← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
What's Wright - NBA Reaction: Wemby & Spurs DOMINATE Mavs, Warriors-Lakers, Durant's Rockets debut | Nick Wright NFL
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- [00:00]
Nick Wright
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- [01:06]
Nick Wright
Lenovo.
- [01:09]
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This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Okay, let's talk holiday shopping. When you want to make the most of your Money, head to PayPal's app before you check out. They give you the flexibility to pay in four no fees, no interest. And this is big. Bigger than the 12 foot snowman on your lawn right now. You can get 5% cash back when you pay later with PayPal. So whether it's the must have merch or for that signed jersey you've been eyeing, PayPal helps you make the most of your money this holiday. Save this offer in the PayPal app expires 1231.
- [01:44]
Nick Wright
See paypal.com promoterms Subject to approval.
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- [01:51]
Nick Wright
NMLS 910457 what's up everybody?
- [01:55]
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- [02:26]
Nick Wright
All right, welcome in. What driving the great episode 382 kind of a weird show because 12 hours ago the show was gonna be vast majority football. 10 hours ago the show was gonna be vast majority Holy what did Victor when Benyama just do. And 30 minutes ago it changed to this breaking news about Terry Rozier, Damon Jones and Chauncey Billups rigged poker games, prop bet fixing and all of that. And the, I am, I am stunned by the allegations here on one front side of it. I'm not stunned at all by the allegations on a different side of it. And I'm going to try to unpack it because I actually, we just had, I think it's, I want to get the guy's name right. What U.S. attorney Joe Nichella Jr. Talk about high dollar poker games in Manhattan, the Hamptons in Vegas and my, my, my ears perked up when they talked about what was going on. So I, I, I think I can oddly give you some real insight here on now listen, credit to Pablo Torrey who when it comes to the Terry Rozier prop betting, all that stuff, he's been all over it. The poker stuff on the other hand is jarring and well, I'll, I'll, I'll explain but I want to, this is all like happening in real time. We, they're literally doing a press conference as we speak. I was watching it right before we went on the air and so we'll get into all that. I want to Damonte welcome in. This is going to be a weird show for you, but there's no problem. We'll get to the football and we'll get to our picks in a bit and we'll talk Wimby. Let me get to Straight to voicemail. Brought to you by Boost Mobile. And this show is always brought to you by our friends at Boost Mobile. Megan the Stallion Sports. Oh, so funny. A Klay Thompson. Labubu. I think it's Labubu, guys. I don't think it's an A. I think it's Labubu. Um, I also had never seen a Labubu in my life in person until last night when your big sister sent your little sister, not your big, your, the oldest, but your older, oldest sister sent your youngest sister what is almost assuredly a knockoff fake Labubu for her birthday. And she was very excited. Travis Kelce trying to help out Six Flags and JJ McCarthy with what is pretty clearly a soft benching still out on Thursday Night Football. Okay, so here's what we know. Now I'm going to tell you I have a healthy skepticism of the way, the way media typically reports arrests and news is what law enforcement sources tell the media they treat as gospel. I try not to do that. Okay. That is, that's no matter whether it's local cops, the feds. No matter who's in charge of the doj, I always feel like the slanting, it's unfair to the accused. And so I am not and so I, I read all these stories with, I come into, come into it with some skepticism. I had even more when I saw the ABC News headline from when this story first broke and it said Portland Trailblazers head coach has been charged in an illegal poker operation tied to the mafia. Law enforcement sources told ABC News and that's because the mafia is not like and they even capitalized Mafia a specific entity like there is organized crime and the mafia is known as like Italian organized crime. But I've never seen like in a real news article the Mafia be used as as if it were a specific entity. So I initially was here's what I thought this news was going to be when I saw it. Terry Rozier there's been a lot of smoke and Pablo Torre's done a good job around that story for the last year that ah, some of his player prop bets sure seem fishy and there's fishy action on them and we talked about the fact that it'd be it's very easy for guys to try to make their friends or themselves 10, 20 grand on these individual player props and clearly some guys have not been able to resist the temptation. That's what I assumed the feds were arresting Terry Roger for. I didn't know what Damon Jones necessary involvement was except for the fact that he had been a coach so maybe would have inside information on hey this guy's not going to play or this guy's dinged up. I also full disclosure have known Damon Jones for more than 10 years. I like Damon Jones and I was sad to see his name in this. When I saw there was Chauncey was being charged in the illegal poker operation my initial thought process was oh man, they're really going after these illegally raked poker games because we saw Gilbert get hemmed up by the feds about something what I thought was similar. So before I get to the actual details here because I really want the audience to understand this, it is not that I know it's going to sound, I'm going to sound like I'm giving myself a pass here or something but I want to be very clear. The card games that I play in are totally legal and it's not because they're in Vegas. Those obviously are, those are in regulated casinos and it's not because they're not for you know, a ton of Money, because sometimes they are. The way it works is this. And I want. Put Demon on the screen because I want to make sure he understands it, because if he understands it, everyone will understand it. I am allowed to have. No I. When I. That. That wasn't an insult on your intelligence. I just meant because you're not a poker player. Yeah, like, you're. You are. If I were to say, hey, I. I am hosting a poker night at my house for friends, family, or even just, hey, join my poker club and come play. We could play for $10 a person, $100 a person, or a million dollars a person. And that is legal. That is legal as long as the house, the host, the person putting it on is not taking a cut of the money. So do you understand? So, like, if we. If. If I invited seven guys over and everybody brought ten grand with them, so there's $80,000 involved. As long as at the end of the night when it's like, hey, you. You know, you lost your 10, you lost your 10, he won 10. As long as everyone. The. The net. Net of what everyone came with, they leave with collectively. That's legal. It's not legal if it's like, hey, since I'm hosting the game, every hand, I'm going to take $20 out of the pot and drop it in this little box here. And at the end of the night, the house has made two grand. That's what makes. That's the line that makes poker games legal or illegal. Is the house taking a cut? Okay? It's as simple as that. So when I was on with Lerd last week talking about that huge card game I was going to, that was a bunch of guys who've been playing with each other forever. And there is no. There is no rake. That's called the rake. Taking money is the rake. Okay? So Gilbert got in trouble because they were hosting up again. He had rented a house that was being used, according to the feds, for. It was basically an illegal casino because the house became not only where the card games were, but that they were probably taking in rake, taking in money. And that rake can be huge. Like 10, 20,000 a night in rake and money off the table. Okay? So that is that. That's the distinction between private legal and illegal poker. When I saw the Chauncey thing, I'm like, man, I can't believe they're going after this, these illegal card games. Because that is pretty prevalent. The idea of, hey, we're going to do a private game with a person who's Hosting it. Those things, he's going to. They're going to take a cut or that's their business that we. We. One of. How do I put this? Someone you know really well don't. That is one of my buddies. That is his business. He hosts all, you know, a weekly or semi weekly game. And. And that. And so those are. Those are illegal technically. But usually people like, as long as there's no drugs, there's no violence, no anything, people don't mess with them. Okay.
- [12:54]
Damonte
Yeah.
- [12:55]
Nick Wright
That is not, though. What the feds are alleging Chauncey was a part of. What the feds are alleging is that the. And this, if this is true, this is. For me, as someone who plays in real card games, this is a cardinal sin. They're alleging these were rigged games, that they had rigged shufflers, that they had rigged RFID devices which allowed people to know what cards other people had, that they had rigged communication devices like tiny earpieces, and that folks were like, hey, seat six has kings and ace is coming on the turn. Get your money in if that. Go ahead. Yeah.
- [14:02]
Damonte
I was wondering, like, how does this type of information get out? Is somebody getting bamboozled and they speak out to the Feds? Because I was thinking, like, wow, whose benefit would it be? Well, yeah, I mean, but they were.
- [14:12]
Nick Wright
They were getting their money stolen or somebody. Yeah, I mean, there's a bunch of. Yeah, there's a bunch of ways this could happen. Somebody gets in trouble and then they're like, hey, let me out of trouble. I'll tell you about something bigger. Somebody is in the game and thinks they've been cheated and then decides to kind of go on their own and investigate it or whatever it is. But the allegation here is organized crime recruited Chauncey to be the draw is like, hey, come to the Hamptons, come to New York, whatever, and play. We've got a card game. Chauncey Billups plays in it. And that. And then they bring in, using his likeness, people with a bunch of money that they are then stealing from. Now, again, I have so much respect for Chauncey Billups and he has earned to me, so much of the benefit of the doubt that what I would like to believe here is that he had no idea.
- [15:20]
Damonte
He.
- [15:20]
Nick Wright
He thought he was playing in a poker game on the level. But they, you know, that they were rigged games. What the insight I can give the audience is this one of the reasons folks take the time and effort to travel all the way to Las Vegas to play in card games. The reason I, unless I'm going to one of my two buddies, places that I've known for a long time and trust go all the way to Philadelphia, is there's, you're always worried that it's not on the level. You're worried that someone's dealing from the bottom of the deck. You're worried that guys are colluding. You're worried that you might get cheated. That is always a concern. In I had a buddy. I, I, I don't want to give again, give too many details here, but one of the greatest, in my opinion, card players in the world who is a man of intense, intense honor, played, got cheated out of in one game, got cheated out of three quarters of a million dollars and was able to retroactively prove that they were doing stuff like this, that, that it was the car. You had card readers, you, you know, you guys were cheating you. The whole poker game existed to cheat me out of my three quarters of a million dollars and refused to refuse to pay it. And then it became a real like, dangerous situation. Like, so there is a level of protect yourself at all times. You know, this stuff could be happening in the high stakes poker world. It is utterly jarring to me that the feds are alleging that Chauncey knew these games were rigged and was playing in them anyway. Um, because that, to me, that if that's true, that's stone cold theft. That is that there is no wiggle room around it if you are, if you are inviting people to come play in a card game that you know they can't win because other people in the game are going to know what cards they have and play accordingly. I, that's real dirty, man. And now again, I don't want to believe it. And in fairness, during this press conference, one of the people talking, one of the feds did say this involves the NBA team, the Toronto Rangers. So I, they might not be totally buttoned up, but these are shocking allegations.
- [18:59]
Damonte
Chauncey.
- [19:00]
Nick Wright
Yeah. And listen, Chauncey is considered one of the best guys and one of the best people associated with the league. And again, if it were he was just playing in a card game where they took a rake, I would, I was prepared to get on here and say this is an absolute nothing burger. Like there are, there's the, there is not only is that barely illegal, it is absolutely, there is no ethical for me issue with it like there, it's simply saying I'm playing in a.
- [19:34]
Damonte
People that are going to the games are agreeing.
- [19:37]
Nick Wright
Everybody, right? We're all saying we'll pay this percentage now where that can. And really the only reason the government typically cares about those things is because nobody's paying taxes on it. Because it's like the. Nobody's like not getting their cut. Right? Exactly. And so but you again, you are allowed to play high stakes private poker games as long as like Hellmuth talks about it all the time. Help me with plays for tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars at his. At his own house in the Bay Area with a bunch of the Silicon Valley guys. But you just have to report your wins as gambling winnings on your taxes and pay taxes. And Helmuth doesn't take a vic or you know, doesn't take a rake. But having, and they. I, I watched the press conference, Dean. They have a picture of a. What they say is a rigged shuffler. They have a picture of a computer that is reading out the cards. Everyone has.
- [20:47]
Damonte
I mean they, they raided the place and found all like the paraphernalia.
- [20:50]
Nick Wright
Sure seems like it. Man. And oh boy, I really thought we were going to start today talking NBA. I didn't think it was going to be that. I wanna let me just see one more thing. So. But oh, the. I don't know if I finished my sentence before, before we get to maybe Wimby. The. Maybe I did so maybe I'm repeating myself. I don't know. But this is why people, some people prefer to do all of their poker playing in a casino because a casino is taking a rake. It's much smaller usually than the private game rake, but it's on the level. Like the cheating that can happen in a casino is two of guys at the table communicating to each other. That's called colluding. Like, hey, you raise all re rays and then this guy will fold like that. That is, that's, that's one level of cheating. But, but you don't have to typically at a casino worry. Wait, does are. Is this a setup via shuffler? And a setup via shuffler would be to give people an example. You have $100,000 in front of you. I've got $100,000 in front of me. They intentionally give you pocket aces and give me pocket queens. I go all in. Pre flop, you have the best hand. You have no choice but to call. And then a queen comes and it's like, oh man, 8020 unlucky. Like setting hands up like that is stealing. All right. Crazy. I am, I am super interested in this story. I don't know if the audience is. Let me say one other thing on the because everyone else is going to be four more folks on the rosier piece of it. And I say this understanding that a huge portion of our economy in my business is paid for by the gambling operators. Right. We are, we are proud partners with Hard Rock Bet and with that. But despite that I, I don't even think it's despite that. I regardless of who our sponsors are, I have to I owe the audience full transparency and honesty. And here is what I am going to say about the rosier thing. As long as player props are a big part of legal sports gambling, this stuff is going to pop up. It just is. And there here is the the two sides of the legal sports gambling coin. Okay. The pro legal sports gambling coin is because gambling's legal and regulated and you know you there is a real catalog of bets and archive and data you can, you can more easily find, prove and root out the guys doing, you know, essentially insider trading. Okay that, that if it was just all off, you know, bookies and in the shadows, it's harder to find or prove who's doing this stuff. That's the pro side if I'm being fair. The con side to it is this absent legal sports gambling when it was all through bookies. Such a thing as how many assists is Terry Rogier going to get tonight was not a bet that existed. You couldn't call up the guy you have drinks with at the bar and be like I know I usually just bet the packers every weekend but I got a real good feeling Terry Rogier is going to get more than four and a half rebounds with will you give me ten grand on it? So like yes it is. We can see it better. But it also created markets that otherwise didn't exist. And so all right, the let's get to NBA opening. In fact, you know what, before we get to Wimy, I want to tell you guys about Wayfair. As the holidays approach, get what you need to personalize your home or with Wayfair shop holiday decor for every room in the house. Whether it's Christmas trees, wreaths or inflatables for the front yard, Wayfair is your one stop shop. Everyone wants their home ready for hosting during the holiday season. And there's no better place than Wayfair to make sure you have every kitchen essential brand new holiday linens and towels for guests or seating rugs and lamps for living room refresh. Wayfair has everything your home needs and there's no better time than now to get your home ready for hosting there's something for every style in every home. No matter your space or budget. Wayfair makes it easy to tackle your home goals this holiday season with endless inspiration for every space and budget. Free and easy delivery even on the big stuff. No more huge delivery fees for furniture. Get big stuff like sofas, dining tables, beds and more. Shipped free. Get organized, refreshed and ready for the holidays. For way less, head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things that's W a Y F A I R.com Wayfair Every style, every home the audience will not bel would not believe what Damanze just bought on Wayfair. And we're not going to tell them yet, but at some point we will and it's going to be awesome. I am very excited.
- [26:47]
Damonte
I got that book for $2 by the way. It is awesome. Thank you.
- [26:51]
Nick Wright
Oh, because Wayfair sent and then plus Exactly. Wayfair sent Damanze a pretty sick gift card and then he got something he really needs that we'll discuss later for $2. Two additional dollars? That's awesome. Yeah. Shout out Wayfair all right Damanze, let's talk about what the hell happened last night in the NBA.
- [27:18]
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- [27:49]
Nick Wright
Lenovo.
- [27:53]
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- [28:53]
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- [29:09]
Damonte
Clutch.
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- [29:56]
PayPal Sponsor
This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Okay, let's talk holiday shopping. When you want to make the most of your Money, head to PayPal's app before you check out. They give you the flexibility to pay in four no fees, no interest. And this is big. Bigger than the 12 foot snowmen on your lawn right now. You can get 5% cash back when you pay later with PayPal. So whether it's the must have merch or for that signed jersey you've been eyeing, PayPal helps you make the most of your money this holiday. Save this offer in the PayPal app expires 1231.
- [30:30]
Nick Wright
See paypal.com promoterms Subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payin4paypal inc.nmls910457 yeah.
- [30:41]
Damonte
So as you know, we don't usually get too deep into basketball until Christmas. But we got to talk about some things going on in the NBA. Wimby yesterday apparently was crazy. I didn't catch this one, but I saw the highlights. Is it possible that this guy is already the best player in the league?
- [30:59]
Nick Wright
I mean, here's the thing, Dean. No, no shame in not catching it live.
- [31:08]
Damonte
Oh, yeah, I was watching VJ Edgecomb welcome him himself to the.
- [31:12]
Nick Wright
Oh, you were watching. So you were watching a different game? You.
- [31:16]
Damonte
Yeah, I was watching Celtics.
- [31:17]
Nick Wright
Oh, okay. Oh, that's. I thought. I assumed you meant you were. Oh, good for you, buddy.
- [31:22]
Damonte
Yeah.
- [31:23]
Nick Wright
Yeah. That's a VJ Edgecomb all time record for points in a debut.
- [31:28]
Damonte
All time record.
- [31:29]
Nick Wright
And the Sixers won that game despite Embiid scoring four being a no show.
- [31:34]
Damonte
Yeah, no show.
- [31:36]
Nick Wright
And the, and the almost got bad.
- [31:38]
Damonte
For VJ with him missing those two free throws at the end of the Celtics could have, you know, pulled through. That would have been, that would have been a great. On the night. Yeah.
- [31:46]
Nick Wright
And, and Maxi, our guy Maxi had 40, but someone else had 40 and he's a 7 foot 5 problem. So I, I was agog at what I saw last night from Victor Winmanyama. So he is the best defensive player in basketball. We knew that was going to be the case. And he had three blocks. But that doesn't really explain it because he just dissuade so much action because of his length that I don't know what the advanced stat is for like shots not taken because you're scared this guy's going to swat it into the first row. But he crushes in that. So we had. So here's a good comp we had on the show yesterday. Akeem Olajuwon. All right. And Akeem was never the best offensive player in the league, but there was a two year period when Jordan was a year and a half when Jordan was retired. And the, the, those two years when Akeem was the best player in the league because he was far and away the best defensive player. And those couple years probably like the fifth or sixth best offensive player. And those two things can combine to make you the best player. It usually goes in the other direction. The best player in the league. Joker is far and away the best offensive player and then just average defensive whatever it is. Right. And you deal with it. You know, it's very rare you get prime. I shouldn't say it's very rare. It's just special. Prime. Giannis, Prime. Braun Prime. Jordan Prime. Kobe Kawhi, though also I think was never the best offensive player on offense. Yeah. I'm talking about a guy who can win the scoring title while being the best defender in the league. Right. It's only a handful of guys. If Wimby's going to give you 40. Let me, let me put it like this. Here's why it's so scary to Monte and I loved that he only took two threes. That he is stronger, his handles better. I think Wimy, If Wimby averages 25 points a game, he might be the best player in the league like that because of what he is Defensively and if he's going to put up 30. I, I'm sorry to joke. You did that and I'm sorry to Shay.
- [35:05]
Damonte
Oh, go ahead.
- [35:06]
Nick Wright
But I just, I, I am, I'm ready to have the conversation that this guy might just be the best, like, the best player in the league right now.
- [35:18]
Damonte
You're a little skeptical, Wimby. In the beginning.
- [35:21]
Nick Wright
Well, here's what I like.
- [35:22]
Damonte
It was, it was probably more on the injury side.
- [35:24]
Nick Wright
It was two things. It was two things. One was the injury stuff, which still, anybody that size, it worries me, but that's about. It was my skepticism on Wimby, I guess was. Here were the three different levels of it.
- [35:39]
Damonte
I think it was him shooting too.
- [35:41]
Nick Wright
Yes. So I didn't like the style he was playing. To me, he was trying to be Durant and it's like, bro, okay, you're a half foot taller than Durant, and Durant is one of the greatest pure shooters ever. You're like the. So I didn't love that the injuries potential concerned me because literally every player in the history of the league, 74 taller, has dealt with injuries, and I don't consider the blood clot an injury. I do, though. I, I, I'm going to sound really dumb.
- [36:13]
Damonte
It's, it's an ailment. I feel like that they're more prone to, though, just because they're larger guys.
- [36:18]
Nick Wright
So that's. I was about to say that exact same thing. I was like, I, maybe this is dumb. Maybe a doctor's listening is like, that's not how that works. But in my head, that's how it works. It's like, I don't know. There's more, there's more error, there's more just mileage for there to be clots, like, I don't know. But so that part and then the other part was I just thought we were setting him up to be a disappointment by saying, if he's not better than Akeem Olajuwon, he's underachieved. I'm like, geez Louise, man. Like, he walks into the league and it's, if you're not one of the 10 greatest players of all time, you, you have failed. With that said, I mean, I kind of get it. I mean, he's on his way. This is special. This is really, really special. And I don't know what you're going to do with him. And it does. He has become, after one game, Demons, a must watch every night. And it makes me, at least with LeBron leaving, well, yeah, there's that too.
- [37:48]
Damonte
They're going to be left with a phenom.
- [37:49]
Nick Wright
But. Yeah. But also. And so a couple things it makes me take the spurs seriously. I mean they obviously didn't even have Fox and they beat the Mavs by.
- [38:09]
Damonte
And they played Dallas 30. Yeah. And the Mavs.
- [38:13]
Nick Wright
Well. So that's the other piece of it. If you were to ask me going into yesterday. Okay. If you are. If you can have any player in the league to try to slow down Wimby on the defensive end, who is your number one draft pick? It would have been AD like that's the other problem. Like the. Is there anyone in the league demons a better in theory equipped to deal.
- [38:54]
Damonte
With Wimby, my big man on the Celtics, who I think his last name is Vet.
- [39:00]
Nick Wright
Okay, all right. I don't. I don't know who you're talking about and you're being ridiculous. There is the. The. The. I mean maybe you're not handling Wimby. No, the. I don't. Hold on. Let me see.
- [39:10]
Damonte
But no, nobody's guarding the man. What do you want? Nobody can guard him. He's a freak of nature.
- [39:15]
Nick Wright
Hold on. Who are you talking about? Quetta.
- [39:18]
Damonte
He's Quetta.
- [39:20]
Nick Wright
Oh, okay. All right. Yeah, okay. You were being silly. No, I'm just saying like ad is 7ft, can play on the perimeter, can play down low. Has been one of the best defenders.
- [39:32]
Damonte
A known lockdown defender.
- [39:34]
Nick Wright
Yes.
- [39:35]
Damonte
Yeah.
- [39:35]
Nick Wright
And Wimby made him look silly. I don't so. So like who is the Spurs. What's the spurs next game. So the spurs next game is. Their next three games are New Orleans, Brooklyn, Toronto. The hell's anybody going to do? Like who on New Orleans is going to be like. It's Trey Murphy is. I don't think New Orleans. I guess Misi. I don't know, man. This is so. I do think. I do think Damonte it's on the board that he's the best player in the league this year. And I. That would be.
- [40:24]
Damonte
And his mind is right too. Like I just don't see it. So like he's going to do everything possible to stay afloat. I see him taking care of his body taking care of himself in the off season.
- [40:35]
Nick Wright
Oh yeah. We haven't had a guy be in the argument for. There's only been. I'm just want to make sure I get this right. The only no. 1 since Braun has had a real argument that they were the best player in the league in year three. Like Braun in year three was Second in MVP voting. He had a real argument. Tim Duncan in year three might have been the best player in the league but he was a four year college player. Shaq in year three was I think let me, I want to see if I have this. Had an argument. He was second in MVP voting and Jordan was retired and they made the finals but lost to a came those are best player in the league argument by year three. It's just the holy grail of NBA guys really.
- [41:58]
Damonte
And.
- [42:00]
Nick Wright
This is, this is something else. This is really, really something else. I'm amazed by it. And I, I, I'm lost words. I didn't understand what I was watching last night and we'll see how it continues. Oh wow. What's the MVP odds?
- [42:33]
Damonte
Oh yeah. So he climbed a top two in MVP odds at +2.75. Holy. He was around + 1200 in the preseason. So do you, you see after these three games him potentially being the favorite.
- [42:49]
Nick Wright
I mean I don't see, I mean maybe I.
- [42:51]
Damonte
Here's the thing right now the thing.
- [42:53]
Nick Wright
Is this, I just in principle if yesterday I could have gotten a bet at 12 to 1. I can't bet it today at less than 3 to 1.
- [43:05]
Damonte
But and I feel like there's a lot of those tickets out there. I feel like the 12 to 1 MVP plus. Yeah, I feel like there's a lot of those out there.
- [43:12]
Nick Wright
Oh yeah. And I would have told you, I would have told you one day ago those are dumb tickets. Just because I would have said, you know the spurs seal coming off injury. He's coming off an injury. He might not play enough games. And the it's so hard to win MVP if you're not a top three seed. And you know how many games are the spurs really going to win? All right. And by the way I so I apologize for the producers but this is I suppose kind of the cost of breaking news and stuff. We might, this might actually just be an NBA show today and then we do all our football stuff for the gambling show. So I know that's a lot of work everybody put into preparing the football stuff but I, I think that this might is more relevant and I would like to remind you guys today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor Hard Rock bet. Great week to try out Hard Rock BET sportsbook app. There's just so much going on this week. Game one in baseball tomorrow night, NBA back and of course football's in mid season form. Week 8 kicks off with Vikings Chargers. I'm looking ahead to Monday night in Kansas City. Chiefs are back league on notice if you need more proof, here's what the stats of in the Hard Rock Bet app is showing me. Chiefs at arrowhead. They've won 14 in a row as a home favorite and Kareem Hunt these Kareem Hunt streaks are crazy. Has scored in four straight Monday games when Casey's the favorite. That dates back a while. If you haven't tried your first bet on hard rock bet, still time for you. You get $150 in bonus bets. If you win, just place a $5 bet and if it hits you, you get not only your winnings but also an extra $150 in bonus bets. Plus tonight on hard Rock Bet, you can get a Thursday night profit boost for the game. Boost your same game parlay or SGP max so your bet pays extra winnings. New promos every day. So if you're listening to this later, just open the app and check out what you've got. Any day of the week, Download the Hard Rock Bet app today. Take a look around and make your your first deposit 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 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concern about gambling in Florida? Call-888- admit it in Indiana. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants 1-800-9 with it gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia.
- [46:06]
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- [46:37]
Nick Wright
Lenovo.
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Damonte
Clutch.
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- [48:44]
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- [49:18]
Nick Wright
See paypal.com promoterms subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payinfor paypal inc.nmls910457 all right, Damanze, let's get to the actual opening night of the NBA two nights ago with a classic and a concerning game a couple nights ago.
- [49:41]
Damonte
We got to see how Katie's looking with those Rockets against the Thunder. They ended up not being able to pull out the win in double ot. Lakers face Golden State. Golden State came out victorious, but you seem down on both of those teams. Why is that?
- [49:54]
Nick Wright
Yeah, so let's. We'll do Lakers, warriors, then we'll do Rockets, Thunder. Okay. So I watched the Lakers and Luca was obviously awesome, and I was like, yeah, so when LeBron comes back, you know what they need from LeBron? For him to be their best perimeter defender. And that seems like a bad process for a guy who's going to be 41 in year 23. Because I look at the Lakers roster and I'm like, well, they don't have a ton of shooting and they don't really have any defense. Not sure how that's going to work in the modern NBA, even with a guy as great as Luca, and even when Bron comes back. So that I just think it's a in for the modern league and oddly constructed roster. It's very like, this is about Luca, not about Bron. It's very clear how to win with Luca. Get shooters and defenders and let him handle the entirety of the rest of the offense. It feels like the Lakers have none of that. And it's just like Jared Vanderbilt, guard, everyone Mark is smart, God love him, is just not even close to the same guy. And so it. It also reminds you what a yeoman's effort Anthony Davis was making on that side of the ball, kind of carrying the entirety of that defense. So it just. It was. I just think that that is a really clumsily put together roster. And you know that I was not as high as some on, oh, this will be the year deandre Ayton takes it serious. I just don't think that guy is a winning player. And I so. And I was also bummed. This was a crazy stat I had yesterday. What is. What is the marquee date demons a on the NBA regular season calendar historically, like the holiday where a lot of people look at it, kind of the start of the season.
- [52:43]
Damonte
Oh, what is that?
- [52:44]
Nick Wright
The Christmas? Yeah.
- [52:45]
Damonte
When is it? Christmas.
- [52:46]
Nick Wright
Right, Christmas. The NFL's kind of tried to steal their corner, but the NBA made Christmas their holiday. So for the NBA in the regular season, there's opening night, which is a big, you know, celebration. The unofficial opening night, Christmas. And then there's obviously the postseason. LeBron James teams, prior to two days ago had played in. In his career, 332 opening nights, Christmases and playoff games. And LeBron James had played in all 332 of them. He had never missed any of his 282 career playoff games, any of his 22 opening nights or any of the 18. It's actually 19 Christmas Day games. And you might say if you're doing the math in your head, that that adds up to 333. But that's because one of the COVID years, opening night was Christmas. He's never missed a marquee moment in his career. And then he missed this one and I was just like, it was another piece of like evidence of. Man, not a lot of time left here. Yeah, it's just a bummer. You know what I mean? Just a bummer in that regard. And so, and the other bummer is he's. He's not going to fix what's wrong with the Lakers. So I think when you have Luka, you're going to be Luka Garrett should guarantee a healthy Luca should guarantee you a playoff spot. Luca plus Braun plus Austin Reeves plus what should be a pretty sharp coach in Reddick should make you frisky. But I don't think that roster is well rounded enough on the Warriors. I just think they're too old and the, they don't have a, you know, right now, Lakers, Warriors. I don't even think it's a debate. The best player between the two teams is Luka and he's 10 years younger than Steph. So I just don't think the warriors have the legs for hunting him. Yeah, I just, Yeah, I. So I just think the warriors, that was a good win for them. I just don't take them real serious as a contender. Now to the Rockets Thunder. Something you wanted to say?
- [55:37]
Damonte
Oh, yeah. You didn't, you didn't like the. Wait, did you want me to get into that? You didn't like how the fans reacted to Kevin Durant?
- [55:44]
Nick Wright
Yes.
- [55:45]
Damonte
So coming back to okc, it's not.
- [55:47]
Nick Wright
So much that I didn't like it.
- [55:50]
Damonte
And they cheered Stephen Adams right before it was that they're there at the same time.
- [55:56]
Nick Wright
So here's my question, man. Is Durant going to finish unless they win the title in Houston? Is he going to be the first all time great player to retire without a home? Like if you, if I, if, if you say Braun, the Cavs and Cleveland will love him forever. You know, Lakers some yes, some no. Miami mostly yes, some no. But the Cavs like will love him forever. Jordan, obviously it's the Bulls. Kareem, obviously it's the Lakers. Magic is the Lakers. Duncan is the Spurs. Those guys are one team guys. But you know, Kobe is Lakers. But even the guys who moved like Kevin Garnett has Two cities that adore him. Minnesota, Minneapolis. But the Timberwolves and the Celtics. Barkley, Ray Allen.
- [57:12]
Damonte
Shoot. I mean, he's not all time, I guess.
- [57:14]
Nick Wright
No, but I mean, he's a great player. But I'm talking about, like, top, top. You know, Barkley is still beloved in Phoenix. D. Wade is obviously always going to be beloved in Miami. Yeah, that. Moses Malone is beloved in Philly. If Oklahoma City demands a. After winning a title, is still mad at Durant when he retires, where does he go and get universal love? It doesn't feel like it's Golden State. It's certainly not Phoenix or Brooklyn. And Oklahoma City's booing him.
- [58:06]
Damonte
Like, I think they love him. I think they're just, you know, they're. They're bowing. They're talking their mess. I think. I honestly think that when he retires that he'll. He'll get love from okc. I don't know if they're gonna. But I don't. I don't know. But, yeah, they did just win a title. Like, is the other crazy part.
- [58:23]
Nick Wright
He left nine years.
- [58:24]
Damonte
Come on, guys.
- [58:25]
Nick Wright
They cheer still. Yeah. They booed Durant on ring night. You guys won a title.
- [58:30]
Damonte
Like, Durant did a lot for y'. All. Yes, Durant did. Did a lot for y' all while he was there.
- [58:34]
Nick Wright
I think. I think he deserves a statue there. Like, so that. That did make me sad. And I don't think. And by the way, he didn't demand a trade. He didn't blow your team up. He didn't quit on anybody. He hit free agency and left.
- [58:51]
Damonte
Like, wasn't Harden the first one to go home?
- [58:54]
Nick Wright
But no, they traded away Harden. It was hard. Harden was like a con.
- [58:59]
Damonte
The. He couldn't get his contract figured out.
- [59:02]
Nick Wright
Yeah. But that was.
- [59:02]
Damonte
He didn't want to come to terms.
- [59:04]
Nick Wright
And so that, you know, the. But they love Russ. It's just. I don't know. That made me sad. OKC is obviously awesome. I think Durant will be better than he was opening night. Dort gives a lot of people trouble. And Shingon, man, watch out for Shingoon. I mean, Shingoon looks great. And shout out to Wilds on that. I still. I feel like the Fred Van Vliet injury for the Rockets is really tough, but I really do like that team, and I think Durant's going to be excellent. Daniel says maybe Seattle will claim Durant when they get a team. I don't know. I hope so. Just made me sad, and maybe it shouldn't have, but it just made me sad. Hey, are you thinking about upgrading to the all new iPhone 17 Pro design to be the most powerful iPhone ever? But you're also thinking about the traffic on your way to the store or transferring all your data and all those hassles. Good news. When you order a new phone online with Boost Mobile, they'll send an expert to your home or work to deliver your brand new iPhone 17 Pro and get you all set up on Boost Mobile within minutes. No has hassle. Visit Boost mobile.com to get started. Deliver available for select devices purchased@boost mobile.com Terms do apply. All right, let's go to the listener questions. Damaz.
- [60:31]
Damonte
Sean says, hey, Nick, saw you in Costa rica in early March 2022. You were standing outside of a store. I didn't want to bother you on your vacation. Are you cool people saying hi to you?
- [60:41]
Nick Wright
Oh, yeah, the show, of course.
- [60:43]
Damonte
The.
- [60:43]
Nick Wright
I mean, that's what a callback. That March of 22nd, I was in Costa Rica. That is true. But yeah, of course. Yeah. The only. I had a guy. So yes, 92% of the time, it's great. And Saturday night, De Montana, I'm out with your mom and her sisters in Harlem at a bar, club, whatever, Loud, packed. And this guy's like, yo, you're Nick Wright. And I'm like. And I'm like, yeah, man. And I go to shake his hand and we. But again, it's packed. We are six inches from each other. And he says with a smile, he's like, yo, man, I effing hate you, bro. And I was like, okay. But it was such a weird spot because I couldn't move. I then I am now I'm waiting.
- [62:01]
Damonte
So like, you guys sat there for like another couple minutes awkwardly standing there.
- [62:06]
Nick Wright
The almost touching shoulders with this guy who is now like still trying to talk to me. And he's like, no, it's not like that. But I'm like, buddy, I the. This is this. That's just not a greeting. Yeah, that's not a greeting. That.
- [62:22]
Damonte
Too many drinks in.
- [62:23]
Nick Wright
Yeah, no, that's true.
- [62:24]
Damonte
Too many drinks.
- [62:25]
Nick Wright
But no, in general. So, Sean, unless you were going to be like, hey, I effing hate you, it would have been fine. All right, let's get some other listener questions.
- [62:35]
Damonte
Dustin was wondering what you thought of Katie. Call it a timeout when they didn't have any timeouts.
- [62:39]
Nick Wright
He's lucky he got away with it. I mean, that was the. The refs let him off the hook. That's. That's tough. That's a really tough one. All right, let's go to Monsieur.
- [62:54]
Damonte
Monsieur says Nick, all my friends say Herbert is better than Burrow. I disagree. Over the next five years, what quarterback would you rather have? I mean, you gotta say Herbert.
- [63:05]
Nick Wright
Why?
- [63:07]
Damonte
Oh, I mean, because he's available.
- [63:09]
Nick Wright
Okay, fair.
- [63:10]
Damonte
That's like.
- [63:10]
Nick Wright
I mean, I guess that's.
- [63:11]
Damonte
I guess Herbert no got the rib thing.
- [63:13]
Nick Wright
No, no, no. I mean if the answer is Burrow's too much of an injury risk, I mean, that's a respectable.
- [63:20]
Damonte
Well, I guess if you. But no, yeah, better online if I got it.
- [63:25]
Nick Wright
That burrows damaged goods. At this point, I just think. I think those are two different questions. Who he's saying my friends say Herbert's better than Burrow. Herbert definitively is not better than Burrow. If you're saying my but you know, who would you rather have over the next five years that to me does play in injury stuff. I'd still rather have Burrow. For the record, Omar wants to know why I haven't covered the Clippers debacle. Honestly, I just think Pablo's and Mark and Mark Cuban have it covered and I haven't been. I don't know why I haven't been as interested in that as other people. I'm not that interested in the Clippers. I'm not that interested in Kawhi.
- [64:07]
Damonte
I'm not said they owe him more money.
- [64:10]
Nick Wright
Yeah, I mean I'm just, I'm not paying for. I'm just, I'm not as. I. I feel like that story, while interesting to some is I'm just not super into all right, Gambling show tomorrow do a bunch of NFL stuff reminder like rate, subscribe review to the show would help us out a lot. Thank you to Blue Duck, thank you to Volume and a shout out to all our great sponsors, Hard Rock Bet Boost, Wayfair and our friends at Zen. Talk to you guys tomorrow with our Week 8 Gambling Show.
- [64:39]
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- [65:14]
PayPal Sponsor
This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Okay, let's talk holiday shopping. When you want to make the most of your Money, head to PayPal's app before you check out. They give you the flexibility to pay in four no fees, no interest. And this is big. Bigger than the 12 foot snowman on your lawn right now. You can get 5% cash back when you pay later with PayPal. So whether it's the must have merch or for that signed jersey you've been eyeing, PayPal helps you make the most of your money this holiday. Save this offer in the PayPal app expires 1231.
- [65:48]
Nick Wright
See paypal.com promoterms Subject to approval. Learn more at paypal.com payin4paypal inc.nmls910457 the.
- [65:59]
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- [66:17]
Nick Wright
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- [66:28]
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- [66:58]
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