What's Wright - Is Victor Wembanyama MVP? NBA Playoff DREAM scenarios + NFL stars in Olympics? | Nick Wright

Summary

---

The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "What's Wright: Is Victor Wembanyama MVP? NBA Playoff DREAM scenarios + NFL stars in Olympics?"

Host: Nick Wright (with Damanze)
Date: March 25, 2026
Episode: #436

---

Episode Overview

Nick Wright and co-host Damanze unpack the hottest stories in sports, zeroing in on Victor Wembanyama’s public MVP campaign and the raging debate over the value of defense versus offense. The episode dives deep into dream NBA playoff scenarios, evaluates the most viable Finals contenders, and also takes quick-hitter detours through NFL contract news and flag football’s Olympic ambitions. Nick combines his trademark data-driven takes with pop-culture savvy, providing context and perspective for listeners looking to understand the major narratives heading into playoff season.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Victor Wembanyama’s MVP Candidacy & the Defense vs. Offense Debate

• Wemby’s MVP Pitch (19:50):
  Wemby made his MVP case publicly, stressing defense’s importance, the Spurs’ dominance over OKC, and his overall impact beyond scoring.
  • Quote (Wemby via Nick): “My first one would be that defense is 50% of the game and that it is undervalued so far in the MVP race. Second argument would be that we almost swept OKC in the season and we dominated him. My third argument would be that offense impact is not just points.” (19:56)
• Nick’s Rebuttal: Defense Matters, But Offense Wins MVPs
  • Highlights historical MVPs with weak defense (Nash, Dirk, Steph, Harden) to argue that, in practice, MVP voters lean heavily on offensive value.
  • Quote (Nick): “When it comes to individual impact a player can have, it has never been and should not be 50% defense, 50% offense...that's evidenced by the entire history of awards voting.” (21:07)
• Wemby’s True Impact
  • Nick grants Wemby is possibly redefining how much a single player can impact a team’s defense but draws the line at projecting offensive value that isn’t there statistically yet.
  • Quote: “I am not comfortable for someone we have never seen do it, assign them credit for things they don’t do.” (24:54)
• Offensive Peers Comparison
  • Lists at least ten players he considers better pure offensive threats than Wemby at this stage (Jokic, Luka, SGA, Curry, Booker, etc.).
  • Likes Wemby’s defense for team value but won’t crown him MVP just yet.

Summary of Nick’s Top MVP Ballot (29:39):

1. SGA
2. Luka
3. Wemby
4. Jokic
5. Cade/Jalen Brown

---

2. "Best Player in the World" – Is Wemby There Yet?

• Current Landscape:
  Jokic remains Nick's top "best in the world," but with real postseason stakes, that mantle is up for grabs for SGA, Luka, or Wemby depending on playoff/finals outcomes.
  • Quote: “If the Thunder win the title and Shea...wins MVP or comes in second...then he is the best player in the world. There would be no instance in league history where someone peeled that type of back-to-back season without being regarded as the best player in the world.” (10:35)
• Pathways for Others:
  • Luka: May require a historic scoring and playoff run, but divergent opinions might prevent consensus.
  • Wemby: If Spurs win the title, “it will be a universally held opinion and probably correct that Wemby is the best player in the world.” (14:49)
  • Jokic: Needs at least a strong playoff showing to maintain claim; three straight years without deep postseason runs would erode his standing.

---

3. Kevin Durant: All-Time Scoring Perspective

• Efficiency Milestone:
  KD moves to 5th all-time in points scored—remarkably having far fewer shot attempts than others in the top five.
  • Quote: “Kevin Durant is fifth all time in points while being 13th in field goal attempts. That’s pretty remarkable… he has a case that he’s the most efficient scorer ever.” (04:44)
• Scoring Definition:
  • Nick differentiates between "scoring" and just being a "jump shooter"; emphasizes LeBron & Kareem as all-time bucket-getters, not just shooters.
  • Luka is rising as a possible elite on both fronts.

---

4. NBA Playoff Dream Scenarios

• Playoff Landscape (57:54):
  • East:
    • Wants Sixers in ("Embiid and Maxey coming back, a Sixers-Knicks round one would be delightful”).
    • Predicts Boston-Detroit East Finals if Cade healthy; Boston-Knicks round two is "the defining series in the East."
  • West:
    • Warriors “cooked”, Play-In visualized as Suns-Clippers.
    • Ideal: Spurs vs. Suns; Thunder vs. Clippers in round one (61:07)
    • Lakers-Rockets a gift for LA: “That is the best for the Lakers. Get the Rockets in round one and the Rockets seem very amenable to that.” (62:38)
    • Denver-Minnesota round one would be “a great round one.”
    • “OKC is rooting for Minnesota… Joker gives them more trouble than anybody.” (63:44)
    • Lakers’ dream: Play Rockets, hope Spurs are worn down, avoid Thunder, and maybe get Denver in WCF.

---

5. Other NBA Topics

• LeBron’s Scoring Dips & Role Change (48:53):
  • Acknowledges LeBron’s reduced scoring isn’t concerning: “LeBron is the greatest leader in the history of the NBA, the most versatile…he is going to play the role that helps his team win.” (48:53)
• Luka’s Technical Foul Tightrope (50:35):
  • Advocates for Luka to “burn one” and intentionally get suspended for a lesser game, so he’s not risking suspension against big opponents.

---

6. Quick Hitters – NFL & March Madness

• March Madness Disappointment (68:36):
  • Misses old continuity of mid-majors; NIL and transfer portal made upsets rarer.
    • Quote: “It has taken some of the character away from the tournament.” (69:53)
• NFL Contracts:
  • Reacts to Seahawks locking up JSN, implications for WR market (71:41).
  • "Just makes drafting WR in round one all the more attractive…a 40+ million dollar/year position.”
• Flag Football at the Olympics (72:44):
  • NFL players got schooled by Team USA; Nick concludes, “That ain’t football…It’s tag, which is cool…but it’s not football.” (72:56)
• Travis Kelce Contract Reporting Rant (74:25):
  • Nick blasts misleading NFL contract tweets—calls out Ian Rapoport specifically for “blatantly misinforming the public.”
    • Quote: “This is now the second time…Rapoport has…blatantly misinformed the public…It cannot be worth up to $57.735 million.” (75:53)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On MVP Criteria:
  “We have the Most Valuable Player award and then a supplemental award called Defensive Player of the Year. You know what? We don’t have Offensive Player of the Year because that would be redundant to MVP almost every season.” (22:39)
• On Wemby Hype:
  “There is an ongoing contest for Wimby hyperbole at the moment.” (29:39)
• On Celtics’ Title Odds:
  “Picking the Celtics to win the title is part that I think they match up well with anybody. But also I think that they are such a huge favorite to me to come out of the east, while the west, to me, has three very viable contenders.” (56:10)
• On NFL Contract "Reporting":
  “If you are going to consider yourself a reporter and your job is to inform the public about news, then you cannot willingly put out intentionally, wildly misleading information…” (78:27)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Victor Wembanyama’s MVP Case: 19:50–33:10
• Who’s The Best Player in the World? 10:19–17:07
• Kevin Durant’s Historic Efficiency: 04:44–07:02
• Dream NBA Playoff Scenarios (East & West): 57:54–65:47
• LeBron’s Changing Role: 48:46–50:35
• Luka’s Technicals Discussion: 50:35–52:52
• Celtics/Thunder Finals Outlook: 52:52–57:54
• March Madness (Sweet 16 & Upsets): 68:36–71:33
• NFL Contract Reaction (Kelce, JSN): 71:33–78:27
• Flag Football in the Olympics: 72:44–74:13

---

Episode Tone & Style

Nick Wright's approach is energetic, direct, and nuanced. He’s quick to support hot takes with context, stats, and historical precedent. The banter is quick, conversational, and occasionally combative (especially when parsing MVP criteria or countering media narratives). Listeners unfamiliar with the episode get a full understanding of the major sports narratives, plus Nick’s unfiltered perspective.

---

For a full breakdown of the evolving NBA MVP race, candid playoff predictions, and smart NFL contract talk—with some strong media criticism thrown in—this episode of "What's Wright" delivers Nick Wright at his most unvarnished.

Transcript

[CVS Representative]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Guaranteed Human we all want the best

[Verizon Advertiser]

without having to pay the most. That's where Verizon comes in. Get this now you can take your AT and T or T mobile bill into any Verizon store. They'll look at what you're paying and give you a better deal.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Period.

[Verizon Advertiser]

You get the amazing coverage you want while keeping more cash in your pocket. Visit your local Verizon store to start saving today. Must provide recent consumer mobile bill in the name of the person redeeming the deal. Additional terms and conditions apply.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's Stock Up Savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Lindor, Chips Ahoy, Gatorade, Host, Ziploc and Zoa. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more and more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions

[CVS Representative]

At CVS it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night. And we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and yeah, healthy, healthy snack. At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit [e-mail] or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location.

[IBM Researcher]

Every small business owner has that one moment that could have broken them, but remarkably, it didn't.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hi, I'm Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business and on Season three of

[IBM Researcher]

the Unshakeables, my co host Kathleen Griffith

[Ryan Seacrest]

and I are bringing you more incredible

[IBM Researcher]

stories of overcoming the impossible.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Listen to the Unshakables wherever you get

[IBM Researcher]

your podcasts and learn [e-mail] podcast JP Morgan Chase bank and a member FDIC Copyright 20 and 26 JP Morgan Chase Co.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Welcome in what's Right with Nick Ride episode 436. This episode of what's Right with Nick Ride is presented to you by Boost Mobile Damanze. Good morning. We are kind of color coordinated in our shirts today. Yours looks resplendent. Mine I thought looked good and then Damonte said I looked like Woody from Toy Story. He was however saying he liked the shirt. Those seem to be a little in conflict, but I'll take it a lot to do today as this is where so we will get to the tournament at later in the show. But there are certain things that are major sporting events or moments that I just, you know, self awareness is key to success in anything. And I think the audience if you're a die hard college basketball person and you listen to college basketball pods or you're watching the games all throughout the year, I am not the guy you're going to for deep tournament insight. I probably should have thought of that before I fired a few thousand dollars into March Madness Survivor Contest having not really been fully locked in the college basketball season all year. But we do have of the 16 best teams in the country all year, probably 12 of them are left. And so it should set up a great final few weekends. And so we will get to that. We will also get to the this time of year is when it finally starts to feel like every NBA game matters, where there's real stakes attached to seatings and how things could fall. So we'll get to all of that. And Wimby came out yesterday and with his chest said, yeah, I think I'm the MVP. Should be noted by the way, if he wins MVP, his next contract is $50 million more than if he doesn't. And so now he has an opportunity this year or next year for that. And so there is, you know, he obviously has a case, but he also has I don't think this is what he's thinking about, but major financial incentive because of the odd way the NBA does Max and Supermax and what you are or aren't eligible for. So we'll get to all of that. But first, straight to voicemail presented to you by our friends at Boost Mobile. Kevin Durant moves into the top five all time in scoring, which also does mean Michael Jordan is no longer the top five in scoring, which does also mean it's kind of hard to find the things Michael Jordan is first in. He, you know, field goal attempts per game in the modern era, he's first points per game. He is first scoring average. But Luca's on his neck on that. Luke is less than 1 point per game behind him and could run him down and so Jor but here is the thing that I really want to focus on with the Durant piece of it. LeBron is first all time in points, first in shot attempts. Kareem is second all time in points. Kareem is second in shot attempts. Karl Malone is third all time in points. He's third in shot attempts. Kobe is fourth all time in points. He's fourth in shot attempts. Michael is sixth all time in points. He's fifth in shot attempts. Because Kevin Durant is fifth all time in points to Monze while being 13th in field goal attempts. That's pretty remarkable. And I wouldn't call him that, but he does have a case that he's the most efficient scorer ever.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Okay.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

And he does certainly have a case that he is. And not only a case, I might agree with him if he were to say he's the most versatile scorer ever. Being able to be elite from everywhere.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Who will be better than him?

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Who.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Who would you give the title to? The best score.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

As far as best scorer. Just best?

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Yeah, just get a bucket guy.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

I mean, I think Braun and MJ are the two best. Now people blanche when you include LeBron

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

in that because it's like not ISO game.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Yeah, well, because they, for some reason people are like, well, getting to the bucket doesn't count. Yeah, but it does. And, and so like the, you know, Apex, LeBron was as surefire of a bucket as anybody, including game winning, buzzer beating, layups and dunks because you just couldn't stop him from getting there. But when people say score a little too often score is conflated with jump shooter because also super high on the list for me of best scorers ever is Kareem because he had an unguardable shot that scored the sky hook. But when people say best scorers, they will mention shit. Some people will mention Allen Iverson before they mention Kareem because they look at they. What they mean is perimeter guy who, you know, shoots jumpers. Yeah, yeah. And so. But I'm going to tell you someone else who might finish his career with the strongest argument, and that's Luca. Yeah, Luka is as good of a scorer and we're not even talking about the points he creates for other people. But Kevin Durant's on the very, very, very short list and getting to fifth all time in points while being 13th in field goal attempts. Only Braun did something similar where he was way, way outpacing his career ranking in points and he was way higher on the career points list than he was on the shot attempts list. So shout out to Kevin Durant. I, you know, this is. We're supposed to do a full topic on it. We kind of did. Pacers get their first one in five and a half weeks against the magic that's actually really good for the Lakers that the Pacers finally won right before the Lakers play them. Now the Pacers can get back to losing and Emo Doka says Houston disrespected the game. The Rockets are in freefall and they are the team everybody is going to want to face in round one. Reminder to everybody like Rate subscribe review to our channel. It really does help us. And also a reminder, keep sending in questions and comments if you don't get them read on the show. Don't despair. Not that you despair anyway, but don't we are going to do mailbag episodes as our third episode of a week periodically over the next few months. So we, you know, we're calling quite the list or cultivating quite the list and we'll get to those as many as we can at some point. All right, Damanze, let's get to Victor Wimanyama, Best player in the world in the NBA MVP race yes.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

So on the TV show you said that you believe Jokic still has the title for best in the world. But that's for now because we have the postseason coming up and guys like sga, Luka and Wimby will be gunning for that spot. Do you think that it's actually up for grabs and that any of those guys can do it?

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Oh yeah, absolutely. So I think that if any of those let's just go one by one. If the Thunder win the title and Shay, he's either going to win MVP or come in second. I would imagine he's a huge favorite to win it. But it's not over yet. And Shea goes regular season mvp, Finals MVP followed up by regular season MVP or runner up and finals MVP in back to back years. Then he, he he is the best player in the world. Like you can't There would be no instance in league history where someone peeled that type of back to back season without being regarded as the best player in the world. So the you know Isaiah Thomas won back to back championships and one finals mvp but was never close to a league mvp. And people didn't consider him the best in the world. But everybody else. Jordan, Shaq, Kobe when he won his back to back without Shaq, he didn't win league MVP either of those years. So it at least was you know for many arguable him versus Braun, Steph when they won back to back he he won back to back MVPs but only won one title. And then the guy who beat him the second year he won MVP was LeBron and then the next two years they won back to back titles, but Durant won finals mvp. But again there was brawn hovering over all of it. So it was at least you know, in real question. Particularly because people thought the Steph KD combo was, you know, a little unfair. So that. That's why there wasn't a. I think LeBron was pretty universally regarded in 1718 as the best player alive. And there wasn't somebody that said I have all the hardware that you can win. Shea would have all of it. And so Shea would have the. The argument Luca is. Here's the thing Damon say. I think that if the Lakers won the title there would still be some hesitation to call Luca the best player in the world because he is so polarizing to a degree. But. And what some people just don't like his game. Just you know the. And he has a glaring right now kind of. Yeah, but I think Luke is more polarizing in that people the. The criticisms of SGA's game are purely like an aesthetic criticism, not a. He has a hole in his game on this side of the ball. However, If Luca scores 34 a game, wins the scoring title and then for the third time in his career carries his team in the playoffs well beyond their seating where they are going on the road and upsetting people the way he did against the number one seed Phoenix Suns, the way he did with Dallas against OKC and then against Minnesota getting to the finals. And if he because they for them to win the title, they will be underdogs if seeds hold in round two, round three and round four for them

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

to be where Luca probably would have torched some.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Exactly right. So I think Luca, while maybe it wouldn't be a majority opinion meaning more than 50% of the people feel it, I think it would be a plurality opinion meaning he gets more votes than anybody else. And Wimby, if the spurs win the title, I think it will be a universally held opinion and probably correctly that Wimby is the best player in the world. And so and then for Joker it's. He kind of needs to hold serve and have the Celtics win. So I think Joker, by that I mean do well I think Joker win around they get popped in round two by the Thunder. But he's excellent similar to last year's series and then the Celtics Eastern comrades team wins Celtics, Pistons or Knicks. Then I think he would you know have. And it's maintain an argument of a gray area. But. But I will say there's not a ton of precedent in NBA history for a guy to be go three straight years of not making round three or, or deeper and still be considered the best player alive. There's not a lot of, there's not a lot of example of that. And so, and that's what it would be for Joker. It would be what I'm describing as three straight round two exits. And so I do think right now it's a real argument. I think the best player alive is Joker. A lot of people think it's Shay. And we're going to talk about WIMBY in a moment. Brew has been arguing wimby. I think Luca is trying to build a case and, you know, that's the entirety of the list, so to speak. All right, let's talk WIMBY and MVP right now. Hello.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Hello. I'm Malcolm Gladwell, host of Smart Talks with IBM. I recently spoke with IBM's new director of research and Jake Gambetta. We discussed his vision for the future of quantum computing at IBM Research.

[IBM Researcher]

What we always do is answer what is the future of computing? Whether it's coming up with new algorithms, coming up with better AI, coming up with quantum, or coming up with just how do different accelerators go together? It's our DNA. To answer the question of what is the future?

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Isn't it a perfect problem for IBM because you kind of need to have a legacy of building stuff, Dustin, building actual physical machines.

[IBM Researcher]

Yeah. It's why I came to IBM. I wanted the experience, the culture of building hard things that others have not done before.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Where do you imagine we are in the timeline of this technology? There will come a point when it will mature, right?

[IBM Researcher]

Yeah.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

My cell phone is a mature technology at this point. How far are we from that point

[IBM Researcher]

with Quantum, by 2029 we'll build the first fault tolerant Quantum computer that is one that can run a very, very large, large problem.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

To learn how IBM is building the future of computing, visit IBM.com quantum

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

hey,

[Ryan Seacrest]

it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's stock up savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on items from Lindor, Chips Ahoy, Gatorade, host, Ziploc and Zoa. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.

[Verizon Advertiser]

All right, two truths and a lie Here we go. I went to college with college football coach Jim McElwain. I began my broadcasting career doing play by play for the Las Vegas Stars and I've been a Verizon customer for 15 years. Okay, I lied. All three are true. Verizon isn't as expensive as you think. In fact, if you bring in your AT&T or T mobile bill to a Verizon store, they'll give you a better deal. That's right, a better deal on the best network with the most ways to save on plans, streaming and phone deals. So take that AT and T or T mobile builder, local Verizon store today get a better deal and start saving based on root metrics. Best overall Mobile Network Performance U.S. 2nd Half 2025 All Rights Reserve must provide recent consumer mobile bill in the name of the person redeeming the deal. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Yeah, so Wemby made his case for MVP after the game and oppressor and here's what he had to say.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

My first one would be that defense is 50% of the game and that it is undervalued so far in the MVP race. Second argument would be that we almost swept OKC in the season and we dominated him. My third argument would be that offense impact is not just points. Okay, so before I even get to the actual merits of his point, what do you like, dislike or you're ambivalent demons a on him stumping for? I know he was asked the question. He was asked what are your three point but that he is stumping for himself to win mvp.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

I actually like it because I feel like some guys probably go the opposite way and they might feel in themselves that they should be MVP and might not be saying it. And I think Wimby deserves it. I like it.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Oh, so you think he is the mvp.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Yeah, I'd say that's pretty fair to say. And I also just like Wimby.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Yeah, and you don't like. You don't like the Thunder. Okay, so let me go through his points because Brew and I got into a more heated than is typical for our show argument discussion whatever yesterday about kind of Luca versus Wimby. And the first point people make is the one he made which is defense is half the game. And that sounds smart and that sounds correct except for the fact that when it comes to winning MVP of the league, defense is not and has never been half the game. And when it comes to individual impact a player can have, it has never been and should not be 50% defense. 50% offense. This is evidenced by the entire history of awards voting up to and including demands a the awards we have to give out. We have the all NBA team, the 15 best players in the league, and then a supplemental all defense team.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Yep.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

You know what? We don't have the all offense team. You know why? Because they're like, yeah, that pretty much just be the all NBA team. We have the Most Valuable Player award and then a supplemental award called Defensive Player of the Year. You know what? We don't have Offensive Player of the Year because that would be redundant to MVP almost every season. Furthermore, just this century, we have had damn near 10 MVP seasons by objectively bad defensive players. Yeah, both Steve Nash years, Dirk's year, some would argue Russell Westbrook's year, certainly James Harden's year, Steph's years. At least one or two of Joker's years, certainly the first one. Yeah. So now those are all again, varying levels of bad defenders. Yeah, but they are at best meet Joker's gotten way better defensively, I should say, by the way, somewhere from mediocre to a Nash's case, downright damaging. Steph's first year, he was, they were a great defense despite him his first year winning mvp. Now let me go ahead and ask folks this question. This century or any century, how many league MVPs have we had where they're downright bad offensive players? The answer is none. It is not how we. Now Wimby's saying he thinks that's a flaw in the system.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Yeah.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

And Wimby's defense is so sensational that maybe it bends the rules a bit on impact an individual defensive player can have on the offense.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

He also affects the, the offensive side pretty well too though, right? Does he not?

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

So, so that's what I want to discuss here because this is where Brew and I got into it a bit. Okay, but let me stay on the defense just for a second, then I'll get there. Okay. So I do agree, when it comes to a team winning the championship, defense is as important as offense. And history backs that up. And in fact, a truly elite, elite defense has been as big, if not slightly bigger historical signifier of championship chances than an elite offense. And so team wise, I, I agree with that. Take the distinction is one singular talent can impact a team's offense more than one singular talent can impact a team's defense. And again, Wimby might actually be changing those rules in real time. Like his ability. He, he might be an unprecedented defensive performer with defensive impact. And then we get to Wimy's offense, which is I am not comfortable for someone we have never seen do it. Assign them the ability or the credit for doing things they don't do. It's one thing when Kevin Durant goes to Golden State, if people are like, well he could be averaging 30 plus, it's like, well yeah, we've seen him do it a bunch. Wimy averages 24 points and three assists a game and folks seem to want to say, yeah, but he could average 30. It's just not how the spurs do things. Okay, I'm not, I am not going to say that you get to have everything when it comes to your MVP argument. And by that I mean this. Folks seem to believe that the spurs, as Brew puts it, egalitarian style of basketball is what's best for their ability to win games. Okay, so if Wimby took more shots, maybe they would have a slightly worse record. He shouldn't get the MVP boost from the better record. That is caused by the style they play and then also a boost of. But hypothetically he could be averaging more points. Unless in that hypothetical we're also going to draw away a few of the wins. That's first point. Second point is this. I don't know if Wimby would be quite as impactful defensively if they added to his offensive workload. So what I'm not comfortable with is saying we know if he were taking way more shots and playing more minutes, he would be play to play as dominant defensively because what we have seen from every player across league history is as their offensive workload increases, their defensive impact tends to decrease a bit. Kawhi Leonard is a great example. Kawhi Leonard's best defensive seasons were before he became the team's number one offensive option and it is now. Tim Duncan would be the argument as to a guy who won MVPs without gaudy offensive numbers. I would argue MVP Duncan was a better offensive player than Wimby is at the moment. But I don't think right now Victor when Benyama as great as he is and again I'm not trying to be the anti Wimby guy but it does seem like there's the the there is

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

a bit of a gone too far

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

or is it just just a touch? Just it feels like there it is an ongoing contest for Wimby hyperbole at the moment. And so here is the question that I would have and this is where you know one of the arguments Brew and I got in yesterday I don't think Wimby if we are evaluating just offense just as offensive players. I don't think he is one of the 10 best offensive players in the sport yet. Doesn't mean he won't be. But I think and I'm gonna do this off top my head, I think Shea is a better offensive player. I think Joker's a better offensive player. I think Luka is a better offensive player. I think Ant is a better offensive player. I think Steph Curry is a better offensive player. I think Devin Booker is a better offensive player. I think Donovan Mitchell is a better offensive player. I think if we're going to give him assume he gets back to himself. I think Jason Tatum is a better offensive player. I think Cade Cunningham is a better offensive player. I the one I threw out yesterday that Brew lost his mind on but I thought was like kind of I was shocked there was so much pushback. I think Tyrese Haliburton is a better offensive player and I think we're seeing how much of that offense was relying on him. But even if you want to take Tyrese out, who am I? Oh, Jalen Brunson I think is a better offensive player. And I am not saying Wimby won't get there. I am not saying Wimby that maybe he is already there and we're just not seeing it. But what I'm not comfortable with is saying he gets credit for things he has not done he is not doing and he has not yet done. And so I think that if, if I were right now voting for league mvp, my ballot would go number one, Shay number two, Luca number three, Wimby number four, Joker. Number five, Cade. But Cade's going to fall off for eligibility so Jalen Brown would take his spot. That's. That's what my and again if we want so I guess right now technically I've Cade 5, Jalen Brown 6 Jalen Brunson 7 is how I would stack it with assuming Cade's going to lose out on the spot. But there are People are so fascinated by what Wimby is already doing that we're doing some weird psycho psychological things on so go ahead.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

It is, it is most valuable player. Like you say Wimby's averaging 24, 3, 23 and 3 right now SGA is averaging 31 6. I think it is most valuable player. I think that with what Wimby does on offense and the amount of shots that he affects on defense, I think together it makes him the most valuable player. Like in my opinion, like, I think

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

that's how I think of it so I get that like I know and I no, no, no. And together you know. No, I totally understand that. What what I'm saying is I think we have Wimby is but statistically the exact same guy he was last year Last year is 2411 and 3 this year is 2411 and 3 Efficiency is the same. I guess you can argue he got better defensively but it feels like he has been basically the best defender in the league since the moment he walked into the league. And to me the big difference is the spurs team around him has gotten so much better now we can now the spurs defense he is the sun, the moon and the stars for that. I don't feel that way about their offense. I don't think like Wimby's presence dramatically makes de' Aaron Fox a better offensive player or the Harper and Castle are blue chip guys and so and I think it is noteworthy that they're 10 and 5 in the 15 games he hasn't played. It's not again I'm not negging his case but it's not as if they fall apart entirely without him. And so if we are I the the guy who by eye test the team is team is absolutely most reliant on to be anything is Joker now they actually went on I think they did decent the time he missed but it's just watching them it feels like everything revolves around him entirely. And I'm not it just feels like people are pressing fast forward and have been throughout Wimy's career. I in the you know my pal Bill Simmons yesterday on his pod for a reason I still don't totally understand did a Wimby's in year three but I want to compare him to all of the best year twos ever. And part of now I understood why he wanted to do that when it came to Duncan and Kareem guys who played four years in college. But like LeBron was younger than Wimby when he came out of school and LeBron in year three was second in the MVP race and averaged 31 points a game. And LeBron when he was younger than Wimby is right now took a team to the NBA finals. And so the Jordan in his rookie year rookie year Michael Jordan was 28 a game Jordan's year two he got hurt. Jordan's year three averaged 37. So like I so you feel similarly

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

about like Josh Allen. You think a similar thing is being done just like kind of pushing someone?

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

No, this is actually very different than Alan because Alan was not this fee at phenom like this. This started for Wimby before he was drafted. This was you know woes saying people think by his third year he can be the best offensive and defensive player in the league. And again offensively I think he's a real. I don't think he's a great offensive player yet. I don't. I think he's a really good offensive player. Far and away the best defensive player in the league. And if that is enough to make him league MVP on a two seed, so be it. Like I don't think it's outrageous to say he's league mvp. What I am saying is this and because a lot of this has come up in the LUCA MVP discussion. Well defense is has half the game and for the MVP award. No it is not and it never has been. And the last five guys to win defensive player of the year did not, you know got a combined the five, five guys who won defensive player of the year got a combined 1 5th place MVP vote between the five guys five seasons. If defense were half the game when it comes to voting for MVP then they'd be so I just, I don't think that is how it's been done. And so there's my 30 minutes on Wimby and the MVP award. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor Hard Rock BET Florida Sportsbook. If your brackets already busted, you're not alone. But don't worry, you can still call the next big upset and turn your picks into payday on Hard Rock BET all tournament long. Hard Rock Bed is rolling out daily dance and boost featuring a live profit boost and a parlay profit boost every single day. That's more ways to shoot your shot and cash in with boosted odds. And you know those heart stopping zero on the clock moments. Now they pay. Hard Rock BET is giving out $25 bonus bets throughout the tournament if a team you bet to win or cover hits a buzzer beater. If you haven't joined Hard Rock BET yet, now's the time to check in the game. New signups can double their winnings on their first 10 bets, max of $50. That means if you would have won a hundred bucks on your bet, now it's 200. So so don't sit on the bench. Download the Hard Rock BET app today and let's get the party started Payable and bonus bets not a cash offer offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states must be 21 and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia. To play, terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida, call 1833 play wise in Indiana. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem wants help, call 1-800-9 with it gambling problem, call 1-800- gambler Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia. Hello.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Hello. I'm Malcolm Gladwell, host of Smart Talks with IBM. I recently spoke with IBM's new director of research, Jake Ambetta. We discussed his vision for the future of quantum computing at IBM Research.

[IBM Researcher]

What we always do is answer what is the future of computing? Whether it's coming up with new algorithms, coming up with better AI, coming up with Quantum, or coming up with just how do different accelerators go together? It's our DNA. To answer the question of what is the future?

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Isn't it a perfect problem for IBM because you kind of need to have a legacy of building stuff.

[IBM Researcher]

Yes.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Building actual physical machines.

[IBM Researcher]

Yeah. It's why I came to IBM. I wanted the experience, the culture of building hard things that others have not done before.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Where do you imagine we are in the timeline of this technology? There will come a point when it will mature, right?

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Yeah.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

My cell phone is a mature technology at this point. How far are we from that point?

[IBM Researcher]

With Quantum, by 2029, we'll build the first fault tolerant Quantum computer that is one that can run a very, very large, large problem.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

To learn how IBM is building the future of computing, visit IBM.com quantum

[Ryan Seacrest]

hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's stock up savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals that earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on items from Lindor, Chips Ahoy, Gatorade, Host, Ziploc and Zoa. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards. To save even more, enjoy savings on top of savings. When you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.

[Verizon Advertiser]

All right, two truths and a lie. Here we go. I went to college with college football coach Jim McElwain. I began my broadcasting career doing play by play for the Las Vegas Stars. And I've been a Verizon customer for 15 years. Okay, I lied. All three are true. Verizon isn't as expensive as you think. In fact, if you bring in your AT and T or T mobile bill to a Verizon store, they'll give you a better deal. That's right. A better deal on the best network with the most ways to save on plans, streaming and phone deals. So take that at and T or T Mobile build or your local Verizon store today get a better deal and start saving based on root metrics. Best overall Mobile Network Performance US Second Half 2025 all rights reserve must provide recent consumer mobile bill in the name of the person redeeming the deal. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

All right, Damonte, let's go to the Lakers.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Lakers lost in a close one last night to the Pistons without any Cade Cunningham. LeBron didn't score in the second half.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

You went and in the first half or in the first half?

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

In the. In the first half. Apologies. You want us as far to elevate in the Lakers into the Celtics and Spurs tier? Are you walking that back a little bit? They didn't beat Detroit one time this year either. I think that's the type of team you need to beat. The Lakers.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Oh, that's interesting. I the. I mean that's. That means. So they're always two against Detroit. Yeah. And the spurs, or maybe the. The spurs obviously can bring similar defense. The Celtics different style, but can bring great defense. The Thunder more than any team in the league. That's what I was thinking bring, you know, a great physical defense. Here's why I'm the Yes, I do think it was just one game and you've won nine in a row. You're on this road trip and I what I thought was most noteworthy about that game is the. And the Lakers are a combined, I think 1 and 7 against Celtic Spurs, Thunder. So that is certainly noteworthy. What. And they play the Thunder a couple more times here in the final two weeks of the year. The Lakers were down 18

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

and

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

didn't pack it in. And they, you know, they, despite the fact that they're on this winning streak, despite the fact that they have some games to play with and they know their next three, by the way to Monza are Pacers, Wizards, Nets. Yeah, they. They fought all the way back and had a lead with 30 seconds left. The end of game was clumsy. Jake Laravia committed a terrible foul and then Luca took a really tough shot. Down one.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Then a little bit more time there. I'm talking about the buzzer.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

You're talking about the down three. Yeah, yeah. Or to force overtime. And then their final possession. What happened, I think in the final possession to Monze when they were down three was Luca got the ball and was concerned that The Pistons were going to intentionally foul to stop him from getting up a three. And because of that he tried to be a little more herky jerky rather than just go into a shooting motion. And then all of a sudden he was, you know, he was screwed. But I do think, I think Lakers spurs in a series is a 6040 series. And I think spurs edge but I think a 6040 series and I think that if the Lakers were to get to the finals, which is the only place they could play the Celtics, it would have meant that they streamed together basically three months of elite basketball like the last month. What you know, the end of the regular season and the month and a half of the playoffs leading into the finals. I think the Thunder the best team in the league, they and I put the fact that they had that little mid season swoon a lot to kind of boredom. However, we are on seven consecutive defending champions. Not only not defending their title, not only not making it back to the finals, but 7 straight have not made it or 6 straight this 77 year would be the Thunder made it to the conference finals. And so the there is, there is a path that exists that we're going to get into later where the Lakers don't have to play the Thunder to make the finals. And do I think they can beat the Spurs? Do I think a Lakers team that has in its major in its rotation Austin re of its starting lineup, Austin Reeves with the least playoff experience has played in the conference finals. Deandre Ayton, third least or sec. How am I saying this? Second least playoff experience has been to the NBA finals. Luca who's been to a finals. Marcus Smart who's been to a finals. And Braun who's played like 300 playoff games compared to the spurs whose starting lineup is or five most important guys. Wimy with zero playoff games. Castle with zero playoff games. Dylan Harper was zero playoff games. Dearon Fox with seven playoff games.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

That's right.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

And then Harrison Barnes with 71 who you know, Harrison Barnes is the experience on the team. It's Barton71, Fox 7 and everyone else if you go down the rotation until you get to Luke Cornett, everyone else has zero. I do think that that matters. And so I think that I'm fine with having Thunder here and then Spurs, Celtics, Lakers there and then all everyone else. Knicks, Pistons, Nuggets, Timberwolves on that row beneath them. All right, what else you got here?

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Yeah, so this is now Back to back 12 point games from LeBron. Is this the norm moving forward?

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

12 point games. I Don't think so. But he this was his first scoreless first half demons a in 16 years and he said it after the game, what's best for the team is for me to take the third most shot and it's correct. Like him being able to be Swiss army knife. LeBron deploy more of his energy as a defender and a cutter is what's best for him. And LeBron is the greatest leader in the history of the NBA, the most versatile player in the history of the NBA and the smartest player in the history of the NBA. He is going to play the now here's the thing. If this Lakers team demons a was mediocre and if he was hadn't missed the beginning of the year and was all NBA eligible if they were an average team and he could make the all NBA team, I think he would have a harder time taking on this role. Like I'm not going to score 17 a game for, you know, for a 42 and 40 team and break my all NBA streak. But the all NBA streak got broken before Halloween because of the missed games. And this team, while not a huge championship shot has a championship shot. And so I think he's fine with the role. All right, you got a Luca question here.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Luca got a technical over the weekend rescinded with upcoming games against the Pacers, Nets and Wizards. Do you think he should intentionally get teed up?

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

So I've been saying this and no, nobody seems to like this take but I think that Luca absolutely in one of the next two games, if the Lakers have a big lead late, should intentionally get a technical, serve as suspension and reset the suspension clock. So here's the way it works. You get suspended on your 16th technical and then it's every other one. Then it's 18, 20, 22. So right now he has a zero technical margin of error.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Yep.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

If he were to get one in the Pacers game, he then misses the Nets game and then he has one free, one technical. Exactly.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

That's not enough for Luca though, man. Like.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Well, he's been really, it's been. He's been really good. The last, ever since he got 15. He's been good.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Yeah.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

And so I just don't. What I don't want is if he goes through these next three games with no technicals, they then have here they have this stretch after these three home for Cleveland. So honestly, because they play Washington and then Cleveland on a back to back, Lucas should get the technical against Brooklyn, sit the Washington game, be rested for the Cleveland game because it's on a back to back because then after that you, you have this stretch to Monte at OKC at Dallas. Home for OKC at Dallas. Luke is going to be fired up.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Yep.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Do I see a scenario where he gets a technical in Dallas and then has to miss the home OKC game? I do. So just burn one. Burn one soon and get your rest. All right, let's talk Thunder Celtics.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

So the reigning champs are getting Jada back finally. They are facing off of my Celtics tomorrow and that is the finals favorite matchup. Who do you think this will be telling for?

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Well, I think that neither of these teams are going to look at all like they'll look come the Finals because Tatum is just still like listen, we knew these growing pains were going to be coming for Tatum. His shots been off. That's the, that's why getting him back in early March instead of early April was so important. So hopefully he's got the rust knocked off by the playoffs. The Thunder with J Dub coming back is so odd because he's their second best player and over the last few years he's had no impact whatsoever on whether they've won or lost. Like they have been record wise over a huge sample just as good with him or without him as with him now. I do think that him coming back is important. If for no other reason than now someone, if someone else gets hurt, you're not all of a sudden thin on guys. But aside from Shea, no one on the Thunder is irreplaceable

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

and

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

I so the Thunder are gonna, you know, they'll work him back in. They're going to continue to be excellent and we're talking about their potential playoff matchups here in a minute. The, the interesting part of the Tatum of this is Tatum slowly but surely trying to get back to being Jason Tatum and it is going to be slow. So he has not Demandz a shot 50% from the field in a single game yet. And I'm fine with it. He's rebounding like crazy. He is like way above. He's at nine rebounds a game. He has four of his six or four of his eight games he's been back. He's been in double digit rebounds.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Get in where you fit in.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

He is getting to the line. He's just not making jump shots. That's fine. Oh, I'm sorry. And I should. He's not getting to the line is what I meant to say. And he's not getting, he's not making his jump shots. He's got to get his legs Underneath him. And he will.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Are you still where you're at? Okay. You are clearly a couple weeks ago with what he means for the Celtics.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Well, so here's the thing. I want to kind of, like, make this clear on my Celtics pick to win the title. If there were not conferences and you just had all 16 teams jumbled together in the playoffs by record, I don't think I would pick the Celtics to win that tournament.

[Verizon Advertiser]

I.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

That's fair. I die just because, like, how soon they would have to see the West.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Yes.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Like, Tatum gets more time to ramp up in the east.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Correct.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

By the time you see the west, that's fair.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Right. And so by the time the Celtics get to the Finals, Tatum will have played nearly three months post Achilles. Right. I also think the Celtics are less likely to get beat the hell up en route to the finals as whomever comes out of the west. And so I. It's. Picking the Celtics to win the title is part that I think they match up well with anybody. But also I think that they are such a huge favorite to me to come out of the east, while the west, to me, has three very viable contenders that I. I'm just very confident the Celtics are going to be there. And I don't know in the west who's going to be there. My. The. The. There's an argument for, obviously for the Thunder, but I just talked about the issues with defending champs this decade and how hard it's been and the fact that the spurs have owned them. There's an argument for the Spurs. They're 21 and two in their last 23. Wimy is only getting better, but they have no playoff experience whatsoever. There's an argument for the Lakers, which is, we have seen Luca do this before, but they're clearly the worst defense of the three. Like, there's. And. And so I just don't know who's coming out of the west, and I feel like I know who's coming out of the East. Speaking of how these things can go, let's talk playoff matchups.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Play in tournament begins in three weeks, and the playoff picture is becoming more clear. Which matchups are you hoping to see?

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Okay, so let's. Let's start in the East. All right. In the East, I. I am not as fascinated by the Charlotte Hornets as others, and I am not, you know, I don't think they would provide any resistance whatsoever for any team. So I'm fine with Charlotte missing it. And with respect to Bam, I don't need to see the Heat in the Playoffs just for pure Cinema de Monze I think around one Pistons Magic series with Cade fresh off the collapsed lung or maybe missing time we might get an old school early 2000s or 90s series where the games are like 83 to 78. If we have the Pistons without Cade and that Magic team I want the Sixers to make it because I do think the Sixers whole are interesting and I think if Embiid's healthy Embiid and Maxi coming back a Sixers Knicks Round 1 would be delightful. Yeah I would just really like to see that. The I so I listen I don't really the east though round one is not as interesting. We are going to get Boston and the Knicks in round two and I think we're going to get Detroit and Cleveland in round two and I think that's going to end up with us getting a Boston Detroit round three. Well Detroit I with the question on Cade but I don't trust Cleveland at all. That's why I feel. I feel like Boston Knicks Round 2 is the most we're definitely getting that series. The Knicks aren't going to fall to four and Boston's not climbing to one. The question about that series is who's the two and who's the three. That to me will be the defining series in the in the East. Now in the west it gets fascinating. Okay. The warriors are cooked. They're going to make the play in and they're going to lose in the play. So the warriors are. Listen it's a bummer for Steph Color Me shot and they obviously just lost Moses Moody to a horrifying injury. The warriors are cooked. I don't believe the Blazers are going to get to the finish line. So we are going to get in the first play in game first for the seven seed Demons a sons Clippers. Okay. I. Who would I want Oklahoma City to play? Who would I want San Antonio to play? I would like to see Sunspurs and Thunder Clippers. Yeah, I you know I guess either one of those would be okay. I don't think either one of those teams can throw a scare in the Thunder or the spurs win a game. Maybe two Kawhi obviously you know just playing.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Yeah but the numbers a little bit.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

I mean it'd be fun. I'd love to see it Definitely wear

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

them down a little potentially.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Well that's that's the real question. Could the Clippers throw some body blows at OKC just enough like what the Clippers did. Was it the Clippers last year against the. Against The Nuggets, right? Yeah, the Clippers round one against the Nuggets last year took them seven and then the Nuggets last year after going seven, they then took OKC seven and were just out of gas at the end and poor Aaron Gordon's hobbling around and so like there is a tax on that. My the thing I'm more interested in is the way it falls the rest of the bracket and I guess what I'm saying is I think the most likely bracket is the one we have right now. If you froze it, OKC is obviously going to be the one. The spurs are the two, Lakers three, Nuggets four, Timberwolves five Rockets six. That is the best for the Lakers. Get the Rockets in round one and the Rockets seem very amenable to that. But but also a Denver Minnesota round one when we that was the insane down 32. Minnesota annihilates Denver in game six and then as a 20 point comeback in game seven to end Denver's title defense, that would be a great round one. And if that were to happen, I'm telling you right now, Oklahoma City is rooting for Denver. I'm sorry I said that wrong. Oklahoma City is rooting for Minnesota. OKC for as great as they are, they just don't deal well with Joker. It's not that anybody deals well with Joker, but Joker gives them more trouble than anybody. And that for the Lakers this is the hope, okay, that the Suns or the Clippers can take the spurs six games, wear them down just a bit that you get the Rockets who hate each other in round one. Use one back to back games in Houston. You deal with the Rockets in round two. LUCA is unguardable and the spurs aren't quite ready and Denver clips the Thunder and all of a sudden you have home court advantage. And it's the team that before you got LUCA and owned you. But since you've gotten luca, you have had great success against and it's Lakers Nuggets in the conference finals. That's the Lakers, you know, ideal way for the playoffs to fall. All right, before we get to March Madness, Boost Mobile is proving you don't have to overpay for great wireless. Unlock the Savings with the 25amonth Forever Unlimited plan permanent price with no contracts and no price hikes. You can keep your phone and your number, but you save up to $600 a year compared to the major carriers. Stop overpaying and switch to a fair price@boost mobile.com today based on average annual single line payment of AT&T Verizon and T Mobile customers compared to 12 months on the Boost Unlimited Mobile. Boost Mobile Unlimited plan as of January 2026. For full offer details, visit Boost Mobile.com

[Malcolm Gladwell]

hello. Hello. I'm Malcolm Gladwell, host of Smart Talks with IBM. I recently spoke with IBM's new Director of Research and Jake Gambetta. We discussed his vision for the future of quantum computing at IBM Research.

[IBM Researcher]

What we always do is answer what is the future of computing? Whether it's coming up with new algorithms, coming up with better AI, coming up with Quantum, or coming up with just how do different accelerators go together? It's our DNA. To answer the question of what is the future?

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Isn't it a perfect problem for IBM because you kind of need to have a legacy of building stuff, building actual physical machines.

[IBM Researcher]

Yeah, it's why I came to IBM. I wanted the experience, the culture of building hard things that others have not done before.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Where do you imagine we are in the timeline of this technology? There will come a point when it will mature, right? Yeah. My cell phone is a mature technology at this point. How far are we from that point?

[IBM Researcher]

With Quantum, by 2029 we'll build the first fault tolerant Quantum computer that is one that can run a very, very large, large problem.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

To learn how IBM is building the future of computing, visit IBM.com quantum

[Ryan Seacrest]

hey, it's Ryan Seacrest. For Albertsons and Safeway, it's stock up savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals that earn four times the points. Look for in store. Earn on eligible items from Hunts, Nerds, Pillsbury, Lowry's, Breyers, Quaker and Culture Pop. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings. When you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.

[Verizon Advertiser]

All right, two truths and a lie. Here we go. I went to college with college football coach Jim McElwain. I began my broadcasting career doing play by play for the Las Vegas Stars. And I've been a Verizon customer for 15 years. Okay, I lied. All three are true. Verizon isn't as expensive as you think. In fact, if you bring in your AT&T or T mobile bill to a Verizon store, they'll give you a better deal. That's right, a better deal on the best network with the most ways to save on plans, streaming and phone deals. So take that AT and T or T mobile builder Local Verizon store today get a better deal and start saving based on root metrics. Best overall Mobile Network Performance U.S. 2nd Half 2025 All Rights Reserve must provide recent consumer Mobile bill in the name of the person redeeming the deal. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

All right, Damanze, let's do some quick hitters as we wrap the show.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

We are officially to the Sweet 16 in the tournament. You are upset at the lack of upsets. What's going on? Well, it's underwhelming.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

It's. It's not that I'm going to be like the old man yelling at a cloud here. And I wouldn't have said terrible tourney, that's too harsh. And I bet the next two weekends are great, but I miss what Nil and the transfer portal have done. And stripping mid majors of continuity and the ability to build towards something is a bummer for the tourney. It just is it maybe it will create even better Elite Eights and Final Fours. But for the first few rounds of the tourney, what you used to have was these mid major teams who guys have been there for three or four years together, grown together, played together, know each other and they can beat a team with a bunch of McDonald's, all Americans and now that those mid major teams just get stripped for parts and that is to me a bummer. It's not

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

a way to fix it.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

I mean maybe there are some ideas, but it's that would be a whole. I don't want to flippantly throw those out. One because I haven't spent a ton of time really deep thinking on it. And the other is because I do think in theory it's good these kids are getting paid. Right? And I advocated for that for years. But I also do wonder like man, for some of these kids, you know, them getting paid should happen. But would they ultimately not only have a better college experience but also maybe ultimately have higher earning lifetime potential by creating real roots in a community? If they made 600 grand over four years playing for one school versus making 900 grand over four years playing for three schools and kind of just hopping from place to place. Like I think that is complicated, so to speak. And I so I the maybe in the summer we could do an episode on ideas. I don't want to flippantly throw stuff out because I don't like when I throw out an idea and then an hour later I'm like, oh, obviously that's why that wouldn't work. But it does. It has Taken some of the character away from the tournament. All right, next.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

The Seahawks, they finally locked up JSN nearly $170 million. What was your reaction to this?

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

So just quick hitter, a bunch of them. One is Puka's about to get paid probably a little bit more than this and deserves it. Another one, I think the price to trade for A.J. brown just went up a bit because his contract now is even more of a bargain. Another one, I think that this could, this makes drafting a wide receiver in round one all the more attractive because it's now having that cost control of a wide receiver that you think can be a star, that it's now a 40 plus million dollar a year position. And it also made me wonder, are they going to have to give Darnold a new deal? Because now Darnold's receiver makes more money on an average annual basis than he does. All right, next.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Got him paid. Yeah. So the NFL stars got embarrassed in the flag football game by Team usa. How does it feel to see. How shocking was it to see NFL players get embarrassed like that?

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Well, listen, I was shocked. If, if I hadn't seen the games or highlights from it, I would have not believed it right at the scores. But then once I saw what evidently flag football is at this level. It's different. It's tag with a ball and I think it is it. That's just. That is akin to what Frisbee golf is to golf. Like it's pickleball is closer to tennis than that was to football. It's not knocking those athletes at all and good for them that they, I think State put their, you know, no pun intended, planted their flag that they should be the ones at the Olympics, not the NFL players. That's fine. But that ain't football. That is 100 laterals. It's. It's tag. They're playing tag, which is cool. I'm not against it. But it's not football, which is totally fine. All right, last couple things.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

So a few weeks ago we were talking about Travis Kelsey potentially retiring, maybe next year. This is last year. He just signed a three year deal. How surprising was this for you? Are you not surprised at all?

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

So I can, I can no longer, you know, pussyfoot around this. And this. I've had dinner with this guy. I share an agent with this guy. I have nothing against him personally, much to the opposite. But Ian Rapaport's tweet about Travis Kelce's contract. For me, when it comes to credible, I don't want to say Credible reporting. That seems too harsh, but this is now the second time in a couple weeks that Rapaport has, via his very popular and followed Twitter account, blatantly misinformed the public. So the first one was the trade. Remember who was it? Where they were like, well, essentially the fifth round value.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

And it was offensive lineman for the Texans, I think.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

Yeah, what it was, whoever it was, was it Juice Scruggs? Yeah, but no, but it was. No, it was. No, it. No, that's right. It was two. Scruggs was like the throw in that we were saying made. It was a fourth and a seventh plus Juice Scruggs that they were like. So essentially fifth round value. It was. It was the. Was it the David. David Montgomery trade? Whatever it was, it was bad. It a. And instead of just saying, oh, the deal terms changed, you called a fourth, a seventh and a player fifth round value. This Kelsey thing is worse. Okay, here is the contract. Travis Kelsey signed America. And I know this because it was fully reported while I was in Japan. I'm not breaking this news. He signed a deal that is a one year $12 million deal that has $3 million in earnable incentives. That is the effective deal he signed. Okay, the actual pen to paper details on it are as follows. In year one, Travis Kelce makes $12 million with 3 million possible in incentives. In year two, he makes the league minimum and on the fifth day of the league year, in year two, so early March of 2027, if he's on the roster, the Chiefs pay him $40 million. And then in year three, he makes the league minimum again, you might say, well, that doesn't make any sense. That is purely an accounting mechanism akin to teams using void years so they can spread this 3, this $12 million contract over the next 3 years. There is absolutely no shot, even if Travis decides, I want to keep playing, that he is going to get a $40 million balloon payment in early March. Everyone knows that. Which is why if your goal is to inform the public report the actual

[IBM Researcher]

information,

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

the real actionable intel is Travis Kelsey is on a de facto one year $12 million deal where he can make 3 million in incentives. To tweet the following out is disinformation. Chiefs Pro bowl tight end Travis Kelce has signed his contract, officially locking him in for 2026. It's a three year, $54.735 million deal that can be worth up to 57.735, 18.245 million average done by agent Mike Simon of Milk honey sport year one is 12 million, plus 3 million in incentives. No, it can't. It cannot be worth up to 57 million. It can't be. And it's. It is. Again, I'm not Edward R. Murrow and I'm not even a journalist. But if you are going to consider yourself a reporter and your job is to inform the public about news, then you cannot willingly put out intentionally, wildly misleading information because you want the guy who runs Milk Honey Sport to owe you a favor. It cannot be worth up to $57.735 million. It is not an $18.245 million average. It is a one year $12 million deal that can be worth up to 15. And then in a fake year two, he makes the league minimum. And in a fake year three makes the league minimum. And in between those years they would owe him a $40 million check. So whatever. He's not the only guy that does this. But this is this along with a fourth, a seventh, and a player being fifth round value is as egregious as it gets. That's twice. Just this off season. So I'll deal like if this gets written about or clipped or whatever, include this piece of it. Nothing personal and I've enjoyed our interactions and if you're mad at me, you're mad at me. But come on, man, you know better. And it's not NFL. This is the last thing. This is the reason I care about this. It's not football fans job to really like scour over the cap.com and then be like, oh wait, he's due $40 million early in the league year of 2027 there, obviously not paying that. So this is just a cap mechanism. It's. They're doing. They're busy. They're doing stuff. They see your trade, they're like, oh shit. Travis Kelsey thought he might retire. Three year deal, 18 million a year. Good for him. Let's move on. Also, you're setting up the poor chiefs in 11 and a half months when you know, Travis retires. But they have to officially cut him for the swifties to be furious with us. Took 40 million out of Travis and Taylor's pocket. It's not what happened. All right, the producers really want me to do this. I'm doing it Thursday. I'm doing it Thursday. Public defender on Alligators Thursday. We'll save it for then. Real quick, ask Brandon's one question before we go.

[Co-host (Possibly Damonte)]

Brandon says you think there are four teams that can realistically win the title. Okc, San Antonio Lakers, Boston. If you were forced to pick a

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

fifth, would it be no question the fifth would be Denver just on the power of Joker and the sixth would be the Knicks. But I think those both those teams are drawing very, very slim. All right, great job everybody. Please Like Rate Subscribe Review Send my apologies to Unap a Port. Thank you to Hard Rock and Boost. Thank you to Blue Duck and the Volume. We will talk to you guys on Thursday and Friday this week.

[Ryan Seacrest]

What's right hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's stock up savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Lindor, Chips Ahoy, Gatorade, Host, Ziploc and Zoa. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go, pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions

[CVS Representative]

at CVS it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night. And we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and, yeah, healthy snack. At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit [e-mail] or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location.

[Host (Possibly Brandon)]

LEGO Star wars just made the jump to hyperspace. Introducing the LEGO Smart Brick. New LEGO Star wars sets with smart bricks inspire your child's imagination, taking their play to uncharted regions of the galaxy with with responsive lights, a color recognition scanner, a synthesizer and an accelerometer. Your child's play doesn't just come alive, it allows the LEGO Star wars galaxy to play back. May the Force be with you. Shop LEGO Star wars sets now on lego.com or in lego retail stores.

[CVS Representative]

Being a small business owner isn't just a career, it's a calling. Chase for Business knows how much heart and effort go into building something of your own. Manage all your business finances, from banking to payments to credit cards, all in one place with our digital tools. Plus access online resources designed to help your business thrive. Learn [e-mail] business chase for business make more of what's yours the Chase mobile app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply. J.P. morgan Chase Bank NA Member FDIC Copyright 2026 J.P. morgan Chase Co. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.