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A
Oh, Magic City Monday. Hey, Magic City Monday.
B
We cover the wings. We cover the wings. We stay for the ass. Stay for the ass.
A
Welcome back to the Alley oop. I am Juju Gotti, joined by my sister as always, Trista Crick. How you doing, sis?
B
It was pretty good, right? Zach?
C
It was dead on. Dead on. Pre show. She did an impeccable juju impersonation.
A
Come on, man. And. And to say the least, the man, not the myth. Zach Harper is joining us today. How you been, my brother?
C
60 man, 40 myth. So pretty good, man.
A
That's not what I hear from the ladies. Moving on. We got a lot of stuff going on in the NBA. Let's go right into it, man. K. Cunningham, MVP candidates. Is it a lot?
B
I need you to adjudicate this sec. I believe if Cade Cunningham messes around and wins the mvp, he should give the award back. He is not a true creator for himself. You go into synergy. Every offensive metric is good to average to below average. He does not generate space. He is an excellent defender. He is an excellent passer. He is a terrible three point shooter. And for a guard, I want somebody to do better. In that regard, is it valid, yes or no to have this besmirching play the beat of Cade Cunningham?
C
I hope it just starts playing over and over because he pushed the button so much throughout. Yeah, that's a lot of besmirching. I do not think there's any world in which he should be the mvp. So I'll say that.
A
Okay.
B
Like, say it with your chest.
C
Zach, what are we doing? Like, this is Yo.
B
Say it again.
C
Or SGA's award. And if it's Jalen Brown or Cade Cunningham or Victor Wembanyama. No, thank you. That is strictly. We now have a 65 game rule. And those dudes didn't. Didn't become eligible because of that, which is stupid. It's a stupid rule for the. Especially for the mvp. That's an MVP by default. You cannot have an MVP by default. We often have someone coming out of the east by default. But this is. You can't have an MVP by default. That's not. Okay, you ready?
A
I feel you.
B
Back to Cade.
C
Yeah.
B
We're not about to allow you this.
A
Right. He just did his right professional man. By the way, if you don't know, now you know. My boy Zach is a professional Houdini. But you just saw it. He ain't answer a damn thing right.
C
He was like, step out of a damn question.
B
He was like soaked in oil. He slipped Right out of there.
C
That thing.
A
Yeah, no Diddy.
C
Definitely no Diddy. I do think like, yeah, he's a horrible, he's a horrible three point shooter. Especially if like what you want as a guard. I wonder how much of not creating space is because they literally have one shooter on that team. I do think that matters. Like you have so much that is just paint focused and, and like, I don't know. I don't, I don't know that you're, you're worried about too much of this, of like swings, you know, the pass or whatever. I, I think like he's become like, he's someone I've been highly critical of the past. I do think like he's become a really good clutch player. Right? And I think that matters. I think that matters like not three point shooting but everything else. Like, like he creates a great mid range shot for himself. He knocks it down, he gets the free throw line. So I think, I think Kate is like, like for me he's, he's on the MVP ballot. He's just not the mvp. Paul George wants to finish third on an MVP ballot. He wasn't close to MVP like that. That's where I think Kate is this year. Like for me, he's first team all NBA. But I don't know that he's like overrated. I think he's just overstated at this point for this season because people are hedging their bets going, well, you know, if SGA doesn't qualify and Jokic doesn't qualify, it's got to go to somebody like you even like your guy Stan Van Gundy, like a week and a half ago doing a Pistons Knicks game and he starts going off on how Cade Cunningham needs to be in the MVP conversation. You know what that means? I don't believe he's the mvp, but I do think he should be on the ballot, which is a nothing thing. When people are talking about the MVP conversation, that's a cowardice of I will not pick this guy. I just want, you know, I've been watching him.
B
Does Kate have a bag? Yes or no?
C
No.
A
What is happening? Right?
C
But he's, but he's quick enough and has good enough size of the point guard position. Like I don't think he needs a real bag.
B
He's very strong.
C
Turn the corner.
B
Yeah, he is very strong. Yeah, he can get to the mid range for a guard.
C
He can go left enough. He goes left like solidly.
B
See, here we go. Yeah, like he can go left enough. We're doing a Lot of hooping and hollering for Cade because this is. Let's be honest, push the button again, Dylan. Listen, Detroit's a cute story, okay? We're very happy that they got out of the basement and their 14 win season most consecutive losses in NBA history. I'm not acknowledging that flag but this team is vastly now been swung in a very height position and Cade is a. A part of that hype in my opinion. And I like Cade ish, but I don't even think he's in the MVP discussion.
C
No, like, because you. Because who. Who are the other. Like who are the five in the. In the ballot then if he's not in there?
B
Ant Wemby, Jaylen Brown, Shay Yoke.
C
Yeah, I can't Ants my guy. I can't put him in there yet. They've given away too many dumb games. Although has been spectacular this year. I do think Cade. But also this might be conference dependent now that I'm thinking about it.
B
In the East.
C
Yeah. They'd be the number one seed. They would be the number. They'd be the best team in the number one seed. Like Detroit. I. I'm going to say I don't want to take away from their accomplishment as I'm about to take away from their accomplishment. Detroit is the one seed kind of by default. Like the Knicks are supposed to be better. Right?
B
There it is. Let him know.
C
Give me that besmircher drop. I feel like I've.
B
I know he did.
C
I'll take it.
A
Yeah, bruh. Both of y'. All. I got one message for both of y'.
C
All.
A
Just because I love y', all, stay off the weed. You guys gotta be kidding me. Talking about, does K have a bag?
C
Are you.
B
Do we have a bag?
C
Highlight.
B
Find me the highlight.
A
He has a bag highlight. He got a bag. Highlights. Wake up. Second of all, does he have a layup package? Second of all, Second of all, I don't like the talk.
B
Does he have an in and out? Does he have a hesi? Does he have a cross?
A
You line stepping right now, Trista. You line stepping and I will not approve it. I'm going to throw a flag on you. You already got two in a challenge. So I'm saying, see? And I done lost my track of damn thinking. I'm saying Cade Krick, no matter what. I don't like the tuck rule. I don't like that a man just says H. The point went out right here. I'm g. Just stand here. Here's where I don't like none of that, but that's how it goes. Unfortunately, the Joker and Shay might be ineligible. And so if that actually happens, who we gonna give it to?
B
You Wemby.
C
Then we have a. Then we have a MVP by default.
A
And then who gets it?
B
Here we go. Let's see it. All right, this is gonna be funny.
A
Here we go. This shows off an empty stomach.
C
And then he said they foul more than anyone.
A
And they mouth. Come on.
B
It wasn't horrible, but, like, it was so stiff, man. We gotta move by Leonard as a deeper.
C
Remember when, like when all of a sudden everyone freaked out because Blake Griffin was like going between his legs stuff, but he didn't really go anywhere with it.
B
Yes, this is what I'm saying.
C
Yeah. Like, I think Kate's like a year away from like, using that to like, really get somewhere. Like, he's showing, like, hey, I. I don't. I do the.
B
I can dribble. Can you create space with the dribble?
A
I feel like I'm watching Beavis and Butthead right now watching REM play the
B
Cade bag video again. Does this.
A
Man, don't play it again. No, we gotta move on another one. And you answered a damn question whole time. Because if it's Joker. Exactly.
B
I said Wemby.
A
Exactly. Long story short, for me, though, I agree that the team is a little ahead of his time. The problem is K can't have a bad game for the Detroit Pistons for them to even win, unlike how Shay and them happen. So as good as they are, they're only as good as Shay. K takes them. I think they're a year away. They should have made a move at the break.
C
Should have made a move at the break for sure.
A
You feel me? Because Malik Beasley and what Tim Hardaway Jr. Provided something that Duncan Robinson just doesn't he. A head fake and dribble maybe once. Tim Robinson. I mean, Tim Holloway head fake dunk on your ass. Same with my boy Malia Beasley. Get well soon. Moving on, though.
B
Get well soon.
C
Yeah. Yeah.
A
So if you don't know, but now you know.
B
Dmp, allegedly he's got that allegation.
C
Itis right now. That's.
A
Look, y' all mentioned one of the. One of the MVP candidates as well. Victor Wima, who has his. His team right now, I think has. If not a Brighter, just as bright as if of a future as OKC right now, in my opinion. You did see. Look, you raised bait.
C
She's pushing it too far.
A
You see what I'm saying? This is how not during this is black history month. Trista first and second most. Don't make me get the third most. But Wimy had a lackluster game against the Toronto Raptors the other night. You did. And that team still finds a way to find a way, you dig? Because no matter what's going on on the offensive end, you gotta maneuver through the trees that are victory with Meama. My boy had a no look non jump block the other night. What is this? Artist? Are the spurs the scariest team in the West? Not named the Thunder?
C
No.
A
Oh, the Spur again. God damn.
B
I think yes. Just because I don't trust Aaron Gordon's hamstring coming back. We've been dealing with his hammy having problems since the playoffs last year. We've had two incidents this year. I think Aaron Gordon outside of Jokic is the most important role player in the West. Like I think he's the most important player besides Jokic on the Denver Nuggets. Without him, I think they're cooked. I think Minnesota has danger qualities because they've been to the Western Conference two times in a row. Western Conference finals. Excuse me, two times in a row. But like, it just feels they should have beat the hell out of the Blazers the other night. Six and a half point favorites, only win by three, giving up double digit leads multiple times. Against what they do though, they should blow out. And I don't trust Houston offensively. They're kind of a little like the Detroit Pistons of the west to me. Like, whoa, where's the buckets go? A couple of Thompson twins I think are kind of a key piece of that, that element.
C
The sports of the Thompson twins, I love them.
B
I love them so much. But they are really offensively. L limited from a shooting perspective.
A
Okay. I was about to pick the yellow
B
up from the shoot. From the shoot it from a shooting perspective anyway. So for me it is the Spurs, I think their upside and their health and Victor we're on the team makes them the most dangerous outside of okc. Zach, who is it for you?
C
It's big, honey. Is, is Jokic like he like. I get it. I'm with you. The Aaron Gordon hamstring is super concerning. This is a year of this and that's super concerning. He like, he took an elite historic Thunder team to seven with a not very good team. And they are, you know, they need, they do need Aaron Gordon. But like Jamal Murray finally had a good regular season where he got to be an all star. Like yeah, they. Tim Hardaway Jr. Came in. Bruce Brown. Bruce Brown Came back. Like, they brought in Valentunas, who hasn't solved the non Jokic minutes, but they also were, like, 8 and 5 when he was out, which you would have never thought they'd go 8 and 5 in that.
B
Can we. For a second?
C
Yeah.
B
I love Jamal Murray. He's one of my favorite players. Is Jamal Murray an all star if Jokic doesn't go down with that knee?
C
Probably not, but this is the best he's played in the regular season. It is, yeah.
A
He's been awesome, and he's usually unnecessary, but smirch, he's usually. I'm just tallying him. I'm tallying them.
C
It's not like we brought up, like, scary Team Canada, who didn't even medal in the Olympics, but we got to worry about the world. We can get to that. We can besmirch the world next if you want to, because I'm not worried about them in 2028 at all. Team USA all the way. But this. This Nuggets team, they don't need much, but they do need some Aaron Gordon. They do need some Aaron Gordon. What I'm saying is Canada is the new Australia, where it's like, oh, my God, they got all this talent. Look out for them, and then they don't medal.
A
Bruh, when I woke up this morning, he didn't know. We can besmirch the world is not a sentence I expected to hear today.
C
I did. Let me clarify this. Just talk about basketball, okay? I'm not. This ain't a. We're not going that side of the aisle. This is just about. I'm not worried about. I'm not worried about.
A
I don't even got that.
C
World basketball. By the way, the world's gonna fix the offset. They went 0 and 2. Get him out of here. USA all the way when it comes to basketball.
B
Hold on. There was no yogish. There was no Luca. There were no. There was no shame. You put all of these European teams together, including Canada, and they beat the hell out of the usa.
C
No way.
B
Not a Luca Wemby Jokic, first of all. Those three right there, You're a giraffe, Shea.
C
You know what we're not doing, though? You know what we're not doing in the Olympics. Hey, world gets to team up.
B
Yeah.
C
No. Team Canada. Take your Dylan Brooks and get out of here. You don't get to go to the bronze medal. So we're on the podium.
B
Canada and not the world.
C
All I heard about for years was, oh, look out for Team Canada didn't see him on the podium.
B
You see how besmirchy is a sickness, dog. Where they go when you just give somebody the opening to besmirch.
C
Look out for France. Why? Because Yabu's on the team. Get out of here,
A
bruh. To the flag. You got another flat. Trust is just, by the way, within that for the listening audience because she besmirched the usa. I don't give a damn what you assemble. We gonna win. We're gonna win the rest of the world.
B
Like, we almost lost to France, but Steph Curry had to go nuclear.
C
France was trying to come back and. And Steph put them to bed.
A
Steph Curry saved the world.
B
Serbia was sketchy. How about that loss we had to Nigeria?
A
Yeah, a get right game.
C
We're just warming up.
A
Steph Curry saved the world. That's what he did. Joel Embiid helped save the world. That's what he did. I'm so sorry.
C
Everybody want to be associated with the world. He's like, let me go to Team usa.
A
Come on, man. Return coat. We love him.
C
We love a turn coat. We love a turn coat. We love a turncoat.
B
French turn coat.
A
Moving on. Man, look, I can't believe we done got this far in the show with two damn topics and wersed Earth USA and the damn Monstars like. But it's a. The legend right now in the.
C
In the.
A
The. In the. Just the world, I guess, is that the east is so much more weaker than the west, man. But I'm starting to see, like a little bit different, in my opinion. I don't think the west just running away with no damn better than the East. So let's go seed by seed and let's just dissect this as fast as we can. We don't have to besmirch every single person on each team.
B
Okay, that's a good point that you make. Thank you for telling me.
A
Come on, guys.
C
You trying to condense this besmirchment?
A
Yeah, exactly. Number eight, man. Miami Heat versus the Golden State Warriors.
C
Who do you.
A
Who you got?
B
West.
C
Yeah, West.
A
Okay, well, that was anticlimactic.
C
Steph Curry versus Tyler here. I'm good.
A
Yeah, I forgot he has been ass lately. Number seven, Orlando versus Phoenix.
B
Phoenix. Well, wait, is Devin Booker and Dylan Brooks. Are they healthy? Are we taking.
A
That's the problem. I don't know that part because I feel you, but as of right now,
C
is Orlando still Orlando?
A
They got. They still got Epcot Center.
C
All right, Phoenix, you show me one easy bucket that they get. And I'll start believing everything's a damn grind. See? It is.
B
It's a grind. I always say. Kate Cunningham. The rich man's Palo Banchero.
C
Damn. Okay, that's. This is. Where's my flag?
A
There we go.
C
Thank you. Yes.
A
That is number five. That's 15.
C
Goodness.
A
Exactly. Okay. But also too salute to Jonathan Isaac Mohawk. Bruh. It's just a word of advice. Jonathan Isaac the Mohawk Young La ain't I days are over. Let the Mohawk go. Number six. Philly versus la.
B
Philly.
C
Yeah. That. That Lakers team stinks.
A
Right? Bro. That Luca9 shot at the buzzer the other night. What the hell was that? Did my boy glitch?
C
Let me say this. Everyone's always like, yeah, but the Lakers haven't been healthy this year. You know what their numbers are? When Luca LeBron and Austin Reeves are on the floor together, they're minus 8.4 per 100 possessions. That team stinks.
B
Stinks.
A
Damn out loud. Stinks the high hell.
C
And now Clint Capella or no, now deandre Aiden's mad because he wanted to be Clint Capella.
A
Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. Unleash her. Unleash Mercer. Go ahead.
C
They.
B
They have turned our boy deandre Ayton into a blonde Clint Capella. He's going through a midlife crisis right now because they've turned him into only a lob threat. He's got a deeper bag than that.
C
That bag is a travel bag for when mid April hits. He gets to go on vacation. That's when that. That's what that bag is after.
B
Or before the gather.
A
Look deandre a not it got his damn mind. Because bro, you are not Clint Capella. News flash. They. The Lakers wish they had.
C
Absolutely.
A
The Lakers wish they had anybody that had any kind of dog in them. Bigger than your dog. Neither here nor there. Number five. Minnesota versus Cleveland.
C
Minnesota. No question.
B
Wait. No. Minnesota versus Cleveland.
A
James.
C
Toronto. Oh, my bad.
A
My bad. Toronto. Sorry about that.
C
Either one is Minnesota. Doesn't matter.
A
I mean. Yeah. Toronto.
C
Trist. Trista's choking. I didn't know she was the Cavs in the playoffs. This is Toronto. Number four.
A
Cleveland versus Denver.
C
Come on. Come on. Yeah.
B
Denver.
A
I heard it.
C
Aaron Gordon could retire. I'm taking Denver there. That's. Yeah.
A
The Knicks versus the Rockets.
C
I'll go Knicks.
B
I'll go next.
C
Yeah. I don't know what the Rockets do at the end of games.
A
Me neither, bro. Neither does Reed Shepherd. The Celtics vs. The flag on yourself.
C
That was unnecessary.
B
This one's tight. I think I go Celtics number one.
A
The Thunder versus the Pistons.
C
Thunder. We damn near damn near took the. The. The Blue. The. The G League team last night over the Pistons. I'll go with the Thunder. Yeah, this is.
A
And as if you keep a score at home, the west is better than the East. What was I thinking? This shouldn't have been a topic.
C
No, it's a great topic. This is a great topic.
B
If the CAVs were a 4 seed, it would have changed everything. I mean, or 5 seed. If they were a 5C would change everything.
C
Oh, no, I'd still think Turbo's actually done something in the playoffs.
A
Ms. Rebecca. Let's get into some videos, man. Let's move on to a segment we like to call. Boy Stop. Here's your. Here's my MVP K. Can't touchdown from Kate Cunningham. Pushing the hell out of Stefan Castle. He had my boy in the clamps, man. That. That's the true sign of a clown. When you got an unnecessary sign of aggression that makes no sense to nobody except the aggressor.
B
He claims makes sense to me. He can't Euro step around them because he doesn't have the footwork.
C
Oh, goodness.
A
Goodness, gracious goodness.
C
Yeah. Well, yeah, this is also. This is also a game where they just kept, like, hitting Wemby in his, like, in the smallest back as much as possible. And it's like. But then they're gonna complain we don't get any whistles. I'm good.
B
I love Jalen Duran, though. I like how physical this Detroit team is. It is volleyball.
C
It worked until Wemby had enough.
B
When Isaiah Stewart was bleeding from his face coming for LeBron, I was like, this is a man after my own heart.
C
Yeah. No, I'm not messing with Isaiah Beef stupid.
A
Come on, man. Exactly. Y' all sit here dispersing Kate like Isaiah Stewart. Don't listen to this. Y' all know my boy listen to this every episode.
B
Yeah.
A
You feel me? What we got next? Ms. Rebecca. Oh, the Luca, man. Come on, bro. We talked about it earlier. Luca donches trigger shy. Trigger unhappy. Did my boy wide open ass shot. I'm talking about, bro. What you doing? And shouts out to everybody who out there needed just one and a half more point from Luca. Like your boy to come home. I' ma send y' all to the group chat. I'm just. Not even a lie. I'm being dead serious, bro.
C
Open and grenade that.
B
Open.
C
Open enough for him to get a shot off.
B
Definitely. I mean, I think DraftKings will be sending an email to see Fear Me
A
to Pablo Torre will be sending the email too. By the way, Luca Doncic. Enjoy, Enjoy this week.
C
How do you. You force LeBron into a post up, turnaround, jump shot at the three point wig like that at the. At the. At the break there on the. Like, that's. That's a grenade, right?
A
The whole way back. He did this. The whole way back to the locker room, LeBron did something spaghetti lasagna. Like L. Boy. Stop, man. Shoot the damn ball, man. I don't care if you shoot it over the goal. Shoot it one. We got last. Last video, man. We moving over to the unrival league, man. We got Kelsey Plum showing Aaliyah Boston exactly how the world perceives Aaliyah Boston digging Calcino Plumlina. Look at her bows, bows. Ludicrous bows.
C
Pivot, pivot, pivot.
A
Yeah, look, she might have been generous with her pivots at two.
C
It's. It's. It's not wrong, right? You know, like, it's. There's boom, boom. Yeah. Like, this is.
A
That's my dog.
C
Yeah.
A
What'd you think, Tristan? Is that. Is that my dog in the post? Is that how she.
B
That's our dog in the post. I love Aaliyah Boston, yo. He's incredible. She really is one of the most elbow laden post players I've ever seen. And she. She'll swing them like this, too. Get up. Let me create some space. Like I'm ludicrous.
A
Come on, man. We always root for Leah boss there, but, girl, don't act like this is new news to you. She looking like, what me? That.
C
Who.
A
Who you doing right now?
B
She said you're the reason that people think that. No, there's Reddit threads already made about this girl. Stop
C
anybody this season. There's no way that's true. Unless he just started. There's no. There's no. I guarantee she's been elbowing people. There's no way.
A
Right, man. But that's gonna do it for the alley Oops show, man. Thank y' all so much for joining us. Also, side note, get well soon to Ripertino in St. John's 18 minutes without no damn bucket run, everybody. Everybody get on the line, right? Everybody get on the line and run until I blow the whistle. You did. Thank you so much for joining us, Zach. Oh, my goodness, bro. Like, I always want to put this on wax whenever we have you on, bro. You one of the people that made me originally believe that I make it do this damn podcast and crazy.
C
You didn't think you could. Crazy. You didn't think you could.
A
That's confidence is a mother effort.
C
You dig?
A
Sometimes we need our friends and you have been that friend to me. And I want to always salute you and commend you for being that way for me. Bro, I wish you nothing but success. Right?
B
Great show. Honestly, just a phenomenally funny show. Zach, you're perfect compliment.
C
Look, I'm happy to besmirch anytime. This is my love language. You know, social media, who cares? But check out the bounce free newsletter that I do every day from the athletic theathletic.com/a bounce. You can catch me on NBA Radio every day from 1 to 2 Eastern with Mark Stein or Chris Haynes or Amin Al Hassan. And then check out Cinephobe podcast. We break down movies you're afraid to Mitchell love.
A
What the hell is that? As always, also Ms. Rebecca, we love you.
C
Text tone. That's what that is.
A
And distinguished. Dylan, thank you as always for your service. Trista, you know exactly how I feel about you too. Same way I talked about Zach. You already know that that's how we even got here. You dig it and catch us next Tuesday. Same bad time, same bad channel from Miami. Hey in the MIA where they cook
B
up lock in lock in www.alleyoopshow.com.
Episode: Alley Oop 163: Cade Cunningham: Superstar Leap or Empty Hype? (Feb 27, 2026)
Guests: Juju Gotti (Host), Trista Crick (Co-host), Zach Harper (Guest)
Recorded from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, this episode of "The Alley Oop" takes a spirited, irreverent look at NBA headlines, with a particular focus on whether Cade Cunningham is making a legitimate superstar leap—or if the hype exceeds the reality. Juju Gotti, Trista Crick, and NBA journalist Zach Harper critique the NBA MVP race, dissect the status of contenders, assess the Spurs and Thunder’s futures, debate conference strength, and pepper in signature humor, banter, and “besmirching.”
“For me, he's first team all NBA. But... I think he's just overstated at this point for this season because people are hedging their bets.” – Zach (04:15)
“Just because I love y'all, stay off the weed. You guys gotta be kidding me. Talking about, does K have a bag?” (06:47)
“K can't have a bad game for the Detroit Pistons for them to even win, unlike how Shay and them happen.” (08:56)
“Without [Gordon], I think they’re cooked... For me it is the Spurs, I think their upside... makes them the most dangerous outside of OKC.” – Trista (11:52)
"...He took an elite historic Thunder team to seven with a not very good team... they need Aaron Gordon, but they'll go as far as Jokic takes them." (12:07)
“You put all of these European teams together, including Canada, and they’d beat the hell out of the USA.” – Trista (14:04)
"What we're not doing, though: Hey, the world gets to team up. No. Team Canada. Take your Dylan Brooks and get out of here." (14:29)
The group runs through a rapid comparison of playoff matchups to see which conference is superior:
“As if you keep score at home, the West is better than the East. What was I thinking? This shouldn’t have been a topic.” (20:31)
The episode is packed with rapid-fire analysis, playful debate, tongue-in-cheek “besmirching,” and camaraderie. The panel moves briskly from topic to topic, blending basketball nerdery with pop-culture references and friendly roasting. The humor is boisterous and casual, perfectly capturing the vibe of a group of friends (and experts) going deep on hoops, hype, and everything in between.
For more, catch the Alley Oop show Tuesdays at www.alleyoopshow.com