The Thunder Keep On Surging. Plus, We Relive a Raja Moment.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Ringer NBA Show - "The Thunder Keep On Surging. Plus, We Relive a Raja Moment."

Date: December 12, 2025
Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell
Episode Focus: Deep dive into the Oklahoma City Thunder’s meteoric rise and dynasty potential, reflections on the reality of NBA dynasties (Bulls, Warriors, Lakers), a memorable Raja Bell ‘bar night’ story from 2006, and broader NBA observations.

---

Episode Overview

This episode centers around the Oklahoma City Thunder’s dominant early-season performance and whether they’re establishing themselves as an all-time great regular-season team and potential dynasty. The hosts analyze what makes OKC unique, the organizational blueprint enabling their success, and the historical lessons from previous dynastic teams. Later, Raja Bell shares the full, untold story of his infamous Game 6 suspension in 2006, offering a behind-the-scenes view of NBA life and camaraderie. The hosts also touch on the NBA Cup, the grind of NBA travel, and close with their "Real One of the Week" segment, highlighting resilience and community.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Historic Start and Dynasty Potential

(03:19 – 22:34)

• Record-setting Start:

  • Thunder have lost only one game, outscoring opponents by 437 points over the first 25 games – the highest differential in NBA history at this stage.
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) is averaging 32.8 points on 68.6% true shooting, “the highest true shooting on a 30 PPG season, only really rivaled by Steph Curry’s 2015-16 MVP year.” (03:39)

• Depth & Resilience:

  • Jalen Williams (J-Dub) has only played six games, and Chet Holmgren is still developing, yet “they still seem to be rolling.” (03:51)
  • The Thunder combine a young core with an unparalleled trove of draft assets: “OKC has between 10 and 14 first rounders until 2031.” (14:13)

• Blueprint for Sustained Success:

  • Organizational excellence lauded for talent identification, asset accumulation, and player development.
  • Logan: “Every guy on that team can pass... just awesome to watch SGA play the game of basketball.” (08:12)
  • Raja: “Their depth, that skill development. You reach a place as a team…it could look like you’re on autopilot.” (11:02)

• Comparisons to Other Dynasties:

  • Referencing the Bulls, Warriors, Lakers: “Success brings pressure, and pressure breaks locker rooms, no matter how good you are.” (16:37)
  • Raja on maintaining vibes: “Where I think they have an advantage… they raised a lot of these kids for their NBA life… homegrown and a very close second to talent evaluation, is human being and cultural evaluation.” (18:51)

• Potential Pitfalls – Fame and Internal Dynamics:

  • Logan: “...they’re about to become if they continue to win, they’re going to be popular...this is the Gen Z team.” (21:05)
  • Risks include ego, brand building, and maintaining harmony as the spotlight intensifies.
  • Raja: “SGA, while a super mega, super megastar, a relatively muted one…not all the oxygen in the room. I think they combat that pretty well.” (25:18)
  • Team culture contrasts with the previous OKC era: “It’s a little bit of a college atmosphere... barn-starving guys who don’t know the real NBA yet in a good way.” (26:44)

---

2. NBA Cup and Schedule Distractions

(29:22 – 37:28)

• NBA In-Season Tournament:
  • Logan visits OKC during an NBA Cup game and notes the vibe: “I forgot it was an NBA cup game until I saw the floor.” (30:01)
  • Hosts discuss the unique challenge of maintaining focus with new schedule quirks (e.g., flying from Vegas to OKC with back-to-backs looming).
  • Raja’s advice: “To the best of your ability, file that shit as normal business... do not approach it any other way.” (32:03)
  • Travel grind discussed: even with luxury, the schedule is harsh – “It is luxurious... but it’s a lot tougher than it looks.” (36:03)

---

3. A Raja Bell 2006 Playoff Story: Suspension Night

(43:00 – 49:19)

• Background:

  • After clotheslining Kobe Bryant, Raja was suspended for Game 6, experienced the game in a Beverly Hills bar, “No one knew who I was at the bar...I got [faded].” (45:33, 47:24)
  • Humorous moment: A bathroom-goer talking trash about Raja unexpectedly encounters him in the mirror – hilarity ensues.
  • After the Suns win, Raja—drunk and thrilled—greets his team on the plane: “As the bus pulled up onto the tarmac, I was at the top of the steps... pretty inebriated, just fucking going crazy and thanking everybody profusely for winning the game.” (48:12)

• Team Camaraderie & Legacy:

  • Bell expresses gratitude for his teammates saving his playoff run during his suspension: “That could have been a real early retirement for me, bro.” (48:55)

---

4. Real One of the Week: Brotherhood and Perseverance

(53:27 – End)

• Logan honors Jason Collins
  • “Been battling a lot, Jason Collins...stage four brain tumor...basketball community is with you.” (53:27)
• Raja honors his son Ty Bell
  • “Real one of the week to Ty...stayed with it, found other ways to impact the game, had his first triple-double. That’s real growth.” (55:19)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Thunder’s dominance:
  • Raja: “What they’re doing is pretty remarkable…the way you just don’t have an answer for them offensively…but on the flip side…they’re just a defensive problem. The way they turn people over, the way they can just lock down for stretches... it’s pretty remarkable.” (05:21)
• On SGA’s game:
  • Logan: “Watch him play...it’s like a beautiful slow motion type of game where he’s playing at his own pace.” (08:15)
  • Raja: “His patience is incredible…not just with the ball in his hands, but throughout the course of the game in terms of when to take over.” (11:02)
• On Dynasty Dangers:
  • “Success brings pressure, and pressure breaks locker rooms, no matter how good you are.” – Logan (16:37)
  • “This team is becoming a bit of an IT team…It’s not for the adults. This is Gen Z’s team.” – Raja (20:55)
• Vivid Bar Story:
  • Raja: “There was a dude in there running his mouth about me…in a movie, kind of comes up, looks in the mirror – I’m standing behind him. He looked like he saw a fucking ghost.” (46:43)
  • “As the bus pulled up onto the tarmac…I was at the top of the steps of the plane, pretty inebriated, just fucking going crazy, thanking everybody profusely for winning the game.” (48:12)

---

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Thunder’s Start & SGA’s Greatness — 03:19 to 12:00
• Dynasty Lessons: Bulls, Warriors, Lakers — 12:00 to 22:34
• NBA Cup, Schedule, and Travel — 29:22 to 37:28
• Raja Bell’s 2006 Suspension Bar Story — 43:00 to 49:19
• Real One of the Week — 53:27 to End

---

Tone and Style

The episode’s style is conversational, candid, and often humorous, with deep basketball insight. The camaraderie between hosts is palpable—mixing fan analysis, insider perspectives from Raja Bell’s playing career, and relatable NBA anecdotes.

---

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This installment is a must-listen for NBA fans curious about:

• The Thunder’s unprecedented ascent and key factors behind their meteoric year.
• How teams can learn from the past and avoid pitfalls that break up dynasties.
• The unvarnished realities of NBA travel, team culture, and player development.
• Entertaining, behind-the-scenes stories—like Raja Bell’s infamous night as a suspended player helplessly rooting for his team in a Beverly Hills bar.

---

Direct, memorable, and packed with both technical breakdowns and genuine basketball emotion—this episode embodies what makes The Ringer NBA Show a go-to for hoops fans.

Transcript

[Raja Bell]

Foreign.

[Roger Bell]

Real Ones Logan Murdock here, Roger Bell and a few we had a great show today on Real Ones. We talked about the Oklahoma City Thunder.

[Logan Murdock]

And the quest to be the greatest.

[Roger Bell]

Regular season of all time.

[Logan Murdock]

Why and what is required of being.

[Roger Bell]

A great team with an historic record in the way that they do and.

[Logan Murdock]

If they are going to be a.

[Roger Bell]

Dynasty, which I think we all expect based on what is going on right now.

[Logan Murdock]

We what are the ramifications of that.

[Roger Bell]

Both inside and outside of the locker room? Very fascinating discussion.

[Producer/Host]

We get into what we just talked about there. We get into how similar ascensions have.

[Roger Bell]

Messed up the trajectory of the 90s bulls, which were a dynasty, the 2010 warriors, which were a dynasty, even the Lakers of the early 2000s, what a.

[Logan Murdock]

Dynasty is and how the Oklahoma City.

[Roger Bell]

Thunder can learn from those experiences and continue to build with the plethora of.

[Logan Murdock]

Picks that they have and the talent.

[Roger Bell]

That they already have on the roster.

[Producer/Host]

And then we talk about Raj Bell's.

[Logan Murdock]

Night during Game 6 of the 2006.

[Producer/Host]

Western Conference First Round.

[Roger Bell]

Amazon prime brought it up about what he was doing during Game six. That was the game after he clotheslined Kobe and served his suspension in Los Angeles with a group of friends in a bar in Beverly Hills. So we get into the minutia of that and talk about Raj's point of view during that time. Real onesmailbackmail.com realwashmailbagmail.com, realonesmailbagmail.com we're going to be answering all of your questions on Tuesday. At least we're going to try and make a big effort to do so.

[Logan Murdock]

So please get your questions in me.

[Roger Bell]

Raja Bell, Howard Beck next week.

[Logan Murdock]

But before that, talk to me and Raja.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

This week the Ringer NBA show is presented by fanduel. Fanduel's got it all. Same game parlays, quick bets for jumping in live in your way so you could build the bet that fits your play. Plus, don't miss out on holiday offers and surprises all month long. Download the FanDuel app or head to FanDuel.com RingerMBA to get started. 21 plus and present in select states or 18 plus and present in DC, Kentucky or Wyoming. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rg-help.com Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org ChatInElectric this episode is brought to you by NBA on Prime. Hey Justin here. This Tuesday at 8:30 Eastern, it's the Emirates NBA Cup Championship Game on Prime. This year's quest for the cup has delivered incredible moments and jaw dropping highlights and they've all been building toward this. The final two teams the Emirates NBA Cup Championship game live from Las Vegas Tuesday night at 8:30 Eastern on Prime. And if you're not a Prime member, that's not a problem. Sign up for a 30 day free trial to get started today. The Emirates NBA Cup Championship game this Tuesday at 8:30 Eastern only on Prime. Restrictions apply. See Amazon.com Amazon prime for details.

[Producer/Host]

Cliff Play the theme music.

[Roger Bell]

What's poppin Real ones.

[Logan Murdock]

Logan Murdoch here.

[Roger Bell]

Raja Bell They're Friday Real ones. Raja can't keep his coffee in the mug for some reason on this Friday. It's kind of sick.

[Raja Bell]

Let's talk about, I mean we, we started again like you didn't even have to bring that.

[Roger Bell]

This was the second, this was the second time around but I'm still gonna with you anyway.

[Logan Murdock]

Virgo gang, talk about the Oklahoma City Thunder who are out here in these streets. They've only lost one game. They're outscoring opponents by 437 points this season, the largest differential through the first 25 games of a season in NBA history. And from the homie ka from blue.

[Roger Bell]

Sky, Shake H. Alexander is averaging 32.8.

[Producer/Host]

Points on 68.6% true shooting, the highest.

[Logan Murdock]

True shooting on a 30 points per game season in NBA history. Second only or first only to Steph.

[Roger Bell]

Curry's true shooting percentage who they believe he had 66 true percentage in the 201516 year which was the year that the warriors won 73 games. This team, this team is on a roll. And J Dub has only played six games. Chad has been in and out of the lineup and they still seem to be rolling.

[Logan Murdock]

Raja, does this team have the potential.

[Roger Bell]

To be the greatest team of all time in your eyes right now?

[Raja Bell]

Oh man, that's so tough, so tough.

[Phil Jackson]

To say that because when you it when you ask the question I automatically get really nostalgic about, you know, you talk about greatest team of all time. It's hard for me. I was such a Bulls fan. It's really difficult, you know, the Warriors.

[Raja Bell]

But the answer is, I don't know that. The answer is unequivocally yes, but the answer is is starting to look more and more like that. Like they're. Yeah, I guess. Damn it. I mean they're going to be referenced if they continue with this pace with, with, with the greatest teams of all time. Like we're going to have the argument. Shay Shay, Gil just is is remarkable.

[Phil Jackson]

I mean, I know what people say about the fouls and. And some, like, he's polarizing in that way that some people appreciate his art, you know, his scoring mastery. Some people don't.

[Raja Bell]

But, like, it's.

[Phil Jackson]

It's just remarkable. I appreciate that stat.

[Raja Bell]

It's pretty. It's pretty incredible. They are the best organization in the.

[Phil Jackson]

In the NBA. That's not. I don't think that's debatable when you're talking about.

[Raja Bell]

Not just because, you know, if they. The championship just kind of seals the envelope, but.

[Phil Jackson]

But it was already that in terms of talent identification, you know, maneuvering, asset.

[Raja Bell]

You know, accumulation, player development, you name it. Right. But yeah, Logan, I mean, what they're doing is pretty remarkable the way, you know, the way they just. You don't have an answer for them offensively, but. But on the flip side of that, they're just a defensive problem. The way they turn people over, the way they can just lock down for stretches of time where you could virtually go scoreless for five, six minutes, you know, that it's. It's pretty remarkable. And so the answer is yes. I mean, I said a lot there ultimately, like, I would still wrestle and have to have some real serious conversations with myself because again, my young fan comes out when you ask that question. But yeah, they're going to be in that conversation for sure if they keep pace.

[Roger Bell]

You know, I think that I've seen.

[Producer/Host]

Them play three times this season.

[Roger Bell]

I've seen them play in. Up in Portland. I've seen them play in San Francisco and in Sacramento. Both were like distinctly different types, types of games. One of the games in Sacramento, J Dub was not playing.

[Logan Murdock]

But the thing that I continue to see from them is the one. The confidence that you get when you win a title and then the relative just. And when you win the title, typically the. Especially when you're young, you start to see this where guys are a lot.

[Roger Bell]

More assertive in their roles and they know what they're going to do and they know how to get the ball to who they need to get the ball to. And there's a calmness. You see it specifically down the stretch with these teams. Right. I think about the game I was at in Portland where they play like it was one of those games. I know you hated these, Roger. The Sunday, 4pm Games on a football.

[Logan Murdock]

Sunday, early in the game, early in the season, when you don't have a shoot around and you're basically just going.

[Roger Bell]

On vibes and you're just trying to get through and get to the next city.

[Logan Murdock]

They had that game and they just weathered the storm.

[Roger Bell]

And it was by the end of it, you knew who was going to win because you knew the Thunder had the closer and then you knew that they were going to have the guy like a case in Wallace who is.

[Logan Murdock]

Going to get the, the steal at.

[Roger Bell]

The right time, right. Or they have an Aaron Wiggins who.

[Logan Murdock]

Is, who can guard multiple defenders and it's just long and they'll figure it out, right?

[Roger Bell]

They have that calmness but then they have to your point, the defensive acumen.

[Logan Murdock]

But they have the smarts on both.

[Roger Bell]

Sides of the ball, right.

[Logan Murdock]

They know when to switch, they know how to get into their actions and they're so selfish. Everybody on that team can pass the ball. And adding to that the thing. And I texted this to V and.

[Roger Bell]

Cliff after I watched them.

[Logan Murdock]

I believe in San Francisco just how.

[Roger Bell]

Awesome it is to watch SGA play the game of basketball.

[Logan Murdock]

Like take away, take away what you think about the, the foul hunting, which.

[Roger Bell]

Is a skill by the way.

[Logan Murdock]

Take away from, take away from that. Watch him play. It's like a beautiful slow motion type of game where he is playing at his own pace. But the other thing is he has become an incredible pass, right? So now he's getting into the lane. He's doing the wraparound pass between three.

[Roger Bell]

Defenders and getting it to his corner.

[Logan Murdock]

And knowing when he's going to be able to.

[Roger Bell]

Knowing that his corner guy is going to hit the 3, right?

[Logan Murdock]

Or he's kind of, you know, Jordan.

[Roger Bell]

Used to be able to do this where, you know, I remember after the game in sack, they asked him about like his third quarter scoring because he's a very, he's a really, really good third quarter scorer. I don't have the stats on me right now, but he's one of the higher third quarter scorers in the league right now. And they asked him about it post game reporter. I forget who it was but they.

[Logan Murdock]

Asked him, you know, how do you.

[Roger Bell]

You know, kind of feel your way into the game?

[Logan Murdock]

And he says like, you know, I'm. During the first couple of quarters I'm.

[Roger Bell]

Just looking, I'm just seeing where I can get to my spots. I'm passing the ball and being assertive and then by the third quarter I've kind of cracked the code on the.

[Logan Murdock]

Game and I can exploit the defense.

[Roger Bell]

That is coming against me and it.

[Logan Murdock]

Happens to be the third quarter and that happens to be most of the.

[Roger Bell]

Time when OKC is blowing people out. Right.

[Logan Murdock]

Jordan used to do that.

[Roger Bell]

Kobe used to do that. I remember watching Spike Lee's doc on Kobe, and Kobe would be like, I know I can get that shot in the first quarter, but it'll be more effective if I get that shot in the third and fourth quarter when we actually need it.

[Logan Murdock]

You're seeing that maturation now from sga. And the scary part about this is you haven't even gotten J Dub back.

[Roger Bell]

At full capacity yet.

[Logan Murdock]

Yeah, Chad is still figuring a lot.

[Roger Bell]

Of things out right now.

[Logan Murdock]

That's the scary part. They're kind of doing this on autopilot.

[Roger Bell]

Roger.

[Logan Murdock]

That's the. That's the scariest part right now about where they are as a team.

[Roger Bell]

And we're so early in the season.

[Raja Bell]

Yeah, no, that's. I mean, it's a great point. Their depth, that skill development.

[Phil Jackson]

I talked about that. You know, the. The talent acquisition allows them to be able to play at that level without, like, integral pieces to. To, like, their championship level success.

[Raja Bell]

Which is. Which is scary. Right? And you can't say that about, like, when. I don't remember the Bulls, but I think for the most part, healthy all year long, like Golden State, you know, they weren't. They weren't getting that natural reinvigoration of having a major piece come back, like, a third of the way through the season. Because what you worry about with teams like that is, like, can they sustain that is. That is. Is can they keep pace? Um, and that's a hard thing to do when everyone's there. I think, you know, almost organically, as you're adding major pieces back to the team, you get that kind of boost.

[Roger Bell]

Right.

[Raja Bell]

That you might need around a third of the way through where people might get a little fatigued with the process. So that's a great point. As far as SGA goes with his scoring, I mean, his patience is incredible. Not just with the ball in his hands, you know, in terms of, you know, identifying what a defender's trying to do to him and then. And then countering that. But to the point you made his patience throughout the course of the game in terms of when to take over, when he decides it's time to do that. And he's. He's just usually so on point with when he. When he said, when he decides, hey, here's when I can put them to sleep. You know, like, we've been messing around, the team's holding me down. You know, I'm just playing within the concepts of what we're trying to do. But now is the time for me to Put them in the chokehold with this barrage of like 15 straight, you know, or. Or, you know, some. Some sort of run that he goes on. It's pretty remarkable to watch. He's a fun player for me to watch as well, because while he is six, six, and not every Hooper can say they're blessed with, like, six. Six long arms, like, those are gifts. But he's not incredibly above the rim, athletically twitchy. So what he does in terms of getting you off balance, using his body to bump and create space, you know, getting into you and then back away from you as a player, creating that. That gap, making the defender have to decide whether he's going to close the gap. If you close the gap, he's by you. If you stay back, he's shooting a career high from three now, you know, he. It's pretty fun to watch him. And then you mentioned. I mean, he's got a career high in assists. He's starting. Not that he didn't make players around him better. He certainly did, but he's gotten even better at making other players around him better as he continues to mature and grow. And you do reach a place as a team. Although I was never on a championship team, I was on good teams where it is, to some degree, I shouldn't say it is. It could look like you're on autopilot. Yeah, it could look like that to the naked eye. Right. You know, you're not on autopilot because it takes a lot of work to make it look like that to the fan. I mean, but when you roll out, everybody's just so dialed into what they need to do. Like, our roles are so clear. Everybody just understands, you know, how we have to try to operate to make sure that this thing goes off the way it's supposed to go off. And, you know, they're lucky because they have multiple pieces they can throw at those roles where other teams, sometimes, if a guy's not doing his job, like.

[Phil Jackson]

There'S nowhere really to go.

[Raja Bell]

There's not that.

[Phil Jackson]

That depth.

[Raja Bell]

They've got so many things going for them. It's a really. It's a really cool team to watch. And they're growing, dude, that's not like this. They're growing. This is not. This is not like the. The Warriors. When the warriors were in the middle of it, there was a part of you that was like, this is phenomenal. But probably doesn't get much better.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Right.

[Raja Bell]

Because, like, they're all at the height of their superpowers.

[Roger Bell]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Raja Bell]

These guys are Growing.

[Roger Bell]

So this is just a wild stat right now.

[Logan Murdock]

I mean the Oklahoma City has 10.

[Roger Bell]

Can have between 10 and 14 first rounders until 2031, right?

[Logan Murdock]

If you think about the protections that.

[Roger Bell]

Everything goes right, they have, they have.

[Logan Murdock]

This summer or this summer they have.

[Roger Bell]

Their own, they have Houston's, they have.

[Logan Murdock]

The Clippers potentially two extra first round picks. They have the Jazz's first round picks 2027 they have their own first round.

[Roger Bell]

Pick and a Denver first round pick. That's top five protected they have in 2028 they have their own first round pick. The Lakers unprotected in 2030 they have their own first round prick book.

[Logan Murdock]

Brooklyn and Chicago unprotected 2031 own, Houston, Dallas, Milwaukee, New York, the Lakers top four protected. Maybe a couple Roger Bell AAU teams. You probably got some picks that you gave them somehow some of the kids are probably going to be there. But they have the rare thing that they can consistently replenish, right? And that is the thing that you need in this particular version of the NBA, right? I think a lot of teams right now are in a rock and a hard place. We think we all, we haven't talked extensively about the Milwaukee Bucks right now, but they are one of those teams right now where they don't have a plethora of picks. They have to maybe trade their big.

[Roger Bell]

Big time star to get those picks. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen.

[Logan Murdock]

But you're in this rock in the hard place where these stars, it's harder to trade them now because the what you need as a team now prioritize. Do you want a 31 year old superstar or do you want a bevy of picks that could maybe blossom into superstars that are on the cheap, right? And if you do trade for these superstars then you have to give up a boatload of picks that honestly could.

[Roger Bell]

Replenish your roster around him.

[Logan Murdock]

The OKC is not in that, in that rocket heart place.

[Roger Bell]

They have the superstar player, right?

[Logan Murdock]

They have the secondary star who maybe could he be a superstar, maybe then you have the third star or who is blossoming and in chat that can maybe be that. And then you build around that with cheaper talent. Maybe you can trade one of those guys, get some more picks, who knows. But they are in just a. They have an opportunity if they can. The biggest thing is that they need to do is continue to keep the.

[Roger Bell]

Vibes where they are right now. Because the problem is and what we've.

[Logan Murdock]

Seen in dynasties of in the past.

[Roger Bell]

Or teams like this in the Past is success brings pressure, and pressure breaks locker rooms, no matter how good you are, right? The Bulls infighting between the front office and, you know, the players and the coaches. The Lakers, we already know infighting have just crippled that dynasty.

[Logan Murdock]

The Warriors, I saw firsthand, just bullshit, right?

[Roger Bell]

Stuff that could be avoided, just.

[Logan Murdock]

Just derailed it. They got four titles, probably could have gotten six. That's the biggest, I think, impediment on the other. On the. On the horizon that they need to overcome, assuming they do good in the postseason and they won a championship this year. But they feel so good because they've done this without mo. Without really important pieces on their roster.

[Roger Bell]

Right.

[Logan Murdock]

You juxtapose that with Denver, who is playing well around Jokic, but their pieces have really. Who have been injured, have really, like.

[Producer/Host]

Brought down the ceiling.

[Roger Bell]

Whereas okc, they just kept the. They kept the train going, no matter who's in the lineup.

[Logan Murdock]

That's the scary part.

[Roger Bell]

But I think the biggest thing on.

[Logan Murdock]

The horizon, Raja, is the battle against the team itself. You know what I'm saying?

[Raja Bell]

Sure, sure. And you look, you always run the risk of, as you succeed more as a team, people being rewarded in a.

[Phil Jackson]

Way that are on that team that might preclude them from staying on that.

[Raja Bell]

Team, especially role players that play really well, the stars. Usually, it kind of takes care of.

[Phil Jackson]

Themselves, like, in terms of the organization is going to make a commitment financially.

[Raja Bell]

But if you get guys like, like, let's use Bruce Brown the year they played, you know, guys of that ilk who aren't going to make top dollar within your organization, but someone else is willing to reward them, like, it can be very difficult to hold on to those kind of guys when you're having so much team success. That's why having all of those picks at your disposal become really, really important. Right? Because you can replenish, you know, those coffers a little bit. I would say, though, where I think they have an advantage over some of the teams that. And it will remain to be seen.

[Phil Jackson]

This is just my hunch.

[Raja Bell]

They raised a lot of these kids in terms of their NBA life. You know, they were homegrown and I think a very, very close second to talent evaluation, because talent evaluation is always going to win, but a very, very close second is human being evaluation, cultural evaluation, who he is as a. As a. As a teammate, as a. As a family member, you know, and if you can get that right, you could wind up with the type of team that, if raised together the right way and experiencing some early success, might Say, hey, I really like this. I will give a little bit up to continue this. Right. And that might even be from the top down because, you know, that's where it starts to afford the, the role guys the opportunity to make enough to make that comfortable living and stay in their supporting roles in place. And so, you know, I, I have a sneaky suspicion that they got that right, too. You know, they seem to have the type of guys that, that, that would. And it's weird. It's weird, right? Like, you never really know who someone's going to turn into once they get success and once they start getting a little taste of that limelight. And now, hey, baby, like, you never know, but you do a little bit, right? When you sit across from somebody in the process, you get a little feel for that. Like, I only spent one year in a front office, but, you know, I sat with some cats that you could tell, like, this dude is wired the right way. And then there were other dudes. I didn't have the misfortune of meeting anyone where I had to go back and say, this guy's a.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

No.

[Raja Bell]

You know, I didn't, I didn't come across any kids like that, but I did leave some of the meetings with question marks.

[Roger Bell]

Yeah.

[Raja Bell]

You know, but there were some were slam dunks. You were like, yeah, yeah, he gets it. And I think they got a lot of those dudes.

[Logan Murdock]

I think you make a really good.

[Roger Bell]

Point on that because, like, the other thing is this is. This team is becoming a bit of.

[Logan Murdock]

An IT team, if that makes sense.

[Roger Bell]

The kids love them. I mean, the adults are like kind of split on them, but it's. This team isn't for the adults. This is for. Is the Gen Z team.

[Logan Murdock]

And with that being said, they're.

[Roger Bell]

They're about to become. If they continue to win, they're going to be popular.

[Logan Murdock]

They're going to be like a thing.

[Roger Bell]

Thing, like into the zeitgeist type of thing.

[Logan Murdock]

And that's going to be another.

[Roger Bell]

Like, it's.

[Logan Murdock]

It's not. You guys aren't just like the kids.

[Roger Bell]

At the practice facility just trying to figure it out anymore. You know, you're going on talk shows, you know, you know, she's going on Jimmy Fallon now.

[Logan Murdock]

Everybody's now trying to build their individual brand now.

[Roger Bell]

Right?

[Logan Murdock]

And you have to make sure that.

[Roger Bell]

Doesn'T seep into the locker because it just. It.

[Logan Murdock]

This is. It just does, man. It just does. Yeah, it is what it is.

[Roger Bell]

It just, it just kind of does. Right.

[Logan Murdock]

Like, I saw it in Golden State.

[Roger Bell]

And just like, how that.

[Logan Murdock]

Like that on the. Like that comes into the locker room.

[Roger Bell]

That doesn't really matter. That's supposed to be really small that, like, you might have laughed off in the beginning of your tenure.

[Logan Murdock]

Now you're just like, they're saying this about her. Like, it's different when you're building versus when you maintaining. And I want to see how they maintain it.

[Raja Bell]

Yeah, that's fair.

[Logan Murdock]

You know what I mean?

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Fair.

[Raja Bell]

No, it's really fair.

[Logan Murdock]

Yeah. And so the biggest. They got to win like this.

[Roger Bell]

They're. We're still in December, right? Like, they still. They got a long way to. Goes a long season and this. And.

[Logan Murdock]

And if they. Everything that I've heard from them, it.

[Roger Bell]

Feels like they don't care about the record. It's just their process. But also, man, it's also happening in nature.

[Logan Murdock]

Shit is happening.

[Roger Bell]

Shit is going.

[Logan Murdock]

Going down right now, and they have to get through that.

[Roger Bell]

But then they have to get through the beast of the playoffs. And, man, the Western Conference is a beast right now. And I.

[Logan Murdock]

That's going to be a hard thing when they're playing for something and then you see all these other guys land in the weeds, like, okay, we gonna.

[Roger Bell]

See what it is, like in seven. For seven games. I want to see it. And that's going to be tough.

[Raja Bell]

Yeah, well, that's always the challenge, man, when you. When you. It's a challenge, period. Right? We're trying to win this, chip. But like, it's always what I caution teams that are this good about, or I don't caution them because who's listening to me? But, like, I always worry for teams like that, which is like, hey, man, there's a. There's a human element and a human natural letdown or exhale, if you will. Once a record is broken in the regular season, like, it's not even a conscious thing. You're like, yeah, we did that. Like, there's. You might even slightly celebrate it. And that's all it takes in some instances to have you less than sharp enough to win a championship. And that. That I always worry about. I do want to go back to something you said about things creeping in as dudes are building their brand and, you know, the SGA is on Jimmy Fallon and stuff like that now. You know, I think that logistically, geographically, they're in a good spot to. To do that. The lights aren't that bright in OKC as a market. Like, when you're doing that in the. In New York and Philly and. And la, certainly. You know, even, even the Dallas is of the world.

[Logan Murdock]

Like, these are, I would say, even up here too.

[Roger Bell]

Like, even in the Bay Area too.

[Logan Murdock]

Miami, San Francisco, for sure.

[Raja Bell]

For sure.

[Roger Bell]

Yeah.

[Raja Bell]

These are like, these are major, major markets where the lights can get so bright that you do fall in love. You are intoxicated by that level of, of, of stardom. You know, I think that.

[Logan Murdock]

They weirdly get a break from it.

[Roger Bell]

Right?

[Logan Murdock]

They really get a break from it. They get to go into the Matrix and then come right back out.

[Roger Bell]

Right.

[Logan Murdock]

Yeah.

[Raja Bell]

If you, if you thirst for that in okc, it's not as easily. It's not as easily accessible to you as it would be somewhere else. Right. And that's really what, what cannibalizes like teams and locker rooms is that one guy in that locker room that wants that. I want that. I want that. And Lord forbid I get my hands on that. And if it's there every night, but I'm. I'm gonna suck up all the oxygen in the room. And then you have everybody else looking at him like, bro, what the fuck, man? Like, this is ain't enough. Ain't enough. Well, you know, it's not as. It's not as easy for them to be on that all the time. Plus, I think, and this is critical, SGA while a super mega, super megastar, a relatively muted one.

[Roger Bell]

Yeah.

[Raja Bell]

Not. Not. I mean, sure, he likes his fashion and he's got his fits and like, he'll go, but he's not, he's not all the oxygen in the room type of human being.

[Roger Bell]

Yeah.

[Raja Bell]

You know, and so I think, I think, you know, I think they combat that pretty well, man. Like, it. While it is a concern, like, and I'll acknowledge, like, your concern, I. Weirdly, I think they're positioned to navigate that pretty well.

[Roger Bell]

It's a lot different than the OKC of 10, 12 years ago.

[Logan Murdock]

Yeah, that's a lot.

[Roger Bell]

Because you think about it, right?

[Logan Murdock]

And like the guys that were on.

[Roger Bell]

That team before Oxygen, right?

[Logan Murdock]

And like, also you got a guy like Russ.

[Roger Bell]

We love Russ. We're not, we're not.

[Logan Murdock]

But like, he's, he's not only is he like the star of okc, he's from la. So every time he goes back home, he's already a part of that. What everything you speak of in the zeitgeist, right? KD from dc, right? KD is, is. Was a, like from America, a generational talent, also a generational type person in personality, Right?

[Raja Bell]

Yeah.

[Logan Murdock]

Then you have perk in that locker room. Then you have Serge Ibaka in that locker room. Then you just have a lot of just like personalities that are like alpha personalities. Maybe not alpha players, but just like just constantly, just no doubt. I spent a little time in that James Harden. James Harden, Right. For James Harden. Another LA guy.

[Roger Bell]

Right?

[Raja Bell]

Yeah.

[Logan Murdock]

But I, I spent a little time.

[Roger Bell]

In this locker room, the current OKC locker room.

[Logan Murdock]

It's just like, it's different. It's just like a, it's a little.

[Roger Bell]

Bit of a college atmosphere. Right.

[Logan Murdock]

It's just, you know, you got Shay who is from, you know, he's from Canada, but he's from a small town in Canada.

[Roger Bell]

Right.

[Logan Murdock]

You think about J Dub, army brat has, was spent a lot of time.

[Roger Bell]

Around the the country.

[Logan Murdock]

Bit worldly, but grew up in Arizona.

[Roger Bell]

Right.

[Logan Murdock]

Chad, Minnesota guy. You have guys that are kind of like these barn starving guys who have kind of just kind of found themselves in this locker room and they don't know the real NBA yet in a good way.

[Roger Bell]

You get what I'm saying?

[Raja Bell]

I do.

[Logan Murdock]

And that, to your point, is really.

[Roger Bell]

Going to help them.

[Producer/Host]

The Ringer NBA show is brought to you by fanduel.

[Logan Murdock]

All right, your Friday nights just got.

[Producer/Host]

A little louder because NBA Happy Hour is happening on FanDuel every Friday from 6 to 7:30pm Eastern. FanDuel's got a limited time specials to pregame the weekend boost, bonuses, surprises all live in the app. That's NBA Happy Hour every Friday from 6 to 7:30 Eastern only on FanDuel, official sportsbook partner of the NBA. Visit FanDuel.com Ringer MBA to get started.

[Roger Bell]

Must be 21 years and older and.

[Producer/Host]

Present in select states or 18 and older and present in D.C. kentucky or Wyoming. Optimum required rewards are non withdrawable. Restrictions apply including bonus and token expiration leg requirements and max wager amount. See terms@sportsbook fanduel.com Got a gambling problem?

[Roger Bell]

Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rg-help.com Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Chat in Connecticut.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

This episode is brought to you by Amazon Prime. The holidays move fast and Amazon prime keeps you in control with fast and free delivery. We've all been there. Family plans are fluid. Somebody's not coming. Suddenly they are coming and you're excited about it. You want to get them a gift. So you hop on Amazon prime, line that up with their interests. And it's easy to do because Amazon has everything. Prime's fast shipping is always there for you during the holidays, especially when it's last minute and it just can't wait. Need that last minute gift or holiday essential? It's on Prime. Head to Amazon.comprime to shop now.

Think your lashes have hit their limit? Discover limitless length and full volume with Maybelline Sky High Mascara. The Flex Tower Brush bends to volumize and extend every single lash from root to tip and the lightweight bamboo infused formula makes lashes feel weightless. Now in eight bold shades so you can take your lashes to new heights every day. Visit maybelline.com to shop Sky High Mascara.

Now.

[Roger Bell]

One of the things that I want to ask you let's go, let's.

[Logan Murdock]

Talk a little NBA cup using the.

[Roger Bell]

Oklahoma City Thunder as a way to get into it. But I remember being in a room with Coach Daggs after the Oklahoma City Sacramento game and it was an NBA cup game, which is wild. We might talk about the NBA cup like in full and the ramble of the cases of it next week with Howard Beck.

[Logan Murdock]

But, but they asked him about the NBA. He's going to love that. He's going to love it. But I forgot like this is what I think about the NBA cup as.

[Roger Bell]

It relates to this game and or it relates to the game that I was at and what Coach Dagg said.

[Logan Murdock]

I went to up to sack to.

[Roger Bell]

Go see OKC play because they're the IT team. You got to watch the IT team when in your region.

[Logan Murdock]

And I forgot that it was an.

[Roger Bell]

NBA cup game until I saw the floor. Right.

[Logan Murdock]

And so they asked Coach Daggs about it and he's like our guys are engaged. Yeah, they're engaged in the cup. But it's kind of weird going to Vegas to it in front of national media.

[Roger Bell]

Media for a game that doesn't count. Right.

[Logan Murdock]

And all that to say he said a lot of truth in that because now a few weeks later, OKC is.

[Roger Bell]

Now going to Vegas for a game.

[Logan Murdock]

That doesn't count in front of a national audience. How do they keep this going and what's the goal for you if you're.

[Roger Bell]

OKC going into this NBA Cup?

[Phil Jackson]

It's actually a good question. Not that you don't normally ask me good questions, but like I hadn't thought about that one.

[Raja Bell]

Like that's. Yeah, because I talked about a few minutes ago what I would worry about.

[Phil Jackson]

For teams that are on, you know.

[Raja Bell]

This trajectory as, as, as, as it kind of pertains to like that human letdown or distraction at the end of accomplishing, setting a record and then not being focused Enough to, you know, finish it off with a, with a playoff win. None of those teams had to deal with an in season tournament distraction from your normal rhythm. And it's not the end of the world. And to any listener they might say, oh, what the, you're going to Vegas? We go, you know, like, that's not a big deal. When you're used to playing. You played five, six, seven years in the NBA and you're used to the normal travel schedule and wear and tear and normal diet of games and breaks. This is something, this is, it is a little, it is a little different. And if you get thrown off your rhythm just a little bit sometimes, it's not that easy to get that rhythm back. It's easier to throw it off sometimes than to regain it. And so you're asking me how they should approach it. I, to the best of your ability, file that shit. In the category of normal business. We're going to Utah to play a basketball game. You know what I mean? Like, do not approach it any other way. I don't think it would be prudent for them, and I've said before to like young guys on rosters, that money is life changing at that juncture in time. Like, that's real money. But I don't think if you're a team like OKC that has clearly championship aspirations this year, I don't think it's prudent to approach it as its own entity. Being a cup win. I think you just treat it as business as usual. Let's get in, let's get out and, and just keep that thing rolling right? Like you have to keep your eyes, that's, you know, if you're, you're driving on like the turnpike, you got a hundred mile drive and you know you ain't supposed to get where you're going for another hour 40, hour 45. Don't be worrying about these signs and these off ramps that are five minutes away, bro. Don't you know what I mean? Just keep it moving. We got a full tank of gas, we're rolling. And that's what I would advise them. Dude, don't start around with these, these little rest stops and stuff. Everybody use the bathroom. We got in the car, baby, we're rolling, you know. And don't take your eye off the prize, not for the cup.

[Roger Bell]

Can I indulge you and tell you their schedule?

[Phil Jackson]

Yeah.

[Roger Bell]

So they play, they're slated to play San Antonio tomorrow or today, if you guys are listening. On a Saturday, they're playing on the 13th they're playing San Antonio. If they win the game, they're going to play Tuesday again for the championship. Then they have to fly from Vegas back to Oklahoma City for Thursday's game against the Clippers and they have a.

[Logan Murdock]

Back to back Clippers at home and.

[Roger Bell]

Then they have to play Minnesota on Friday.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Roger Bell]

Yeah, that's, that's tough. One of the hardest beat travel days I've ever had was we had a game in San Antonio. Next day back to back game in Minneapolis which meant we had to take a 5am flight from San Antonio to Minneapolis.

[Logan Murdock]

It's like four hours after you didn't.

[Roger Bell]

Get no sleep after writing all night.

[Logan Murdock]

And then you had to wake up. They, my old employer made me do a game preview from the hotel room before the game and I was slumped. It was one of the hard. And then right after the game.

[Roger Bell]

That'S hard.

[Logan Murdock]

I couldn't imagine trying to play basketball.

[Roger Bell]

Under those same circumstances.

[Raja Bell]

Well, we, the player has a little bit of an advantage in that like he's getting on that plane right after the game. So you know that, that helps, right? Like I'm not going to get, not having to get up at, at 2:30 to catch that 5:00am flight or whatever it looks like is a huge advantage. But I would, I would just say to anyone listening that that thinks that an NBA travel is, is like luxurious and it's all fun and games. It, it is luxurious. The hotels are great.

[Logan Murdock]

The planes are great too.

[Raja Bell]

The planes are great. But the Suns used to do a thing where you could take a, a spouse or a loved one on a road trip with you. Any road trip, it could be one game, it could be five games. They got to come the whole trip. So my wife, family on the east coast decided she was going to come.

[Phil Jackson]

On the east coast trip with us.

[Raja Bell]

So we were hitting, you know, like Charlotte and I don't know, D.C. and maybe new York and Miami, something like that. First, first game and you know, like my wife didn't know. So it was always when we went on the road, oh yo, you got, you're out there having all this fun and you get to go. And I'm like, all right, yeah, you come up with us. So first city was dope. Party, baby, let's go. We're on the road. Like you know, the vibes were high. That, that, that travel and the wake up the next morning after playing the game was rough. Like oh hey this, that was quick. We got in here really late. That's what time you got to get up. Yeah, you know, whatever. By the third game, she was done.

[Roger Bell]

Sir, I'm taking a flight.

[Raja Bell]

Done.

[Roger Bell]

I'm going to defend.

[Raja Bell]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Oh, no. She, she had to come with us because, like, that's, that's what it was. But you know, it takes doing it to realize that, you know, it is a lot tougher than it looks in terms of getting into places late. You know, you sleep on a plane, you're not sleeping great, you're getting in late. That's broken sleep. You're on a bus for maybe 20, 30 minutes, you ain't sleeping on that. Then you're getting to the hotel, you want to knock out, but you got to wait for your bag to show up at your room. So that might take another 45 minutes. You, you got in at 1 or let's say 1:30. Now it's 2:15. The bag shows up. You know, now we're, now we're up at like 9:30 or 10 for breakfast meat. We're doing like, this is rolling, you know, and so it's just a lot tougher. And when you're adding to an already tough schedule, it could just throw you out of rhythm. I doubt it does. I hope it doesn't. But if you ask me how they.

[Phil Jackson]

Approach it, I bet if I approach.

[Raja Bell]

That like, I mean, we're trying to win every game we play, but it's not going to be any bigger than that.

[Roger Bell]

Yeah, Phil Jackson used to call them scheduled losses. There might be a couple scheduled losses in there. No, no. Shade. But no, it was funny. I was just thinking about travel and I think this, we're 30 minutes in. This is about the time we ramble. We'll get back to the, to the. We'll get back at some point.

[Logan Murdock]

But I was talking to an NBA.

[Roger Bell]

Player recently, just about like off days, and he was like, there ain't no such thing as off day in the NBA. It's just, you're just catching up on work when you haven't, when you have a day that you're not playing a game, right, where you have meetings, you have.

[Logan Murdock]

You might have a practice in that city, you got to wake your ass up for. Because you haven't practiced in two and.

[Roger Bell]

A half weeks, you know. Oh yeah, there's a lot that goes into it. I don't know if you saw this story real quick. And then we'll get back to a little bit of the cup. There was a Gary Veti, longtime trainer of the Lakers. I'm sure you know, Gary know who he is. He was talking about this time where they went to D.C. where the Lakers went to D.C. and if you guys know, the formal Capital arena was outside of DC proper. It was in a DMV area, but it was outside of DC proper. Lakers are staying in. In DC And Pat Riley's like, I don't want to go to Capitol arena, dog. I don't want to go all the way out there.

[Logan Murdock]

And they're saying.

[Roger Bell]

He's saying this on the plane.

[Logan Murdock]

He's like, yo, Gary, can you get me a.

[Roger Bell]

Can you get us a gym closer?

[Producer/Host]

And Gary's like, it's one in the morning, bro.

[Logan Murdock]

Like, I'm trying to go in the. So he's like, I don't know if.

[Roger Bell]

He could do it.

[Logan Murdock]

And then Pat Riley says, can you try? And Gary's like, fuck, I guess I.

[Roger Bell]

Got to fucking try. I got to do it.

[Logan Murdock]

So he gets the answer to that. Yeah, the answer is, yes, we're doing this. And so he stayed up all night trying to get a gym in D.C. proper. Gets the gym, but sacrifices all the sleep. And that's life on the.

[Roger Bell]

In the NBA. If you're, you know, if you don't.

[Logan Murdock]

You'Re not a player or anything else. It's like that.

[Roger Bell]

That is from the Byron Scott podcast. Really good. You guys go check that out. But I remember hearing that anecdote about traveling, and that's. That's what it is in the NBA.

[Logan Murdock]

Any other team intriguing with the NBA cup, we got the spurs, we got the Magic, we got the Knicks that.

[Roger Bell]

We haven't talked about yet.

[Producer/Host]

Any of those teams, like, intrigue you.

[Logan Murdock]

For this specific, specific thing?

[Roger Bell]

What is your favorite team from that.

[Logan Murdock]

Matchup or from that group? What excites you?

[Raja Bell]

Yeah, the two teams that excite me the most outside of Oklahoma City would probably be the Knicks and San Antonio. And I mean, exciting. I'm just interested to see where they go. Like the Knicks offensively, balls moving better, you know, points per up, defensively hovering Eastern Conference w wide open. So that. So I'm interested. Keeping an eye on that. And then the spurs, you know, when Wimy's back fully integrated, they hit a stride at some point. What is the ceiling on that look like? You know, Darren Fox is 24 a game. He's playing really well. Stefan Castle's playing great. You know, Wemby, they need to take a step, I think, defensively. Wemby, you know, there's a big step defensively when he's on the court. So what's that look like?

[Roger Bell]

Right.

[Raja Bell]

Like those are the two teams because. And the reason I say that, not. Not throwing any shade at Orlando in any way, shape or form, but like in their respective conferences, I think, you know, the Knicks are going to be right there, potentially, right. Eastern Conference, like, they got a shot. And the Spurs, I think with Wemby, I put in a category in the Western Conference just below okc, who I think is clear number one. And then there are a few teams that fall into that second tier of teams for me. Right. And I think the spurs might be at the bottom of that second tier of teams, but they're in there, you know, so, you know, those would be the interesting ones for me.

[Roger Bell]

Yeah, I like the Knicks are just. They're just a weird bunch, right?

[Logan Murdock]

Because I love the fact that, you.

[Roger Bell]

Know, they're a tough team. They have Mike Brown, who has been a really good coach, not a great coach, but a really good coach in the league.

[Logan Murdock]

And I'm curious of what their ceiling is, right. Because the biggest question mark that I.

[Roger Bell]

Had with New York Knicks fans and what they had for me, when we converse about what the Knicks are, is playing with expectations and playing with expectations at your back.

[Logan Murdock]

And they're pretty much by and large the same team.

[Roger Bell]

And they're one of those teams that you're not really going to get a real answer on who they are until late April, early May.

[Logan Murdock]

San Antonio is weird because they have the point guards.

[Roger Bell]

They don't have the point guard that is going to calm the team down when you need them the most. At least not at this point. Maybe that person at the point guard that calms the team down is the 7 foot 4 guy from France when he gets back. But they just have so many different question marks. But I have been impressed with what they've done without Wimby. He was going to be tongue in cheek, Ewing theory guy. But, you know, we didn't want to be. We don't want to be on this podcast too much. You get aggregated. I don't give a fuck about being aggregated. Scared of that.

[Logan Murdock]

But it's going to be a good group. I do like the Magic, though. The Magic have been just interesting. You don't really know what you're gonna. You don't know who's going to be.

[Roger Bell]

The guy, the secondary guy with when Paulo is out, you know, Franz has.

[Logan Murdock]

Done his thing, which is interesting. I don't know. They're.

[Roger Bell]

They're good. They're going to be fine.

[Raja Bell]

Yeah. I didn't mean to disrespect them. I mean, they're all right.

[Roger Bell]

Yeah, they're fine. They're who are who they are. They're the people's team, you know, like.

[Logan Murdock]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Roger Bell]

Good for them. Okay. Anyways, we just were rambling just now, but there's something that I need to.

[Logan Murdock]

Ask you because your name was in the Zeitgeist this week, sir.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

You were.

[Roger Bell]

Amazon prime, which does a great job. They had a little roundtable with our guy, Stevie Nash, who keeps ducking the podcast. And Roger's not going to say it, but I'm going to say it. It's pretty disrespectful. I'm not going to lie. Just going to stay stuff that Roger has to answer for when he sees Steve in person, even though Steve's probably not going to bring it up either way.

[Logan Murdock]

Your name got brought up because they talked about the Sun's run in 2006.

[Roger Bell]

We have told this story before, but.

[Producer/Host]

It got brought up in the Zeitgeist.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

You know, I was fighting for my teammate Roger Bell, who was one of my best friends. I played with my guy RA. We're down three one of the Lakers. We're at home in game five. He decides to clothesline Kobe Bryant. So unfortunately, a little advised, but he was suspended for game six. We come back to Staples, need the win or the series is over. We're able to beat him. This fool went to a Mexican restaurant, had margaritas with Lakers stands, and was waiting. I was waiting on the top of the. The stairs of the bus when we got back to the place, swinging his fists. Fortunately, we got back to Phoenix and beat the lakers in Game 7, coming back from 3 1. But we didn't want our boy to go down like that. So great performance in Staples and then closed it out.

[Logan Murdock]

Can you tell the story of everything that had happened in more detail than we do in like. We probably told the story about five, six times this year, but. Or during our tenure here. Can you tell everybody with Steve Nash, the Homie Taylor Rooks, Yudanis Haslam and everybody else, and ud, who was all in that roundtable, were discussing with Steve Nash. Can you tell the entire story uncut, please? Thank you.

[Raja Bell]

Yeah, I don't, I don't remember why.

[Phil Jackson]

I went on the trip if it was like, hey, you're part of the team and you're coming with us, or.

[Raja Bell]

If we traveled so quickly that the.

[Phil Jackson]

Suspension hadn't been handed out yet and so they took me just case I wasn't going to be suspended, which would have been crazy.

[Raja Bell]

But anyway, I found myself in la.

[Phil Jackson]

They went, obviously, to play the game.

[Raja Bell]

And I didn't really have much to do.

[Phil Jackson]

There wasn't like a. I had to.

[Raja Bell]

Check out of my hotel and I. I was. The plane wasn't there for me to be on the plane. There was no, like, set up conference room or anything. So I was like, called, you know.

[Phil Jackson]

Ashley Smith was my.

[Raja Bell]

My PR person at the time.

[Phil Jackson]

She was free.

[Raja Bell]

We were like, yo, let's go.

[Phil Jackson]

Let's go have a drink and watch the game at a bar.

[Raja Bell]

So we did that. No one knew who I was at the bar. So, you know, I got.

[Logan Murdock]

What was the bar? Do you remember the bar?

[Raja Bell]

I don't. It was. Right. It wasn't like. I mean, it was across the street from the Beverly Wilshire, because that's where we were staying.

[Phil Jackson]

I want to say it was upstairs.

[Raja Bell]

But I know I was sitting there, Dre, drinking margaritas at the bar, like, hanging out, talking shit. I don't know where my head was. I was. Who knows? But, you know, there are people obviously to the left and the right of me and a bartender, and I just kind of got my head down. I'm. I'm just talking to Ashley and watching the game and I'm getting the full experience because obviously, like, I'm a topic.

[Phil Jackson]

Of conversation on the broadcast, right?

[Raja Bell]

So as as that happens, you know, the peanut gallery to either side and.

[Phil Jackson]

Me'S got my name all in their mouth.

[Raja Bell]

Like, I am. I am.

[Roger Bell]

What the. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Raja Bell]

Public enemy number one around there. So, you know, it's all good. Like, I was, you know, first of all, what are you gonna do?

[Phil Jackson]

Fight? Fight an entire bar?

[Raja Bell]

Secondly, like, it was kind of funny to me, so I, you know, I just sat and. And had my drinks. But there was an exchange. Like, I went to the bathroom and I was like, waiting to wash my hands, and there was a dude in there and he was like, running his.

[Phil Jackson]

Mouth to his buddy or something like.

[Raja Bell]

That, and he was running his mouth about me. And so he, like, in a movie kind of comes up out of, like, washing his hands and looks in the mirror. And in the mirror I'm standing. I'm sitting in the mirror behind him. And yeah, he looked. He looked like he saw a fucking ghost. But it was all. It was all good with me. I wasn't tripping. So we won the game. Like, I was. I was pretty excited, obviously, that we won that game, because I could have.

[Logan Murdock]

Were you faded? Like, what did you. And. Oh, two questions for you on this one.

[Roger Bell]

Two questions for you.

[Raja Bell]

Yep.

[Logan Murdock]

One, where you faded and two, when did the bar realize, like, the entire bar realize that, like, you were at the bar?

[Roger Bell]

And when did they realize all of that?

[Raja Bell]

One, yes, I eventually got faded. I don't know how long it took me, but, yes, by the time I saw the team, I was substantially late. And then, yeah, when we came out of that bathroom, the bar then knew that I was sitting at the bar.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Right?

[Raja Bell]

Because, like, Buddy came out and he.

[Phil Jackson]

The whisper started going, and now everyone knows I'm sitting at the bar.

[Raja Bell]

But to the bar patrons credit, like, it was not that hostile. It was not like. It was not like we were fearing for.

[Phil Jackson]

For.

[Raja Bell]

For, like, physical.

[Logan Murdock]

Were they talking shit?

[Raja Bell]

Like, you just see that shot?

[Roger Bell]

Yeah, Rod.

[Raja Bell]

Yeah, we got. The bar got a lively because we were watching that game and good game. Like, I was. I was really.

[Logan Murdock]

I remember correctly, that was the one where Kobe had, like, 50 and there was a Tim Thomas game, right? Like a hit.

[Raja Bell]

Like a Tim hit some big shots.

[Roger Bell]

Yeah.

[Raja Bell]

Yeah, I think. I think Leandro Barbosa hit some big shots. Like, it was just a. A great game. And then I got. I got over. So. So when it ended, we got up out of there real quick, and I got to the tarmac and on the plane before everyone else. So at what. What Steve was talking about in the clip, because he sent it to me last night was like. As the bus pulled up onto the tarmac, I was at the top of the steps at the entrance of the plane, like, pretty inebriated, just fucking going crazy and thanking everybody profusely for winning the game.

[Roger Bell]

That's great.

[Logan Murdock]

That's awesome.

[Raja Bell]

It was pretty fun. It was fine, man. That was a fun team. And we had some.

[Phil Jackson]

We had some good times, man.

[Raja Bell]

And my brothers, I. Listen, that could have been a real early retirement for me, bro, if they didn't win that damn game, because I almost cost.

[Logan Murdock]

Okay, I gotta. All right, I just got.

[Roger Bell]

We've. So we have Talked about the 2006 sons a lot during this pod podcast and during this reign, right?

[Logan Murdock]

So, like, I. I pretty much know about, like, how you got. I knew. I knew a little bit of that story. I knew a lot about just that series in general. I just have a big takeaway. Y' all didn't take the Lakers seriously.

[Roger Bell]

At all during that series until, like, the end.

[Logan Murdock]

I really don't believe you guys, because. Hear me out. Hear me out. From what I remember, you guys brought your family out to the first Lakers gate for the first to la, right? And then you guys stayed at the Lowe's in Santa Monica?

[Raja Bell]

No.

[Logan Murdock]

Which is. Which is. I mean, I used to. I. My hotel is the Le Meridian in.

[Roger Bell]

Santa Monica, which is right across the street.

[Logan Murdock]

Yeah, Beautiful hotel. Beautiful. Like, just ambiance and all of that. You got the beach right there. You're not focused on fucking what's happening in Staples. And so that's the first time. Then you guys get beat, and then you get your shit together. Finally you're like, oh, we got to fucking. We're a better team. We got to beat these motherfuckers. We have to put them down. Am I wrong that to use a.

[Raja Bell]

Loganism, we were catting off. Yeah, we were. We were out there. I remember vividly showing up.

[Phil Jackson]

We had never stayed in the fucking Lowe's.

[Raja Bell]

I'm like, why are we.

[Phil Jackson]

We're staying.

[Logan Murdock]

Why do we stay here often?

[Roger Bell]

Like, what?

[Raja Bell]

Like, okay. Yes.

[Logan Murdock]

Wise is right on the beach. Right on the beach.

[Phil Jackson]

Right on the beach, dog.

[Raja Bell]

Yes. We had traveling parties with us. Not focused at all.

[Phil Jackson]

You're.

[Raja Bell]

You're correct. Your assessment is correct. We came into that thing thinking it was just going to be cake. And I think was game one, the overtime game where they got us.

[Roger Bell]

Yeah. And it's Phoenix. They got you. I took one in Phoenix. And then they went up 3, 1. Because they beat both games.

[Raja Bell]

Oh, no, no, no.

[Phil Jackson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right. That's right.

[Raja Bell]

Yeah. We were just not locked in the.

[Phil Jackson]

Way we should have been locked in for that series.

[Raja Bell]

And thankfully, we got.

[Phil Jackson]

We got that together. And super thankfully, them dudes held me down in game six because I already.

[Raja Bell]

Catch a lot of shit for that moment and doing what I did.

[Phil Jackson]

But had we lost the series, I don't know what. I don't know what the.

[Raja Bell]

The legacy of that moment would have been for me.

[Roger Bell]

You know, I just gotta say this, though. And I was really. I saw the clip and I remember, like, the biggest takeaway I got from that clip was when your name was brought up. And this is something that I know you've become a friend to me, a big bro in a lot of ways. But one of the things that I saw there that I could relate to is as soon as Raja Bell's name was brought up, there were a lot of people on that panel that was like, Raja Bell, real. Like, he's a good dude, right?

[Logan Murdock]

And I was like.

[Roger Bell]

I was heartened by that.

[Logan Murdock]

You know what I'm saying? And that.

[Roger Bell]

That.

[Logan Murdock]

That felt good for me to see, like, everybody else on that big of.

[Roger Bell]

A platform be like, yo, yeah, Roger's the shit. Yeah. Fuck yeah.

[Raja Bell]

Yeah, I.

[Phil Jackson]

Listen, man, that.

[Raja Bell]

That brotherhood, I would just say this.

[Phil Jackson]

About, like, the NBA in general or.

[Raja Bell]

Me in the NBA. Like, I.

[Phil Jackson]

To a lot of fans that. Whose team I wasn't on, like, I think, you know, my reputation is whatever.

[Raja Bell]

It is, but I'd like to think that for the. For the most part, cats that I played with, dudes that I was in locker rooms with, like, you know, that brotherhood is something that you. You ain't got to see somebody for 20 years and when you see them again, it. It's love. You know what I mean? You guys did a lot of you. You put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into. Into chasing the same thing for over.

[Phil Jackson]

The course of however long you did it for.

[Raja Bell]

Like, those are bonds that. That are with you forever. I mean, even cats in locker rooms that I didn't consider, like, really, really good friends, when you see them now.

[Phil Jackson]

It'S still love, you know?

[Roger Bell]

Yeah. I mean, y' all go through a lot of being in that league, boy.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Monster Energy. Everybody knows White Monster, Zero Ultra, that's the OG it kicked off this whole Zero sugar energy drink thing, but Ultra is a whole lineup now. Now you've got Strawberry Dreams, Blue Hawaiian Sunrise, and Vice Guava. And they all bring the Monster Energy punch. So if you've been living in the White can branch out. Ultra's got a flavor for every vibe, and every single one is Zero Sugar Tap. The banner to learn more.

[Logan Murdock]

It's Friday.

[Roger Bell]

You guys know what that time it is? It's time for our segment called Real One of the Week, which is every Friday. Shout out a person, entity, organization at one the week. I'm going to go with Guy that's been battling a lot is in a battle right now, Jason Collins, who announced that he had a brain tumor in stage four. It's really tough, man. And you talk about the brethren. We want to see the brethren of this league, you know, get back on track and just. I mean, just everything that he has been through during this time, you know, being an openly gay player, the first one in NBA history, the. The only one that we has been that has played openly gay. And then now, you know, all the things that goes along with that. And then now to announce that he has a brain tumor, you know, it's going to take a whole bunch more strength, so shout out to him and good luck to whatever you have going, you know, basketball community is with you. Who's your one of the league? Ra.

[Phil Jackson]

Yeah. No 1,000, man. I, I, yeah, prayers up and all the support. Everybody prayers up for Jason. I played with Jaren for a long time, so I know that the Collins family, super, super people, man. Just great folks and so I second that. Logan, like that's, yeah, definitely sending a lot of prayers his way, man. Feel weird given a real one after that.

[Raja Bell]

But if I, if I had to.

[Phil Jackson]

I'm probably gonna give it to somebody pretty close to me. I'm give it to my, to my middle boy, young, young Ty Bell, who.

[Raja Bell]

We did a lot of work on his game.

[Phil Jackson]

You know, he's been a real, a.

[Raja Bell]

Real, he's been a real participant and.

[Phil Jackson]

He wants it so bad that he allows me and gives me the grace to like to help him understand the process and how he needs to keep leveling his game up if he wants some of the things that he wants.

[Raja Bell]

And he was really good last year, but we had to do a lot.

[Phil Jackson]

Of work on his jump shot and that requires a lot of patience, a lot of self reflection, you know, just.

[Raja Bell]

You know, a lot of toughness, for.

[Phil Jackson]

Lack of a better way to put it. And he, he put that in.

[Raja Bell]

So he started off the season shooting it really well, but his last game.

[Phil Jackson]

He was not shooting it well.

[Raja Bell]

And I could see him kind of in his head and I could see him start to press a little bit.

[Phil Jackson]

And I could see him start to doubt it. And I was wondering how he was.

[Raja Bell]

Going to respond to that. But he flipped the switch and just kind of lost himself in other areas of the game. He got way more aggressive going to the basket. He started rebounding it better. He found ways to get his teammates involved. And so he had his first career triple double. He had 30, 34, 13 boards and 10 assists a couple nights ago. So I'm gonna give a real one of the week to Ty and I mean the stat line and the triple. I never had a triple double on any level against anybody. So like that in of itself is, is really, really cool.

[Phil Jackson]

And it was cool for him and the family.

[Raja Bell]

But real, real talk, real one of the week for, for, you know, in years past, he comes out of the gate and misses those, those three or four jumpers the way he did. He might have fried out and just the maturity to, to kind of stick with it and, and know that his team still needed him and figure out a way to be impactful in the game. And then he, and then he kind of found it.

[Phil Jackson]

Then it came back to him.

[Raja Bell]

So real one of the week for.

[Roger Bell]

That neff big time. That's what's up, bro. Also a lesson for all Hoopers, bro. Like if your shot ain't dropping and it ain't falling, go to the cup, do other things that'll impact it, bro. I've seen a lot of basketball players in the NBA right now who once their shots not falling, they just get down in the dumps and then they just, they bring the team down, especially if they're an important player. So make sure you have an all around game.

[Producer/Host]

All right, we're gonna have the full group on Tuesday.

[Logan Murdock]

I don't know what we're going to.

[Producer/Host]

Talk about yet, but Howard Beck is.

[Roger Bell]

Going to be there so you know what that means. Real onesmailbackmail.com realwoodsmailbagmail.com realonesmailbagmail.com will be answering your questions.

[Producer/Host]

At least we're going to try to on Tuesday for that.

[Logan Murdock]

Everybody have a great weekend. Talk to you soon.

[Producer/Host]

All the shits.

[Logan Murdock]

Bye. Must be 21 years and older and.

[Producer/Host]

Present in select states for Kansas and affiliation with the Kansas Star Casino or 18 and older and present in D.C. kentucky or Wyoming and gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rghelp.com, call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org backslash chat in Connecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.com in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 1-800-327-5050 for 24. 7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8-HOPE NY or text HOPE NY in New York.