andrew]

What a year. What a year.

[Alex Spears]

And then he had his 0 for 22 season and never really went well after that. So yeah, maybe Hartenstein could get on that list. That'd be pretty cool.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Alex Spears]

Next up, favorite player. My favorite player this week, Denny Avdia. I've always been a fan of Denny. When he was with the Wizards, when, you know, when the. Portland, when Portland traded two first round picks for him last summer, I was expecting big things, Andrew, because the Blazers needed another playmaker. Denny brought that while also just being a really good all around player.

[Andrew]

But.

[Alex Spears]

But then his season just did not start off great. Through his first month, Denny's shooting splits were 37, 26, 79 and he was barely averaging 10 points per game. But things started to gradually improve. He's talked about it. He just got more comfortable. You know, he was worried about fitting in when he first got to Portland, being on a new team with some established players. But he's eventually gotten more comfortable and over the past couple of months I would say he has clearly been the Blazers best player in 19 games post all star break. He's, he's averaging 22 and a half points, 9.6 rebounds, 9.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists while shooting 51, 43, 78. Those are massive numbers. And Denny had his best week of the season this week. In three games he put up 30 and 12 with almost seven assists per game. He had 32, 15 and 10 against the Hawks. And his contract, which is going to pay him under 12 million in the 27, 28 season, yo was always going to look good, but with his recent play, it's looking like one of the best contracts in the league. And I think it's important to point out that as Danny has improved over the season, so have the Blazers. This is not, in my opinion, a good stats, bad team situation. He's been a major factor with them turning their season around because in their first 41 games, they were 13 and 28, and since then they are 21 and 15. They have the 10th best net rating in the league. They've become like a legitimately good defensive team, and that combo of Danny and Tomani Kamara is a big part of that now. They're not going to make the play in, most likely, unless a couple of these teams really collapse. So this season may end up feeling a little disappointing for some Blazers fans since they're not going to make the play in. They're also not going to get an amazing pick. But I do think it's important that they clearly have an identity now, which a lot of teams at this stage don't have. And they have a player in Denny Abdia, who, as the Blazers continue to improve, is going to get a lot more attention.

[Andrew]

Yeah, Denny's been great. He can. He, like, controls a lot of their offense, too. Like down the stretch of games.

[Alex Spears]

He's.

[Andrew]

He's been amazing this year.

[Alex Spears]

He's huge. He's one of those guys that's bigger in person than you realize.

[Andrew]

Yeah, yeah, he's had a great year. Mine is Giannis. He had a 35, 15, 20 game against the Sixers, which is insane. It's the first game in NBA history with at least 35, 15 and 20. So I wanted to dig through the 35, 15, 20 station and just talk through it a little bit. So there's been 20 plus 20 games of a player with at least 30 points and 20 assists. And that's Oscar Robertson, Tiny Archibald, Kevin Johnson, Westbrook, Magic, Luka Trae, Young, Kuzy Jokic, Kevin Porter, Mahmoud. And it's only been done six times with a player who has a 30 point, 20 assist, 10 rebound, triple, double, and that's Giannis, Westbrook, Magic, Oscar Luca and Jokic, which is just wild like that. And what's crazy about that list to me is that four out of the six players on that list are active players. And when I looked at the Westbrook one. You think, oh, it probably happened during his MVP year is kind of what I thought would happen. No, it happened in 21 when he was with the Wizards. So all of these have happened very recently. So yeah, he's had, he's had an. I mean Giannis has had a great year. He did have 17 rebounds. Sorry. But part of like the, the thing the NBA released was that he had 15 the, the first 35, 15, 20 game. I think Giannis in any normal NBA year would probably be a like the MVP candidate, but he just seems stuck behind Shea and Jokic. But he's had such an amazing season and it probably doesn't get recognized. And I know some of it's like the Bucks have struggled here, but when you look at their roster, what he has done individually and what he's done with this team is pretty spectacular. And this stat line against, not a, not a great team in the Sixers. But just the fact that he was able to put those numbers up still just shows like what a dominant player he still is.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah, and that four out of six stat, I really think like the number of guys who are triple double threats on a night to night basis really just shows how much more skilled the league is now. There are so many more of those guys who can just do it night to night. Andrew, that brings us to our favorite moment, and my favorite moment this week was the Ja Morant game winner against the Heat on Thursday night. Huge step back shot in the paint against Claire Ware, bounced around the rim for a few seconds before falling. Now, coming off last week, things were feeling pretty bleak for the Grizz. They fired their coach, they'd lost a bunch of games. A lot of the attention was focused on Jaw, who has had a disappointing season. And it wasn't looking like things were getting any better this week. Week they built a four game losing streak, which in their defense was about as tough as a four game stretch can be. Thunder. Lakers. Celtics. Warriors. During the warriors game there was the finger guns controversy when Ja pointed at the warriors bench. I think he was fined 75k for that. So with all that drama of the past few weeks, I was just happy for Grizzlies fans seeing Ja get that game winner. And while we didn't get to see any job during our wheel of fandom week, he was back in full force this week. He was great. He averaged 20 right around 29, 6 and 6 on good efficiency during that brutal stretch of opponents. The only bad news for the Grizz is the schedule doesn't totally lighten up. They've still got games against Detroit, Minnesota and Denver in their final five and that Minnesota game is going to be huge, as I mentioned, because those two teams are currently tied in the standings and the Wolves are in a four game winning streak. So it doesn't get easier for the Grizz. But at least for one night, Grizzlies fans got some relief.

[Andrew]

Yeah, it is good to see Job back too because I think it's looking like they're going to fall into the play in and if you have a play in game with Jaw against Kawhi is what it looks like it's winding up to be. I mean that would be incredible. Incredible theater. Al, my moment and I can't stop thinking about it is I talked about it a little earlier. So did you about the end of this Nuggets Wolves game or Westbrook needlessly goes for a layup where he could have just dribbled the ball out, gotten fouled, played that whole game and won the basketball game. Instead he got a little greedy, went in, missed the layup, and then obviously commits the foul on the other end. And just like the whole whole thing happening after that is just so wild. Like the cameraman were doing their jobs that night, they were doing such a good job. They got Peyton Watson who just immediately just hands over his face and you can just watch him just in the whole screen is his face as he just like lowers his hands over his face. He's just so distraught. They got Westbrook's face just completely zoomed in on for what seemed like forever because they went and they actually looked at the foul. And then you have this fan screw screaming after they get the results of the foul, yelling, the fix is in. He just yells it over and over again. Incredible theater. And it's just kind of wild to me about that. It was Westbrook when you think about his MVP moment in Denver. It happened in Denver in 2017 on April 9th. So just eight years and six days later, he is still helping the Thunder get an MVP while playing in Denver.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah, you know the thing, and this is why I brought up Westbrook last week as an X factor because you know, as we know, having watched him for so long, like nothing he does is quiet. Everything is loud. The good stuff is super loud, the bad stuff is super loud. And like watching that game and seeing how it played out, like it couldn't have been any other player than Westbrook, like that's just how things happen. And it had to be that loud it had to be at the end of the game. Um, yeah, that, that was just brutal for Jokic to have that game and for it to end like that. End. To end on free throws. I was watching that game with my uncle. We were having a great time and for it to end just like on these two free throws, he misses the last one. It was kind of a bummer of an ending, but it was an amazing game.

[Andrew]

Yeah. Speaking of bummer, we're going to talk about the Brooklyn Nets and their year right after this quick break. This message is brought to you by Apple Card.

[Mike Smelts]

If you're like us on the show.

[Alex Spears]

You'Re always on Triple double Watch.

[Mike Smelts]

That's why we were impressed when we learned that Apple Card was posting numbers of their own.

[Alex Spears]

That's right. With Apple Card, you can earn 3% daily cash back at Apple and 2% back on everything you buy using Apple.

[Mike Smelts]

Pay, not to mention 1% back on everything else. That's a stat line that any fan can appreciate.

[Alex Spears]

Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app on your iPhone today and start using it right away with Apple Pay.

[Andrew]

Subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City branch terms and.

[Unknown]

[e-mail] as we head into the playoffs, it's safe to assume there will be a few calls made by the refs that will be hard to accept. But you know what isn't hard to accept? Discovery Believe it or not, Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. You heard that right, 99%. So make a good call for your wallet and get Discover. Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. Learn more at discover.com credit card as you've probably heard by now, we've teamed up with BetMGM. This season, we'll be using BetMGM lines to make all of our picks and we'll have special offers for our listeners each week. If you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code TheAthletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic, plus up to a fifteen hundred dollar first bet offer on your first wager with BetMGM. Here's how it works. Download the BetMGM app and sign up using bonus code theathletic. Make your first deposit of at least $10. Place your first bet on any game and claim your voucher for a one year subscription to the Athletic. See betmgm.com for terms. U.S. promotional offers not available in D.C. mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario or Puerto Rico. Gambling problem call 1-800- gambler available in the U.S. call 877-8-HOPE NY or text hopeny 467-369 In New York, call 1-800- NEXT STEP in Arizona, 1-800-327-5050 In Massachusetts, 1, 800, bets off in Iowa, 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help in Michigan, 1, 800-981-0023 in Puerto Rico. First bet offer for new customers only in partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Don't forget, if you haven't signed up for BedMGM yet, use bonus code TheAthletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic plus up to a fifteen hundred dollar first bed offer on your first wager.

[Mike Smelts]

Spring is in full bloom at the Home Depot. So what are you working on? If you're digging into your garden, come into the Home Depot's Garden center where we can help you pick out the best plants for your space. Then make sure you give your plants the proper soil and support they need to throw thrive like Miracle Gro. 25 quart potting mix on special buy two bags for only $15. It's formulated to help your plants grow and keep them fed for up to six months. Shop Spring Savings Happening now at the Home Depot. This episode is brought to you by Chevy Silverado.

[Alex Spears]

When it's time for you to ditch.

[Mike Smelts]

The blacktop and head off road, do it in a truck that says no to nothing. The Chevy Silverado Trail Boss get the rugged capability of its Z71 suspension and 2 inch factory lift plus impressive torque and towing capacity thanks to an available Duramax 3 liter turbo diesel engine. Where other trucks call it quits, you'll just be getting started. Visit chevy.com to learn more.

[Alex Spears]

24 chefs 24 culinary showdown downs for.

[Mike Smelts]

24 hours straight.

[Alex Spears]

Which chef will out cook outpace, outlast the competition?

[Mike Smelts]

No chef escapes the clock.

[Alex Spears]

Season premiere 24 and 24 Last Chef Standing Sunday, April 27th at 8.

[Mike Smelts]

See you first on Food Network stream.

[Alex Spears]

Next day on Max. All right, Andrew, it is time for the Wheel of Fandom, the weekly segment where we spin a wheel. It lands on a team and we become fans of that team for the next week. Now last week the wheel landed on the Brooklyn Nets. And if you've been following the Wheel fandom this season, you know that the vast majority of teams have had a very bad week when the wheel lands on them. So what would happen when the wheel landed on a team that needed to lose to maintain their draft position, well, they'd go on a two game winning streak, of course. The Nets went 2 and 2 this week, losing to the Clippers and Wolves, but beating the Mavs and Wizards, they are now 25 and 52 and appear likely headed for the sixth best odds in the upcoming draft lottery. Per cleaning the glass, the nets have the 28th ranked offense and 24th ranked defense. Andrew, if the Nets are a favorite team, who is our guest?

[Andrew]

It's our pal Mike Smelts from SB Nation and the only Nets fan that I know and a guy that I wish was still hosting the Glue Guys.

[Alex Spears]

Listen.

[Andrew]

I listen, but Mike, what's up?

[Mike Smelts]

I'm so happy to be here. I can't wait to send this to the Glue Guys listeners because as if for anyone, I had a podcast for 10 years about the Brooklyn Nets. A lot of lows, very, very few highs. We covered vaccine mandates and anti Semitic posting and all this other stuff. But. And we just, my buddy Brian and I, who I co hosted, my best friend in the world, we just looked at each other virtually and we were just like, we can't do this anymore. We can't, we can't. He had a kid and I now have a third child. And it was like, I can't, like when you do the. You guys know this. How much. I can't imagine how much basketball you guys watch. You just like do the math. You're like, I can't do it. And you, if you can't, you can't do the pod. Unless if you're like locked in, right? You got to, you got to know you have your Noah Clowney takes ready to go on a weekly basis. And so I'm, but I'm happy to do this because I have like a, like a squirrel in the winter. I have a chestnut full of, of takes about the Nets. So this is, this is it. This is. I'm so glad to be here.

[Andrew]

That's great. So it's been a pretty unique year for the Nets. It's the first time that they've been bad and haven't traded away their draft picks since 2 10. What's it been like watching this team this season?

[Mike Smelts]

It's such a. I don't know, it's not Stockholm syndrome, but it, you are trapped in this internal battle between really loving Jordy Fernandez, the coaching, like the, the moxie of the squad, you know, winning more games than they should even though they've only won, what is it, 25 games this year. And being very locked in on that front. And then Also being pretty furious every time they win a game because we've been there.

[Andrew]

We've been there.

[Mike Smelts]

Yeah, yeah, it's, it's like, it's just, it's a bad feeling. It's a bad way to live. It's not fun. But this is like the situation they, they put themselves in willingly. They made that trade to get rid of the Suns draft picks, to get their own draft picks back. It's kind of, I mean this lightly, but it's kind of in the worst case scenario where the Suns have had the worst possible out of like the hundred thousand simulations. This is the worst Suns year possible pretty much. And the Nets having their pick, even though they're the six best odds. This is like the best season they could have possibly have had. Even as they're trying to like actively tank and do all the things that they're doing. But again, like it's been enjoyable like this. This team has those early Kenny Atkinson, coach Nets, Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris type vibes and it is way more fun to watch this team than it was the end of the KD Kyrie era because like that was just so negative and the expectations were so high. This team, the expectations are like lower than the basement.

[Andrew]

Right.

[Mike Smelts]

It's like Minecraft. You're digging. I don't know if you guys. My six year old now plays Minecraft. Schlager.

[Andrew]

I know Minecraft. Oh yeah, I know Minecraft.

[Mike Smelts]

You're digging into like the molten lava level.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

That's how low the, the Nets expectations were. And like it's kind of fun when Zaire Williams like pops off or Keon Johnson or Noah Clowney makes one out of eight threes. And so it's exciting. Um, but it's also the worst and it's good and it's bad and it's like, God, it's, it's such a mind. A mind mess.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah. I was on the, the Nets subreddit and it's fun reading Nets fans comments as they like try to cope with this. I saw one argument that was like, yes, the, the Sun's pick is 12, might be around 12 this year. Ours is 6. If you wanted to trade up from 12 to 6, that would cost you an extra first. So that's kind of, that kind of accounts for one of the first that we traded away. So I don't know if that helps you at all. That was one I saw there.

[Mike Smelts]

There is a clear. There's like a lot of bad math happening. This, what you described is not bad math. That was good math. There's bad math happening within the Nets fan base. Like people are very angry that they're not the fifth spot in the, in the odds over the Sixers that they are the sixth. Well, you guys know this. The, the lottery odds difference between 5 and 6 is minuscule. It's 1.5% to get the top pick advantage to the sixers in the fifth spot. It's basically 5% chance. Better to be in the top four if you're the fifth spot or the sixth spot. So it's like the way they flattened it, it's, it's really not as impactful as people are like really upset about it. It's just that like, yeah, this is the worst, this is the worst possible sun season and as good as the Nets probably could have been this year. And you kind of think about that other scenario where you have those Suns picks, you hold that team hostage. It would be great to hold Matt Ish, be a hostage. Like, how much fun would that be? So that's kind of like, that's a little bit of the stinging thing. But I still look at it this as like, the Nets are going to have four first round picks this year.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

And just an insane amount of salary cap space. That's a better position than like, you know, just whatever morass that they were in for the past few years.

[Alex Spears]

So in a rebuilding year like this, the hope is that you find some diamond in the rough. A player that you weren't thinking about at the start of the season, who you now see as a future rotation player. Oh, he's going to be a part of the next good Nets team. Are there any players like that for you or, or like an encouraging developmental story?

[Mike Smelts]

Nope, nope. That's the negative team. I, I really want to stress this to people. They are Noah Clowney. Okay. Their first round pick from I guess two years ago. He is, I've heard, I think it was Ryan Rosillo talk about this where the development now that they have in the NBA of like young players that they make shoot threes that shouldn't be shooting threes. Noah Clowney is the poster boy for that. They are making him shoot like five threes a game. I know that's not actually his per game 3 point but like there are many games where he goes 1 for 6. He is the worst shooter in the NBA now. He has a good like free throw percentage which is why they're like, go shoot threes. He's, you know, he's a 6, 9 athletic forward who was more of a post player in college and that they're trying to become as a secondary post defender, you know, with the block and then come shoot threes on the other end of the floor. The vision's there. He's just not like. He's not good. Derique Whitehead, their other first round pick, not good. He scored 17 points last night. Best game of his life as a net. But he's been a complete non factor. Keon Johnson, trend in Watford, there's just not. There's. That's the problem. There isn't that young, exciting guy at all on this team. We signed Drew, Timmy. Timmy, yeah, dude was like Jokic of the G League. And I think that's our most promising young player already. Even though he's probably like 25, I think. Isn't he like old because he was in College?

[Andrew]

He's 24. He's 24.

[Mike Smelts]

Okay, apologies. He'll be 24 years old. So like there just isn't. That's the problem. They're really starting from scratch going into this off season where they have all the draft picks. They have all the. They have their own draft pick, as you said, since 2010, you know, they've all the, you know, the free agency cap space. It's like they really need a lot to rebuild the roster. The thing is they do have like some weird veterans, right? They still have Cam Johnson, they still have Nick Claxton. So it's not like this team is starting from zero in terms of players, just from young players. They just don't have a dude at all.

[Andrew]

So interestingly enough, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported this week that Giannis is still plan A for the Nets. Nets have a ton of cap space this summer. Four first round picks in the upcoming draft and control of all their picks moving forward. Are you expecting moves this summer to make this team better immediately or what would you want to see as a Nets fan?

[Mike Smelts]

The Nets hold the Bucks pick hostage this year.

[Alex Spears]

Easy.

[Mike Smelts]

Trade Giannis for their own first round pick.

[Andrew]

That's all they need back is the 18th pick in the draft.

[Mike Smelts]

We hold the Bucks hostage. I think the only way they do something big is if they get Cooper flag, because I do think if they get Cooper flag the like, then it'll be, we got to. We're going to just boom, boom, boom, make moves. Josiah is going to have a desire to like amplify that and put good players around him and immediately make this team interesting, which would be exciting. Who's Giannis going to play with on this team, like, what are they trading? Are they trading, like, all the Knicks picks? All of their own picks, and then, like, you get Giannis and then you, yeah, you have more cap space to sign. I mean, you. Who's a good free agent? Do you guys know, like, who, who's an exciting free agent this year isn't. Like, most of them are off the board, dear. And Fox is. Did he sign his extension? Like, that's the thing. I haven't even looked at it because the. I'm going like, hoops hype free agents right now. Like, it's just not that good of a class. Yeah, the. So again, I think the only way that something big happens is if they get Cooper flag. If not, then it's like, we're gonna suck next year. We're gonna continue to build a young team, and then we'll do the whole, like, we'll trade all the Knicks picks for a guy at some point, the, the discontented superstar that comes around the.

[Andrew]

Corner could bring Brook Lopez back. Does that excite you?

[Alex Spears]

God, if, does that do anything?

[Mike Smelts]

If they bring Brooke. If they bring Brooke back, they need to sign Joe Johnson again and bring back Joe Johnson, you know, agree.

[Alex Spears]

You know who could be a free agent? Mike Kyrie Irving. He'd have the return.

[Mike Smelts]

Yeah, he would be welcome back with open arms. I, I, I did say, you know, my buddy Brian does not feel this way. I, I had, I have made my peace with Kyrie. Like, I felt he has, like, gone to Dallas and, like, been a positive force and not like, he was really bad in. I think, like, obviously we all fascinate on the, the Vaccines and then the anti Semitics videos, but he was, like, actively damaging the team, you know, and so, but yeah, I don't, I don't want him back. In Brooklyn, though. There is a segment of the fan base that would definitely be, like, so fired up.

[Andrew]

Really?

[Mike Smelts]

Yeah, because there's, like, psychos that came in. Not in a derogatory way. Like, just like the Kyrie fans became. Oh, like, Brian and I talked about this a lot. It was like, so when we pre Kyrie, pre kd, we were like, you know, like this, like your punk rock, your favorite punk rock band before they hit it big on the charts, Right? Like, that was the fan base. It was like a small, intimate. You knew everyone, Everyone had the same mentality. And then Kyrie, Katie come, and it's like, it's like one of the punk rock band members started dating a Kardashian, and then one of them dated Taylor Swift. And then like those fan bases merged on top of this like tiny little fun club that we had that we didn't want the attention. And then some of them have lingered to care about the team on some level and they're just, it's just like it's still a clash of personality in the fan base. It's been, it's been a, a wild ride in understanding like NBA fandom to be a Nets fan over these past 10 years or so for sure.

[Alex Spears]

Now Mike, you had a little trouble coming up with a diamond in the rough, but you know, or some, some, anything to get excited about. It sounded like a turd in the grass.

[Mike Smelts]

That's what we. But we have turds in the grass. Yes.

[Alex Spears]

People seem very hyped on Nets head coach Jordy Fernandez.

[Mike Smelts]

Hell yeah.

[Alex Spears]

Very popular.

[Mike Smelts]

Hell yeah.

[Alex Spears]

Now, six years ago, Chris Mannix tweeted, you are the GM of an expansion team. You have your choice of any NBA player or Brad Stevens. Who do you choose? And at that time, 34.2% of voters picked Brad Stevens over any NBA player. So now the Nets are the ones with the exciting young coach and Jordy Fernandez. I'm going to give you names from some NBA of some NBA players. You're going to tell me whether you choose that player or you take Jordy Fernandez. You can only have one. Okay. And in the case of you choosing a player, you don't know who the coach is going to be. It could be anyone. It could be. Was there a movie? Was airbud ever a coach in any of his spin off movies?

[Mike Smelts]

Go into coaching, what he had to be.

[Alex Spears]

That would be a really boring airbud movie. Just like drawing too much.

[Mike Smelts]

So it's any coach in the NBA versus a player. Just Jordy versus a player.

[Alex Spears]

No, just Jordy. We're talking Jordy or this player. You don't know who, who the coach would be if you take the player. Okay, so here we go.

[Mike Smelts]

Okay.

[Alex Spears]

Herb Jones or Jordy Fernandez.

[Mike Smelts]

I may be bad at this game because I love Herb Jones.

[Andrew]

You're like really thinking, yeah, well I'll go Jordy.

[Mike Smelts]

I just love. He's been. I mean he's the problem. He's the anti hero Taylor Swift. I'm the problem. It's me. He's the reason why we can't tank. Like we really should have kept Jacques Vaughn. Like he would have tanked. He would have loved. He would have. So good at taking. Okay, yeah, but so Jordy, for, for the sake of the bit. Jordy for sure.

[Alex Spears]

But I would say. I mean, Thunder fans had the same thing where Mark Dagnaut was like, so obviously good in that early tank year where it was like, hey, we're winning too many games. Like, what was this guy doing? But at the same time, you got to feel good because, you know, down the road, like, you've got a good guy. It seems like he.

[Mike Smelts]

He's a guy again, like Kenny, who, like, he's going to raise, you know, like, it's funny. I'm going to ask you guys something. This is. I don't know how much you talk jazz on the show. Is Will Hardy still in that class?

[Andrew]

I think he is. Yeah. Yeah, I think he is.

[Mike Smelts]

Okay.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Yes.

[Alex Spears]

I feel like their goal over the last three years is like, what do we have to do to make it not look like Will Hardy's a good coach? Because it's so hard. We have to keep taking away players. Yeah. We have to rest random guys on random nights. What can we do to really screw up Will Hardy? They finally figured it out. I mean, they have the best odds right now.

[Mike Smelts]

So gross.

[Alex Spears]

Took them three years.

[Mike Smelts]

They. My favorite. One of my favorite Bill Simmons bits was him being so pissed that. That Danny Ainge stole Will Hardy off the Celtics bench. I don't know if you guys remember that.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

Like, Danny an sat courtside, like, a Celtics game and, like, saw how good Will Hardy was, and I'm. I'm like. I'm like, he's fine. He's not. But that, you know, it was one of my favorite things I've ever heard. Yes. Okay. More. More players.

[Alex Spears]

Okay. So just saying, it sounds like you would have taken Herb Jones over Will Hardy. Basically, yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

I think Will Hardy's a fraud. I think he's a fraud.

[Alex Spears]

Next one. Jalen Green or Jordy? Jordy Fernandez.

[Mike Smelts]

Oh, Jaylen. So Jalen Green. I mean, I know people don't like him, but you would rather have.

[Alex Spears]

Wow. Okay.

[Mike Smelts]

Yeah. I don't think.

[Alex Spears]

I didn't know how, like, I don't think Jordy Fernandez. You were going to be.

[Mike Smelts]

I'm super. Well, it's more of my stance, like all NBA coaches, which is like, there are other Jordy Fernandez. It fernandize out there.

[Alex Spears]

Wow. Yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

That's kind of like, you know, like, J.J. redick was a podcaster and is like, an awesome NBA coach. Jordy. Kenny Atkinson was on. Obviously, he got offered jobs. He almost took the Hornet job. He had it for, like, 24 hours. Right. But, like, he's an awesome coach. J.B. bickerstaff. Like we, I think that actually is, we may be in the golden era of NBA coaches right now and possibly and I actually, I would rather like long term future, have a good player that maybe I can flip for something else down the road than like a really good coach. Because Taylor Jenkins gets fired. God, you know, like someone's going to get Taylor Jenkins for. Yeah. And I think if you did this with a Grizz fan last year, people be like, oh, there's nothing that I would part for to give up Taylor Jenkins, you know, and look, he's, he's going to be available and get a big contract for Matt Ishbia this off season. So.

[Alex Spears]

Wow, Mike, you're coming across as very smart, insane with your answer to this question. I was hoping I didn't even get to get to my final one which.

[Andrew]

Was going to be a bit way too quickly. You get Jalen Green, you don't know what other rappers are about to be on the table. But yeah, just take Jalen Green.

[Mike Smelts]

Would you rather Jordy Fernandez or Jalen Green and Taylor Jenkins? Right, like that's, I'll take that. You know what I'm saying? I'm just saying, you know, I love Jordy Fernandez. He's great. He did injure Edwards last. No, he had an amazing response though. Did you see what he said? He said I really tried to get out of the way and I have to be faster because the player's health is the most important thing. And like that is like a, that like mindset. That's my favorite thing about Jordy is that like he has that modern mindset for a coach. I mean he's only, however old he is, you know, he's, and he like that like artful way to kind of talk about a superstar and be like, I gotta like, I gotta get out of the way like their player, the player's health is the most important thing. Like that's not how Lionel Hollins talked. Right. So that's, I, I do appreciate that mindset and I do think that has like a huge impact on how players feel. I will say the Nets are like probably the best vibes tanking team in a very long time. Right? Like they just have good vibes. Even like Cam Johnson's still seemingly happy to be Annette as his name was in trade rumors for 18 months. So you know, I, I, I love Jordy, but yeah players, I'm a Jim and Joe's guys, not X's and O's. Okay.

[Alex Spears]

Just so the listeners know, I had like eight more of those to do. I was trying to ramble names.

[Mike Smelts]

Say the names.

[Alex Spears]

Well, I actually was doing all players from 2022 draft, so Jalen Suggs, Alpern, Shin Goon, Trey Murphy, Franz Wagner, Evan Mobley. And then I was going to finish on Kate Cunningham. I thought we might get all the way there.

[Mike Smelts]

Ridiculous.

[Alex Spears]

Well, I just, I didn't know. I thought, I thought. I mean, I watched my arm for.

[Mike Smelts]

Trey Murphy on the Nets. I would rip my arm off.

[Alex Spears]

So.

[Mike Smelts]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Really.

[Mike Smelts]

Do you know how bad the Nets young players are? So bad.

[Alex Spears]

Just so you know, I'm coming from a point where 34% of people six years ago would have taken Brad Stevens over like Giannis.

[Mike Smelts]

Dummies. A bunch of dummies. I guess he was a fine coach. He was a fine, he's, he's a better gm.

[Andrew]

Okay, so all eyes turn to the lottery and the upcoming draft.

[Alex Spears]

Oh yeah.

[Andrew]

Are there any prospects outside of Cooper Flag, Dylan Harper that get you excited or are there any prospects that like really scare you?

[Mike Smelts]

I mean, Noah A Sangue. Is that how you say his name? Yeah, the, the six nine, super, super skinny French kid who's playing in Germany right now. Yeah, like you see his highlights and I know it's like the highlight trap, but he is like driving. He's doing dunks from like 8ft out. Like it's, he, he does the thing that you love from an athleticism standpoint where he can do the spin move around the player and immediately jump and do like a distance dunk. That is to me is like what I need to see from athleticism. He's like kind of like late lottery at this point. The nets have the 18th pick. I don't know if I'm saying he's like six pick worthy. I think he's going to fly up the boards because that athleticism is just so tantalizing. And he's like a decent free throw shooter. Not a good in game shooter at this point. He's basically a dunker, but he's a 73% from the line. So we have to clarify that. Khan canuple love. Caniple. Oh my God, I love him. So I, I, I'm, I am a subscriber to the theory of you get like the second best player on a super team. There's untapped. It's like the, you know, like for all those Kentucky players who were under Caliperi who like didn't do that well in college but then always blew up, obviously Booker being one of them is like, I love the second Best player on a really good super team. I mean so like those guys like I was really into. Igor is a demon. But his shooting is so bad.

[Andrew]

Yeah, it's so bad. It's rough.

[Mike Smelts]

But I, there's, there's actually a lot of dudes I like being living in Maryland. Like Derek Queen has like become the mayor of, I mean really the governor of Maryland at this point.

[Andrew]

A lot of fun.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

The problem is he's so defensively. I know he's like a smart defender. He's so slow.

[Andrew]

It's not what you want. He's got no breaks. Yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

If people are really watching, it's like there was a lot of buckets that he gave up because his guy would cut and he just wouldn't. It's not that he's like lacking effort, he's just like, he is so slow. But God, that like Michael Sweeney post game who I'm always right here in my heart. The Michael Sweeney, like just big bodied boy. So there's a lot of dudes I like in this draft. Obviously though, you know, like Cooper Flag the top. The top dudes are really like so intriguing for me I think. Like. Can I ask you guys a question?

[Alex Spears]

Yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

Classically we will say this is a four player draft. Five player draft.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

Even though we know that's not true. That's what the Nets thought when they.

[Alex Spears]

Traded Dam Lillard pitch.

[Mike Smelts]

Literally Billy King came out and said this is a like three player draft or whatever it was. They didn't get him. Obviously he went to. So, so what is the tier player draft that this is? Is it a three or four player draft in your mind or is it just a 2? It's really should be flag and Harper and Ace Bailey and Edgecomb and they're not, they're not quite even of the Dylan Harper flag. Now if it's really like flag one tier, Harper another and then is anyone with Harper is the question.

[Andrew]

Yeah, I, I really like BJ Edgecombe. I think there's like some glaring things with his game that are just kind of weird. Like why can't he finish at the rim? Like what's going on with that? But the athleticism is insane and he's going to be an insane defender and I think Jordy would love bj. Yeah, I think, I think that I, I would, I would want him, I might even take him third. Honestly, like I'm just, I'm just a big fan of him.

[Mike Smelts]

Yeah, I, I'm, I'm with you. I, I, he also went to Long Island Lutheran. I know he's from the Bahamas, but, like, that's. Yeah, that's a powerhouse outside of Brooklyn. It's in Long Island. So it. It's something. I'm su. I'm just. He's the kind of guy I fall in love with. His assist numbers are better than, you know, Like, I always look at assists. You always look at steals and blocks. You look at those, like, periphery. Not that assists are periphery stats. You just look at those to be like, what are they doing outside of the scoring? And he's like, two steals a game and three and a half assists. Like, those are, like, indicative of being a contributor outside of just being, like, a bucket getter. Yeah.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

And so I super. I super like him. I think if they get into the top three, you feel good. If they're not, you really have to make a big decision. Like, you just have to. You have to really. Okay. Is it like. Like, who. Who intrigues you? Asa Newell is such a Sean Marks pick.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

Even coming from Georgia, like Nick Claxton did. It's just. I. I don't. I just don't. It's. It's hard for me to, like, get super pumped yet, but. But tons of talent, so.

[Andrew]

Yeah, I just did a tankathon spin that's got the number one pick.

[Alex Spears]

So.

[Mike Smelts]

Wow. Send it into the office.

[Andrew]

Just throwing that out there.

[Mike Smelts]

That's. That's all. Let's just send it in right now.

[Andrew]

Hey, guys, I have a proposal.

[Mike Smelts]

Here it is. Who's the who? Are they getting mocked? Is it Cooper?

[Andrew]

They took Casperus number one, actually. So sorry.

[Mike Smelts]

Are you guys aware Cooper Flag's pretty good at basketball? It's insane how good this guy is.

[Alex Spears]

Mike, thank you for answering all of our Nets questions, but it is now time to play Andrew versus the Nets edition. Now, Mike, I think you've played this before. I'm sure you have. I've come up with eight questions about the Nets. You're gonna give me a number between 1 and 8. It will correspond to a question. If you get it right, you'll get at least two points. If you get it wrong, Andrew will have a chance to steal for one. So to start us off, I just.

[Mike Smelts]

Want to say a question. We're all riding on Sam Bassini's coattails, I think. Would you guys do this with Vicini? It's the best. That is.

[Alex Spears]

He gets really into it.

[Mike Smelts]

Must listen when you guys.

[Andrew]

It's great.

[Mike Smelts]

You and. You and Schlecht, you and Vasini had, like, a wild back and Forth, like, picking names. I forget it was the last time he was on the show and I was like, yeah, you guys are pulling names of, like, dudes that people don't even know are alive.

[Alex Spears]

It was absurd.

[Mike Smelts]

So I'm going to let everyone down, but I'm ready. I'm ready for it.

[Alex Spears]

All right, so, Mike, I just need a number between one and eight to get us started.

[Mike Smelts]

The Nets draft position at the moment. Great.

[Alex Spears]

As of today, how many Brooklyn Nets would qualify for regular season awards having reached the 65 game minimum? Now you get to choose who answers first. You can make Andrew answer first and then you go higher, lower. Or you can answer first and Andrew goes higher, lower. If either of you get it exactly right, you do get a bonus point. So how many Brooklyn Nets as of today would qualify for regular season awards?

[Mike Smelts]

Oh, I'm gonna make Andrew try to figure that out. All right, Andrew, I think I. I have an idea. I should count. I'm like, counting my fingers. I'm like, that's dumb.

[Andrew]

I think it's. I think it's really low. I think. I think it's like four.

[Alex Spears]

All right. Andrew's gonna set the bar at four.

[Mike Smelts]

That's such a good. That's. That's like, right. It's not above 4. Would you have said al if it. If it was right on the money?

[Alex Spears]

No, I would not have.

[Mike Smelts]

Okay, I'll go under.

[Alex Spears]

Going under. Well, Andrew, you did get within one. Now, was it five or was it three? Andrew, correct answer was three, which means Mike gets the points. He's off to a great start. Look at that.

[Mike Smelts]

Is it Keon Johnson, Zaire Williams and who's. I don't know.

[Alex Spears]

Yes, yes.

[Andrew]

Jalen Wilson, right?

[Alex Spears]

Yes.

[Mike Smelts]

God. Another. But he doesn't even. Yeah, he's. He's in the dustbin right now, but yeah, that. This team's so bad, guys.

[Alex Spears]

Oh, no, it's. Sorry, it's Nick Claxton instead of Zaire.

[Mike Smelts]

Yeah, his. Like again. Sneaky. Oh, Zaire Williams. Not. Not the pick yet.

[Alex Spears]

No, he's a classy though. He might get there.

[Mike Smelts]

Sneaky. Bad season.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

I'm really worried about his trade value. Okay.

[Alex Spears]

Andrew, boy, is yours number one question. Number one, Andrew, who leads the Brooklyn Nets in total assists.

[Andrew]

Okay.

[Mike Smelts]

Thing is, I know this answer and it. Okay, I won't say anything.

[Andrew]

That is a really hard question. It's going to be something really wacky.

[Alex Spears]

Total assists for the Brooklyn Nets.

[Andrew]

There's like a bold part of me that has an answer that, like, that I really want to say, but it feels. If it's wrong, it's really stupid.

[Mike Smelts]

Say it.

[Andrew]

But. But I think I'm gonna guess Ben Simmons.

[Alex Spears]

That is correct. Yes, it is Ben Simmons.

[Mike Smelts]

That. The. The sneaky part is if people remember that he played on the team this year, it is absurd.

[Alex Spears]

And enough games to still lead the team in assists. Okay, Mike, board is yours.

[Mike Smelts]

Two.

[Alex Spears]

Question number two. Cam Johnson has attempted 408 three pointers this season. Well, that was as of Wednesday night. In Nets franchise history, there have only been 12 other players to attempt at least 400 threes in a season. And we're going to name them all. So how this works, Mike's going to give me name, then Andrew will give me name, and we'll go back and forth to one of you stumbles. So you just have to give me a Brooklyn Net. Throughout franchise history, that had a season where they took at least 400 threes. And to give you context, that's what Cam Johnson has done this season.

[Mike Smelts]

Okay. Okay. Kevin Durant.

[Alex Spears]

Kevin Durant. No, Mike. No.

[Mike Smelts]

Can I name, like, 12 other people? No.

[Alex Spears]

Why did you go with Kevin? Didn't he barely play?

[Mike Smelts]

I know.

[Alex Spears]

Let's. Let's see how many he had. Let's see if you were even in the realm.

[Mike Smelts]

Because I have other names that I was like, Kevin Durant definitely did. And then I have, like, my special ones that.

[Alex Spears]

The most he had was 300. He had 321 20. So he's about 100 short.

[Mike Smelts]

Can I tell you it was not Ben Simmons.

[Alex Spears]

You're done. You're done. Mike, you said Kevin Durant. All right, Andrew, you said name one person to get the point.

[Andrew]

Dlo.

[Alex Spears]

Oh, that's Angela Russell. That is correct.

[Mike Smelts]

That's an honorable way to go about the other name.

[Alex Spears]

Okay. You said Joe Harris. That's correct. I want to throw out some other names, please, just for fun.

[Andrew]

Bridges.

[Alex Spears]

Bridges. Yes. Mikhail Bridges.

[Mike Smelts]

Okay.

[Andrew]

Alan Crab.

[Alex Spears]

Yes. Alan Crab. Great pull.

[Andrew]

Did.

[Alex Spears]

Vince, what are you doing right now? Are you writing down these names?

[Mike Smelts]

Yeah, yeah. I'm a visual learner. Yeah.

[Andrew]

Vince.

[Alex Spears]

Well, do you have any contributions?

[Mike Smelts]

I don't think Vince.

[Alex Spears]

Vince Carter did. Andrew, Congratulations.

[Mike Smelts]

No, I. I don't. Because, like, all the names, like, like, I want to say James Harden, but he also didn't play basketball.

[Alex Spears]

Why is that the only Nets team you can think of?

[Mike Smelts]

No, I'm just saying these are guys. There's. I'm just saying these are guys. I get. I think my problem, my hang up is I don't understand the concept of 400 three pointers. I think I really should just do the math and just be like. It's not like I. I can figure that out.

[Andrew]

But Joe Harris.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah, Joe Harris was one. I'll. I'll name the other guys. D. Will. Carrie Kittles.

[Mike Smelts]

Yeah.

[Alex Spears]

Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Johnson, Royce O'Neal, Patty Mills, and Taurine Prince.

[Andrew]

Wow.

[Alex Spears]

Those are your names.

[Andrew]

Patty Mills. I don't think I could have pulled that. Wow.

[Alex Spears]

So Andrew board is yours. You're up by 1.

[Andrew]

3.

[Alex Spears]

3. The Nets currently have the 28th ranked offense per cleaning the glass. The last time they had an offense ranked that Low was the 201617 season. Who were the top two leading scorers for the Nets that season? Total points. You get one point per correct answer.

[Andrew]

Oh, my gosh. Total points.

[Alex Spears]

Leading scores for the 201617 nets. I mean, leading scores.

[Andrew]

That's gotta be. Brooke Lopez has got to be one.

[Alex Spears]

Correct for one point.

[Andrew]

Whoever this other one is, I just have no idea.

[Alex Spears]

Do you want to just throw a name out there?

[Andrew]

What about like Karis Lavert? I think he was on the team then. I don't know.

[Alex Spears]

That's a name. That's a name. But unfortunately that is wrong. Carol was on the team though. Congratulations on that. Mike, any chance you know this second leading score, the 201617 nets?

[Mike Smelts]

I have a funny answer.

[Alex Spears]

It might be right.

[Mike Smelts]

Sean Kilpatrick.

[Alex Spears]

It is Sean Kilpatrick. That is correct. Wow, that was great.

[Mike Smelts]

I talked a lot about Sean Kilpatrick. A lot, man.

[Andrew]

I've not thought of that name.

[Alex Spears]

Bomb the rest of this trivia and that alone that, I mean that like proves that you are a huge Nets fan. The fact for real could get Sean.

[Mike Smelts]

Kilpatrick, I mean, he, he was a. He was a thing. Okay, eight.

[Alex Spears]

Okay, question number eight. Question number eight. Oh, this is. This is a fun Darren Williams number.

[Mike Smelts]

Yeah.

[Alex Spears]

There are five major regular season awards in the NBA. MVP. 6. Man of the Year, Defensive player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and most improved Player. The last time a Brooklyn Net won one of those awards, which award was it?

[Mike Smelts]

Oh, that's good. I think it's six. Man.

[Alex Spears]

That is incorrect. Andrew, you have a chance to steal one point.

[Andrew]

I. Man, I. I do not know the answer to this.

[Alex Spears]

Well, you can just pick an award. You have a one in four shot.

[Mike Smelts]

Oh, I'm such an idiot. I just. Actually, I'm not. I just said that to make it seem. It was obvious and then it's not.

[Alex Spears]

Oh, psychological warfare.

[Andrew]

I don't know. Honestly, I just. I do not remember who this would have been.

[Alex Spears]

You don't have to give me a name. Just give me the award. Andrew.

[Andrew]

I know. I'm just trying to think. I'm just trying to think of what the award would even be. I don't know, depoy. I don't think that's right.

[Alex Spears]

What is it? It's not right. You have to go, Mike. Do you know it, or were you. Or you.

[Mike Smelts]

I was wrong already.

[Alex Spears]

Okay, Again, you have to go all the way back to the 1990-91 season. The last time a Brooklyn Net won one of these awards, and it was Rookie of the Year and it was Derek Coleman. That's how far back you have to go for some hardware question.

[Andrew]

Wow.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah, that's a. That was a crazy one. I started going through them, couldn't find any Nets. In fact, Nets haven't won a lot of these awards at all. Like, never been a net.

[Mike Smelts]

Yeah, it's been.

[Alex Spears]

Okay.

[Mike Smelts]

Good franchise.

[Alex Spears]

Andrew, you've controlled the board. Three questions to go. One point.

[Andrew]

Number four.

[Alex Spears]

Number four, Question number four. Jalen Wilson leads the Brooklyn Nets in total minutes played while averaging fewer than 13 points per game. There are six players in the NBA who also lead their team in total minutes played while averaging fewer than 13 points per game. Can you name two of them? And you get one point per correct answer.

[Andrew]

Oh, my God.

[Alex Spears]

So they have to lead their team and total minutes played, but they have to score fewer than 13 points per game.

[Andrew]

That is some talent. Shoot, that is tough because I'm, like, trying to, like, roll through some of these teams and, like, figuring out who that is. Like, it's got to be some weird circumstances, like. Like the Nets. What about the Sixers?

[Alex Spears]

Well, you gotta tell me the player, Andrew. Oh, my gosh.

[Andrew]

I gotta tell the player. Yeah, I think. I think. I think Kelly Oubrey may have played the most minutes for them.

[Alex Spears]

So, Andrew, that part is correct. Unfortunately. He is averaging 15 points per game, so is not correct answer. Mike, you could steal two points here. He could steal two of them.

[Mike Smelts]

Misi.

[Alex Spears]

Yes, yes. Easy me. Nice, nice. Nice pull. Nice pull. Can you get another one.

[Mike Smelts]

Gafford?

[Alex Spears]

No, you had the right idea, though. The Mavs. Spencer Dinwiddie is one of the answers. The other answers. Bub Carrington, Tavius Caldwell, Pope. That one makes sense when you think about it.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Alex Spears]

To Moni Kamara for the Blazers. And the one I thought Andrew might get. Chris Paul, CP3.

[Andrew]

Oh, yeah.

[Alex Spears]

Okay, so we have two questions left and we have a tie. Game. Oh, now, Mike, you get to choose question number five or question number seven.

[Mike Smelts]

Seven.

[Alex Spears]

Question number seven. This former All Star was drafted by the Nets, but was immediately sold to the Sixers so that the Nets could pay for summer league and buy a copy machine.

[Mike Smelts]

Who was it?

[Alex Spears]

All right.

[Mike Smelts]

See, I didn't know Marks told the story on the glue guys, which he's told, like, in a thousand places, but. Yeah, that's the easiest.

[Alex Spears]

I figured that would be easy.

[Mike Smelts]

They also paved.

[Alex Spears]

Andrew, would you have known that?

[Andrew]

I don't think I would have guessed that correctly.

[Mike Smelts]

They also. I think they also paved part of the road in front of the practice facility with the funds.

[Alex Spears]

Oh, nice.

[Mike Smelts]

Yeah, yeah, he was. Kyle Corford was traded for a copy machine.

[Andrew]

You should do a question like that. Now, would you rather have a paved road and a copy machine or. Or this player, this Nets player, Ben Simmons.

[Mike Smelts]

It's pretty easy.

[Andrew]

Ben Simmons.

[Alex Spears]

Andrew, this brings us to the final question, okay? And you have to get. You have to get the question right to send it into overtime. Okay. Okay. There are three players that have had a 30 point game as a Brooklyn Net this season. Can you name all three?

[Andrew]

Oh, boy. Okay. As a Brooklyn Net is an interesting qualifier.

[Alex Spears]

A Brooklyn Net.

[Mike Smelts]

Gosh.

[Andrew]

There'S some obvious candidates here.

[Mike Smelts]

And.

[Andrew]

Some not so obvious candidates here.

[Alex Spears]

Oh, and actually, I'm not. I'm just realizing this is one point per correct answer. So if you theoretically did get all three, you could win the game.

[Andrew]

Oh, shoot.

[Mike Smelts]

This is corrupt. This is corrupt.

[Andrew]

This. This is.

[Alex Spears]

Will you get all three, though?

[Andrew]

Okay, Cam Johnson.

[Alex Spears]

That is one.

[Andrew]

God, there's some. There's some guys that are just like, don't. It feels like they'd be on the edge of doing that. There's so many guys that I feel like I probably scored 20 on this team that have not scored 30. Shoot. Did. Did Dennis Schroeder do it?

[Alex Spears]

Dennis Schroeder did do it. Now the game is currently tied. If Andrew gets the final name, he will win the week. However, if he doesn't get it right, Mike will have a chance to steal and win the week.

[Mike Smelts]

I know the answer. Just everywhere.

[Andrew]

Oh, I think I. I think that I know the answer, too.

[Unknown]

You don't.

[Andrew]

You don't know it because I did a podcast with Dave DeFore the night that this happened, and it was so weird, you know, when it happened. It was so, so weird when it happened. There's a YouTube short on it on our channel. I think it was that he scored 30 because he hit, like, just a ton of threes and no one knew who he was. And I believe it's Tyrese Martin.

[Alex Spears]

Andrew. That is correct.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Alex Spears]

You have won the week with a Tyrese Martin pulse.

[Andrew]

Wow, that feels really good to get the Tyrese Martin brutal way that.

[Mike Smelts]

That game. That was one of the highlights of the season, obviously.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

I actually think you're missing someone, my friend.

[Andrew]

Oh, really?

[Mike Smelts]

Wait, Thomas.

[Alex Spears]

Oh, it would make.

[Mike Smelts]

Of course he like. He definitely. I'm looking at now his game logs, but that's who I was thinking of.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Alex Spears]

Wait a second, wait a second, wait a second. If he. If he did. You're looking.

[Mike Smelts]

He did do it 100.

[Andrew]

I mean, he's had to have done it multiple times, right?

[Mike Smelts]

He's had five 30 point games. Yeah.

[Alex Spears]

How did he not pop up when I searched on station?

[Andrew]

I think he's had. I think he said, yeah, he's probably got a 40 point game. Right?

[Mike Smelts]

Yeah.

[Alex Spears]

Well, wait a second. That means that Mike has tied it up, sending us into overtime. Overtime. Unless you guys find another name. And then that person would win for that.

[Mike Smelts]

Funny thing is, I didn't really remember Tyrese Martin. And then when you said that he came out of nowhere. I was like, oh, Tyrese Martin.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Mike Smelts]

But I was like, no, no, no. Cam. Yeah. Cam Thomas. Yeah, he did.

[Andrew]

I looked it, but yeah, he had to have.

[Alex Spears]

Okay, so we're gonna do. Well, we can't do career three pointers since we already basically did that question. I'm just looking for a good question for you guys where we can go back and forth, back and forth. How about in honor of Jalen Wilson leading the team in minutes, let's do the top 10 franchise history for minutes played. Okay, so since Mike is our guest, Mike, you can go first and then Andrew will go. We'll go back and forth. So total minutes played, franchise history.

[Mike Smelts]

Brooke Lopez.

[Alex Spears]

Brook Lopez is number three, over to Andrew.

[Andrew]

Jason Kidd.

[Alex Spears]

Jason Kidd is number two, back to Mike.

[Mike Smelts]

Walt Williams.

[Alex Spears]

Walt Williams. No, Walt Williams. Andrew, can you give me one more name? Walt Williams.

[Andrew]

What about Carrie Kittles?

[Alex Spears]

Yes. Kerry Kittles, number five. Why did you say Walt Williams?

[Mike Smelts]

Do you believe in the Nets? I know you play for that, so it doesn't matter.

[Alex Spears]

Well, wait, did he.

[Mike Smelts]

Didn't he. I might think of the. The wrong Williams.

[Alex Spears]

I'm looking at a guy named Walt Williams, AKA the Wizard who played.

[Andrew]

Thinking of Buck Williams.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah, you were thinking of Buck Williams, who is number one. Yeah, unfortunately you said a guy who has never played for the.

[Mike Smelts]

Guys. It's feast or famine with Me, folks. Now hold on a second.

[Alex Spears]

I was going to go check because Buck sounds like a nickname.

[Andrew]

Yeah.

[Alex Spears]

But it looks like Buck Williams first name is Charles. Charles Linwood. So I couldn't give it to you for.

[Mike Smelts]

Buck Williams went to Maryland. You know what I'm. And I think I should have. So did Walt Williams, which is what is my problem.

[Alex Spears]

Oh, interesting.

[Mike Smelts]

Both went to Maryland. But there's no excuse.

[Alex Spears]

No, that's a pretty good excuse.

[Mike Smelts]

No, it's no excuse.

[Andrew]

That's a pretty good.

[Mike Smelts]

The funny thing is like I got the number one. Like I knew Williams was the number one guy.

[Alex Spears]

That's correct.

[Mike Smelts]

You know, some people, if you had.

[Alex Spears]

Just said Williams, I might have had to give it to you.

[Andrew]

Williams.

[Alex Spears]

The other names. Richard Jefferson.

[Mike Smelts]

Yep.

[Alex Spears]

Chris Morris, Bill Melchioni, Vince Carter, Billy Paltz and Mike Gaminski.

[Andrew]

There are so many names I've never heard heard before that you're saying to me right now.

[Alex Spears]

Yeah.

[Andrew]

Oh, man. Mike Smelts. Wish I wish that I could direct people to the Glue guys pod, but I can't. Anything that you want to plug before you go?

[Mike Smelts]

Nope.

[Andrew]

Okay. Thank you, Mike Smouts for joining the slam and jam pod.

[Alex Spears]

All right, Andrew. That was Nets week. And what a week it was. Congrats to the Nets 2 and 2. Let's see who our wheel Phantom team for next week is going to be. And I know I say this every week, but there are so many good teams that are in the midst of playoff seating battles right now. We got Milwaukee on there, Minnesota, Golden State, Sacramento trying to hold on to the last spot.

[Andrew]

Yep.

[Alex Spears]

Let's see who the Wheel is going to give us this week. This week's Wheel of Phantom team will be. Oh, hey, the Portland Trailblazers.

[Andrew]

Okay.

[Alex Spears]

Talked about Denny Abdia earlier. Yeah, that's not the worst. You know, maybe something crazy will happen and they'll still have a shot at the play in. They did win last night, so who knows.

[Andrew]

Hey, listen, the Wheel is trying to grab these teams before the playoffs because it knows. Listen, we're not talking about these teams anymore. So it is grabbing all these teams that we won't talk about a whole lot down the stretch. Hey, please leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts. We'll read it on the show. Don't have any to read this week but we would really, really appreciate it if you'd leave us a five star review and mention Slammin Jam on it also. Go take that review. TheAthletic.com Athletic Survey 25. We would very much appreciate that I hope everyone has a great weekend. Enjoy the basketball and we'll talk to you guys again next week.