← Straight Shooter with Stephen A.
Straight Shooter with Stephen A.
Interview Only: NBA recap with Greg Anthony's take on Lebron & Bronny, troubled 76ers & NBA Best!
00:34:22
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- [00:00]
Greg Rosenthal
What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [00:31]
Stephen A. Smith
What's up, everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson. We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go. The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb. Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right? Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us. Julia's pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe. Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:06]
Greg Anthony
It is my honor and privilege to have my next guest to talk about the NBA. We used to work together at ESPN on NBA Shoot around. That's what it was called then. Obviously he's moved on to bigger and greener pastures. Tnt, the NBA, the whole nine, calling games all over the place, being the astute, expert basketball analyst that he is. He's my buddy, the one and only Greg Anthony. What's up, big time? How you doing, man? How's everything?
- [01:33]
Stephen A. Smith
STEPHEN A. I'm doing good, brother. No complaints, man. Just enjoying the start of the season.
- [01:38]
Greg Anthony
I feel you on that, man. It's always great to talk to you. First things first. I mean, when, when you heard. Let me get. Before we get on the court, before we get to news on the court, let's talk about inside the NBA because those are your compadres. Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson. We news months ago that, you know what? They weren't going to be, you know, they lost the NBA deal and this would be their last year. Now we've learned they're going to be carried by ESPN but still being produced in Atlanta by tnt. It's a big, big deal. I love it. I'm happy for us as basketball fans. I'm happy for the public. I'm happy for them. How are you? How did you feel when you heard the news?
- [02:17]
Stephen A. Smith
Well, I was excited because Stephen, you know that that's probably the most iconic sports show in terms of a pre game show that we have in America. It doesn't matter the sport. I mean football's king obviously. But there is no show show that really resonates more with the fans of sports and more entertaining than what they do on the inside the NBA show. So the fact that it's going to survive I think is awesome. The fact that they also get to basically keep everybody employed that's involved with the show in Atlanta because I know for Ernie that was a big deal, right? I think that's also incredible. And listen, it's like you don't have to be a huge basketball fan to be a fan of that show. You know the chemistry those guys have, the entertainment value you get from that. I have a lot of friends who aren't necessarily basketball fans but they're fans of that show. So the fact that that's going to continue on I think is an, is an awesome feat for them and I think the fans are going to be the biggest beneficiaries.
- [03:18]
Greg Anthony
And Greg, listen man, I had people asking Stephen a what about you? Whatever. I'm like I'm going to be fine. I'm going to be all right. Don't worry about me. But I know this, but I know this much for somebody like me who used to do shoot around along with you, we had Kevin Frazier and then the late John Saunders, God rest his soul, we had Bill Lambert and then Tim Legla. I don't know of any basketball fan, any basketball pundit who could have a problem with this. We know that's the A team and that, that, that's just a chemistry you.
- [03:43]
Stephen A. Smith
Don'T mess with Now I think you hit it right on the head. Listen, you obviously have a huge vehicle with which and platform with which to to state your case and offer your opinions on a variety of subjects. But that into its unto itself is a unique iconic show and the what they've established over all these many years. I am glad. Listen, you know how much I love you and appreciate what you do for the, for the sports world in general. But that niche that they've created, I'm glad to hear that they're going to keep it unique because listen, even as talented as you are, it would be really difficult for anybody to kind of ingratiate themselves within what they do. So you know, let that be its independent entity. I think ESPN is going to benefit. I think the NBA is going to benefit and the fans as a whole are Going to benefit with the fact that that show is, in essence, going to stay the same. They're not going to tweak it or change it. That's the beauty of it. And I'm going to wish those guys the best because, you know, all those guys, that there's not a better, closer group of guys, like, their chemistry, their. Their humility, and the fact that they can laugh at themselves, man. Like, even for me, like, I might miss the game, but I'll still watch their show. You know what I'm saying? I got young kids, so I can't always watch every game, but I always. I'm going to be able to tune in and check those guys off. There's never been a time they've been on air that I haven't found myself crying from laughter. And so I'm excited.
- [05:17]
Greg Anthony
Ga. Listen, man, if you. Look, if you're asking about me, hell, I benefit by not being on the show. Could you imagine me being subjected to Charles Barkley and then Shaq and the Fool? I mean, did you see what Shaq and the fool did to me last year in Vegas? It was hilarious.
- [05:31]
Stephen A. Smith
But look, and that would be weekly. They would get you every week. And I. Listen, you got enough jobs. Let somebody else have a nice job and do something else.
- [05:40]
Greg Anthony
Exactly.
- [05:40]
Stephen A. Smith
You gonna be all right? I am all right.
- [05:43]
Greg Anthony
Trust me on that. Let's get to the basketball court right now, because I gotta tell you, the Boston Celtics are the reigning defending NBA champions. But the story of the season thus far, particularly in the Eastern Conference, has been the Cleveland Cavaliers. I can't deny it. I mean, they won their first 15 games. When they lost the other night to Boston, I mean, they came back from a huge deficit, was in a position to win the game, but it didn't work out. What the hell has made Cleveland so much better this year than they were last year with the same roster, essentially, albeit a different head coach?
- [06:18]
Stephen A. Smith
Well, I think Kenny Atkinson has tweaked a few things in terms of what they do. Listen, this is very similar. I'll take you back to the beginning of the Golden State warriors dynasty, okay? You know, when Mark Jackson was there and Mark had done a good job, they got to the second round, lost in six to San Antonio, and they decided to go in a different direction. And it wasn't that Mark wasn't a good coach or a great coach for that matter. It's just that sometimes you need a different set of eyes that can see something that you may not be able to see from the inside. And So I just think he's, I think Kenny's made some, some subtle changes in how they approach offensively. But I also think the biggest adjustment has been the fact that their players have all gotten better, you know, and then Donovan's even gotten better. Like even though his numbers aren't as good, he's a better player because he's able to trust his teammates more. You know, Evan Mobley's gotten a little bit better. Darius Garland, he's gotten better. Jared Allen's gotten better. Their bench has been terrific. And you know, one of the things that's happened to the NBA is that because of the three point shot, it's created a dynamic now where you just can't physically overwhelm teams. And I'll take you back to like when I was in college, like one of the advantage basketball is a game of possessions. That's what it all comes down to, right? And when we were in school we could dominate the backboard and we could turn you over so we could create an extra 15, 18 possessions a game because of our physical gifts. Right. When I was with the Knicks, we could, we could shoot 39% from the field and win by 20 because we could out rebound you by 20, we could force eight more turnovers against you. So we would create all those extra possessions. But now with the advent of three point shooting and the fact that now guys can play the court so much bigger, it's harder to impose your will physically. And that's what's, that's brought about more skills, skill in the game. And so that's one reason why they've been so good and one reason why Boston's been so dominant as well. And, and while Cleveland is the story, I would also say Golden State's the story here in the Western Conference, right? What they've done, you know, nobody saw them potentially being at this stage maybe having the best record in the Western Conference, but those two teams in, in a lot of ways they mirror each other in that regard and that they, they win the possession game and they have that tremendous threat of the three point shot. Plus with, with Cleveland, they do have with that two headed monster down low, the ability to own the paint. And Mobley's gotten better. And the last thing I'll say about those guys, they're the team much like Boston. Every guy on their roster loves their role. They don't have anybody that's doing something that they wish they weren't or wishing they could do something else. They're all comfortable. Evan Mobley's Not a first option. He's comfortable in what he's doing. Darius Garland's not a first option. He's comfortable with his role. Like all their guys are comfortable and one thing. And you play sports. You notice I always tell people you never want to ask an athlete to do something they're not comfortable doing. You know, that's a recipe for disaster. Right now they've got a bunch of guys that what they're asked to do on a nightly basis, they are in love with.
- [09:25]
Greg Anthony
Well, I got to tell you, I would have been more in love with Golden State if I didn't sit at home and watch the game from start to finish and then be down by 40 in the first half against Cleveland. I know they got the record, I know they're number one seed, but damn, I mean, that was a beat down that particular night. And in the case of Cleveland, what I've noticed is that Atkinson has put the ball more in Mobley's hands. So Mobley's averaging about 18 a game, more than he ever has in his career. He's shooting nearly 13 shots a game and he's being allowed to make decisions, which is taking some of the ball pressure off of Adonovin Mitchell and Adares Garland, even though that's your backcourt. To a lesser degree, my question to you would be this based on what you just broke down in terms of the athleticism because of the shot, the three point shot that has been implemented into the game and how that's sort of changed the game to some degree. And they're not asking anybody in Boston or Cleveland to do something they don't want to do. How am I to feel about my New York Knicks with Karl Anthony towns at the 5 essentially with Mitchell Robinson being out? I know he's been playing well, but how am I to feel about the Knicks based on what we've seen thus far? They're 9, 6, 3rd in the Eastern Conference. But still something seems to be missing compared to what we saw last year in the postseason.
- [10:34]
Stephen A. Smith
Oh, listen, I feel great as a Knick fan right now because the chemistry is being developed and they're still able to win games without a whole roster because even when Mitchell Robinson comes back, you know he's not going to play 40 minutes a night. He's going to take up another 24 minutes for you. So you're still going to have much like you see with Anthony Davis with the Lakers, Anthony Davis has embraced playing the five. And that's what you see Karl Anthony Towns doing. Embracing that position. You Know they're not having that old school mindset where listen at the five, you're not banging anymore, right? Your bigs got to play in space today. And so if I'm the, if I'm the Knicks, I love the fact that you got two guys that can comfortably create a situation where the defense has to help. Like nobody's guarding Jalen Brunson or Karl Anthony Towns single handedly. So I think they're going to be terrific. I love what OG is doing. Bridges, Josh Hart, like the only concern in some of its injury is their depth. And we all know that Tom Thibodeau loves to run his main guys. He's going to play them heavy minutes. So there is the concern of injury and them wearing down a little bit. But I love where they are. The other thing too, keep in mind, like you got to really throw records out. The NBA is in a golden era. It's getting a lot like the NFL. It's parody, man. Like you, anybody, we only have probably two or three what I would say are bad teams, you know, where you don't have to play well to beat them. You know, when I played, you might have six or seven, maybe eight of those. You don't have that anymore. And so because of that, you're going to lose more games in the regular season than most would like. But that doesn't mean you can't get it done come postseason. That's the reason why we've had some six consecutive different champions and I wouldn't be surprised if we have a seven this year. You know that just because of the.
- [12:24]
Greg Anthony
Parody, I have to transition to a team your son is playing on. That's the Orlando Magic. I tell your son, be encouraged. He's not getting much playing time. I'm only averaging about nine minutes right now. But he'll be fine. Don't worry about it. Keep working. Keep working on your game like your daddy taught you. You'll be just fine. But you look at the Orlando Magic, they've won seven of their last eight. It's all been without their best player, Paolo Benchiro, who's a bad brother. This brother's gonna be something special. I'm looking at Orlando right now and ga. I walked into the season thinking Philly, New York and Boston. Now I'm thinking Boston, Cleveland, Orlando and New York. That's where. That's what I'm looking at right now. Why is Orlando led by Jamal Mosley, second year's coach, doing a damn good job? What is it about them that makes them look so good right now.
- [13:12]
Stephen A. Smith
Well, I think that first and foremost they are head and shoulders above everybody else defensively. Like they have the best defensive backcourt court in the league. They have the best. And people don't talk about Franz in this regard, but Franz Fogner is a hell of a defender. And then they've got great defense on that backline like right now. Think about it. They went into LA and beat up red hot Lakers team without three starters.
- [13:35]
Greg Anthony
Wow.
- [13:36]
Stephen A. Smith
They didn't have Paulo, you talked about him and we know his brilliance. But they didn't have KCP last night. They didn't have Wendell Carter Jr. Last night either. And they were still able to go to. And that was also the second of a back to back. So they're a really good team. And something else about the league today, young players are not in awe of others. You know, they respect great players. But this Orlando team, they understand who they are. And no matter who they play, they say, look, if we do A, B and C, if we execute our game plan, we're going to have a great chance of winning. And so you've seen this natural progression. And Jamal Mosley's the biggest reason why as a coach, he's empowered. As young players, they bought in. Each year they've gotten better. You know, they've gone, they've grown and WINS I think 12 games each of the last two seasons. So they went so 22 to 34 to 47, 13 left. So I expect them to be about a 50 win season, 50 game win team. But they're going to be hard to be because they're starting to get comfortable winning, they're starting to get comfortable playing against great teams. And so I'm really looking forward to them one getting healthy and then seeing how they stack up against Boston, against Cleveland, who if you remember they took Cleveland to seven last year. They did in that first round. So they're for real and they're going to be there. And the other thing that's scary about them is that their two best players, their best basketball is in front of them. Like they're, they're still. You saw it last night with Franz, he just was the Eastern Conference player of the week last week. He's going to probably be an all star this year. If Paolo gets back in time, he'll be a two time all star if he's able to, you know, get enough games in. But they're legit, man. They're a great young team. They got depth, they're long, they're athletic, the shooting still A work in progress for them, but it's getting better once they get healthy and they're legit, man, this, it's going to be fun to watch them on this journey here moving forward.
- [15:30]
Greg Anthony
Los Angeles Lakers was the team they beat last night. I guess the question would be, first of all, I got Anthony Davis as my leading candidate for MVP right now.
- [15:38]
Stephen A. Smith
I'm with you.
- [15:39]
Greg Anthony
I think he's been an absolute monster. He deserves credit where credit is due. He's finally embracing the role that LeBron and the Lakers have wanted him to embrace. I can't throw shade on JJ Redick. I think that he's doing a damn good job as a rookie head coach, certainly paying a lot more attention to detail is very, very passionate. Holding cats like D'Angelo Russell accountable, which I think is important. Connect. I was a real big time fan of them drafting him. Number 17. I watched him in the NCAA tournament last year for Tennessee. I believe LeBron has as well. Even though people are accusing him of lying, I watch it connect. I don't want to hear that everybody's so connected if you watching the NCAA tournament. But what are we to make of the Lakers? In light of how LeBron has looked, how Anthony Davis has looked, but still looking at and, and, and purviewing the landscape in the Western Conference, how are you viewing the Lakers right now?
- [16:29]
Stephen A. Smith
I, I like where the Lakers are, you know, and, and last night, listen, they just, they, they, they laid an egg at the free throw line. You know, I wanted to say something else, but we doing. I don't want to get in trouble for using some bad language, but.
- [16:40]
Greg Anthony
Well, it's YouTube, so you ain't got to worry about it, but go ahead.
- [16:42]
Stephen A. Smith
Yeah, they, they should, they should have been last night. They missed four or six free throws down the stretch. You make, they make two of those, they win the game, you know, and Ad, as great as he's been and he has been brilliant this year, you know, he missed those last two. He missed three of his last four, so that, that's why they lost that game. But they are right where they want to be. And part of why they're there is because if you look at the landscape of the west, you know, OKC is dealing with all the injuries. They just got Hari Stein back. They've still been good. Obviously, they're 12 and 4, but they, they're still a young team. You know, Dallas, who? Everybody. You think about Dallas and Minnesota, two teams that played in the conference finals a year ago. Yep. They're both struggling this year because of the weight of the expectations. And in Minnesota's case, I just don't think they're quite as good. They're not as deep as they were a season ago. And. And that's why if you look at the Lakers, you know how LeBron thinks, right. He's not looking at Golden State or OKC feeling like, man, we can beat them now. He might. They still might struggle if the matchup were Denver and Denver is healthy. But Denver's roster doesn't scare you either. And so if I'm a Laker fan, I feel like they got a great chance. I could literally see them being a top four team in that Western Conference and the team that we should. We talked about Orlando team and they don't sleep on Houston. I was getting ready.
- [18:04]
Greg Anthony
I was getting there with Eme U Doka. I was getting ready to go there. What the hell they got they the third seed. What the hell's going on with them?
- [18:10]
Stephen A. Smith
Yeah, they're really good. They're a great defensive team. Remember they were 500 team a year ago.
- [18:15]
Greg Anthony
Yeah.
- [18:15]
Stephen A. Smith
And they've got again, like you gotta. The thing about the league that you gotta factor in is that young teams, their players have the most room to grow. Like they don't have to go out and make wholesale move to get better. They can just let the evolution of their talent grow. And so you look at, even though he got hurt, but a Chad Holmgren, you know, even sga, his best basketball, he's still getting better. You know, Jalen Williams, all these guys are getting better. Now they did go out and address some issues because they were horrible rebounded teams. So they go get Hardenstein and then they bring in a dog and Alex Caruso on the perimeter for his defense. So they're going to be there, but they're still a young team. And so in the playoffs you could see why a team like Dallas could beat them because all you got to do is steal a game in the postseason. You know, you can get blown out three times in the postseason, still win a series.
- [19:05]
Greg Anthony
That's right.
- [19:06]
Stephen A. Smith
You know, so like with veteran teams, they're not going to put a lot of weight. In fact, you'd rather get blown out. It's the 50, 50 games you go, look at that Dallas, okay, series. It was the close games. That's what Dallas won. They won the close games. And that's why a team like the Lakers, now that they've got this newfound shooting with connect and think about it, Lakers Reeves hasn't been very good. D'Angelo Russell's been benched. Yeah. And yet they're still playing well. They don't have a backup center, in essence right now, you know, but you talked about jj, Rick. He's done a hell of a job. And I just think, again, because of the parody, there are just so many good teams and it's going to be hard to string together these long win streaks for teams right now. And I think the Lakers are going to be there.
- [19:47]
Greg Anthony
Let me try to peel some quick answers from you. You sound like you, you, you talked about Minnesota not being a better team. Are you saying that? Do you see, do you feel the same way about the Knicks? Do you think the Knicks are a better team with Karl Anthony Towns, since you think Minnesota is not a better team without them?
- [20:03]
Stephen A. Smith
Yeah, I do. And I don't think that Minnesota is not better because just because they lost. Call Anthony Towns, they don't have as much depth as they had last year. And I think with the Knicks, it's the difference. Remember, the Knicks aren't whole yet. They still, you know, they don't have everything in place but the core of their team. They're fine. The Knicks are trending upwards. You know, they've won four in a row. They're really good offensive team. I can make the argument because Porzingis is out, that they got the best starting five in basketball because they got five guys that can all make plays. And so the Knicks are. The Knicks are going to be fine, man. I'm telling you, we got a long way to go with this season, but, man, this postseason, because of the parody, and it's going to be some really good teams that don't make it right. You know, we. Not even you talk about, Think about Memphis. Don't sleep on Memphis yet.
- [20:50]
Greg Anthony
I don't know yet. It's like watching John Morant. I know what this brother can do when he's healthy and he's on the basketball court. And I'm a huge fan of a guy like a Marcus Smart. But obviously they made their trade, they made their moves, their changes or what have you. And I'm wondering about how Memphis is going to look. And then I bring this up about Boston, the reigning defending champions. Is there real parody, G, or is it just look that. Or does it just look that way because Porzingis is not healthy yet?
- [21:18]
Stephen A. Smith
No, no, I think there is real parody. I, I do think the Boston's the best. I still think even though Cleveland's had to start, I do think Boston healthy is the best team. But I don't think that they're over. They're not. Last year, I thought they were head and shoulders better than everybody else, and it proved to be that way with how they played in the postseason this year, I still think they're the better team, but everybody now, once you're the top dog, everybody then starts figuring out how they got to beat you. And so they start building out the roster accordingly. And so that's why I think now, while Boston is the best team, there are a lot of teams that nobody fears them. Like, of the elite teams, you know, New York won't fear them. I don't think Cleveland after. Even after that loss, the way they came back in that game, and the fact Darius Garland was 3 or 21, they're going to feel like they've gotten closer. Orlando is going to feel like they've gotten closer. So. And it's going to be similar in the East. Man, we've never had this much depth in the NBA since we've gone to 30 teams.
- [22:15]
Greg Anthony
Wow.
- [22:15]
Stephen A. Smith
We haven't. We've never had this think about who's at the bottom of the east right now.
- [22:20]
Greg Anthony
That's fair.
- [22:20]
Stephen A. Smith
Philly is two and 12. Milwaukee six and nine. No, those are two. Great young talent, great team. Not young, but great team. Same thing in the East. In the West, I should say you're.
- [22:30]
Greg Anthony
A savant in that regard, because that's exactly where I was going. Number one. What the hell are you making? What on earth is going on in Philadelphia? Not only is Embiid hurt, not only is Paul George hurt, but they having team meetings, player only meetings. And then diamond out to the media how Tyrese Maxey called out Joel Embiid for tardiness and being late and hurting the team and what have you. This is not good. What are your thoughts about that in Philly?
- [22:56]
Stephen A. Smith
Well, I give Tyrese, who I know pretty well, Max, a lot of credit for being willing to be a leader, but I think that's part of the problem. He shouldn't be the leader. And if what we're hearing is true, then that also means that Embiid hasn't been a pro. Because there's just no excuse for you being late to everything and not feeling like you completely invested. I tell you what, quite honestly, I put this on the organization, because if you've allowed this stuff to manifest, then that's on you. Shame on you that you have allowed this to happen. Because that's the one thing I learned playing with some truly great players, like generally your best players are your hardest Workers like if you go to Boston, I guarantee you they will all tell you that Tatum and Brown are the hardest workers. If you go to OKC or, or Golden State, I guarantee you they will tell you that Steph Curry and SGA are the hardest workers. And that's really the formula for success if you want to have a championship level team. You don't think Jokic is the hardest worker in Denver. Like your great players set the tone with their by leading, by example. You don't have to have a big voice, but you lead by example. And the fact that we're hearing that and we haven't really gotten any pushback, I think their season is probably. I don't see that they will. I don't think they even will make the play in. I'm gonna be honest with you. And it's early in the season, it's looking that way now, but I'm not feeling good. And Paul George doesn't look right. Man, these two injuries he's had, it looks like his body is starting to fail him, you know, because those are injuries that your body wouldn't normally allow to happen if you're sharp and you're right. And I just think he's had a lot of miles. There's a reason why the Clippers didn't want to give him that extra, those extra years and Philly ran out there and did it. And I just don't know if we're going to see Paul get back to that level. I'm pulling for him because I love the guy. I want to see him get there. But I'm worried about the Sixers.
- [24:58]
Greg Anthony
I love him, too. I'm worried about his health. I'm definitely worried about the Sixers. Embiid owned what Tyrese Maxey said in terms of his accuracy. He said, I got to do better. Make no mistake about that. And obviously the only thing that I don't want to hear about the Clippers is damage you didn't pay Paul George. What the hell you doing paying Kawhi Leonard either? He just is hurt, if not more so. So don't get me started with that. What's going on with your boy Doc Rivers in Milwaukee? They won two straight, but they're three games under.500. They obviously started out slow. I don't know how much faith I'm going to have in Milwaukee right now.
- [25:26]
Stephen A. Smith
Well, I will say this, Stephen, and I've said this on the air. Listen, when your two best players are playing as well as they are when they're healthy and you don't win games. That means your team ain't that good. That means the rest of your roster isn't very good. Now, they don't have Middleton, so that obviously makes a huge difference, because once you. If you can. If Middleton can get back to what we have seen from him, and I don't know if he can. Let's be real, he's coming off two ankle surgeries, but if he can get back to even just being a legit third option. Now they get interesting. Now they can get interesting because I feel like Damon and Giannis chemistry is really finally where we would have liked it to be, you know, because remember, Dane talked about it. He didn't. His first time, his career. He didn't really train in the off season because he was afraid of getting hurt because he knew he was getting traded. Right, right. And so now he looks like he normally looks. Giannis, you know, we talk about Anthony Davis. If Milwaukee had a better record, Giannis would be the MVP favorite right now. I mean, he. He just been off the charts how good he's been. So I. I feel like they're trending in the right direction. And again, because of the parody, you know, you talk about, they're six and nine, bro. They ain't but three games out of four, out of the fourth spot. So they're fine. They're fine. I'm not worried about that. I don't see them as a championship team because I don't think they have enough athletes or. And when I say basketball players, you know, on a. On a great team, your guys got to be great at what you ask them to do. And I just don't know if they're supporting. Cass can be great at all those other things anymore. You know what I mean? Brook Lopez has gotten old. Coton slowed down. The young guys aren't quite.
- [27:04]
Greg Anthony
Let me stop me right there, then. Quick question. Put you on the spot. What's the chances you think that Giannis ask out of Milwaukee after this season? After the season? After this season.
- [27:16]
Stephen A. Smith
After the season. I could see it. Listen, if for them, they may have to make a move because otherwise you're going to waste his ability. You know, if they. If they get knocked out in the first round this year and he's brilliant. They don't have a roster with a lot of flexibility. They don't have a lot of young guys that others are going to be interested in. So it's going to be really hard for them to make moves to bolster that roster like what we saw the Knicks Just do right. You saw the move the nick to get caught in the towns they had flexibility to make moves. I don't think. I don't think Milwaukee's flexibility is there. And I think that you might see a scenario where you'd have to move him because you're not going to be able to get off Dame and they just don't have enough. Now, having said that, they could still get high and come by the time we get there and find themselves in the conference finals because those two guys are playing at a high level. And if we see Middleton come back and play at a high level, then it's a different ballgame.
- [28:14]
Greg Anthony
Two more questions for I let you get on out of here. One, who's your rookie of the year?
- [28:19]
Stephen A. Smith
Oh, man, I'm gonna tell you right now, I don't have one. I don't think nobody's really separated. I think we've seen a lot of young guys have flashes. You know, recent shares had had some good games. Dalton connects had as good a stretch as anybody.
- [28:35]
Greg Anthony
That's who I was gonna go with.
- [28:36]
Stephen A. Smith
You know, he. He came in the last night averaging in last five games. He was almost 25 a game.
- [28:41]
Greg Anthony
That's who I was going with.
- [28:42]
Stephen A. Smith
So he's up there. But that's my point, though. Nobody set them. Nobody's differentiated themselves. No one set themselves apart. So I really don't have a rookie of the Year right now. I didn't think it was a great draft to begin with and I think that is yet to be determined. Like we could talk mvp, right? You already have a sense of that like I do. I don't have a sense on the rookie of the Year and the fact that you could say Dalton, I think that speaks volumes to the fact that nobody else is really elevated yet at this stage.
- [29:12]
Greg Anthony
Last question, relatively delicate one. We saw Rich Kleiman a month ago tweet out about the negativity of the media and how, you know, he wishes things were better and sports is supposed to bring us together. We saw yesterday we learned that LeBron James retweeted that tweet from a month ago and basically announced to the world that he was stepping away from social media for a little while. My attitude is this. First of all, I don't want to hear about the national media being thrown under the bus when y'all are part of it too. You know, acting like they ain't a part of it when you got podcasts and all this other place. No, you in it. You in the muck and mile with the rest of us, that's number one. Number two, and I want to be very respectful when I say this as a father, a former NBA player who's a father, and your son is now playing in the NBA. When I saw that from LeBron James, I'm like, LeBron James, approaching age 40, is still playing like a top five player on the planet. So ain't nobody talking about negativity towards him. If they're doing so, they're talking about Bronny. And that's what LeBron must have been alluding to. To that, you say what?
- [30:24]
Stephen A. Smith
I would have to agree. Listen, and you know this. We have never had an athlete as accomplished as LeBron James catch as much heat and vitriol and hate. Is that fair to say?
- [30:36]
Greg Anthony
Yeah.
- [30:37]
Stephen A. Smith
Like, yeah, we've never seen. And again, I'm not saying you have to like him, but you got to respect what he's done.
- [30:43]
Greg Anthony
But absolutely.
- [30:44]
Stephen A. Smith
Even at this stage of his career, there's nobody that gets more vitriol or hate. And the fact that he's comfortable with that tells me the fact that he's uncomfortable, it's because of his son. And I think that his son hasn't necessarily been able to handle the hype, the expectations, and the negativity, and that therefore, it has really made him look at it. And I'm speaking to LeBron in a different way, right? All the great players, they can handle criticism. Kd, all these guys, they don't get caught up that. Listen, the reality, though, is now everybody's got an opinion, right? We used to say opinions are like assholes. Right? Everybody got one. The difference was, though, you didn't hear everybody's opinion before, right? You. You know, no, most people didn't have the opportunity to respond to Stephen A. Smith directly and actually have you hear what was said, and it's not going to affect you. But I guarantee you, as a father, if that same type of rhetoric or vitriol was directed at your child, it would affect you differently. There is no question about it. Listen, LeBron has dealt with more crap over the last, just as he's been in la, and he's never shied away from it. He's always had courage. He's always spoke his mind, whether you agree with him or not. He's never been one to shy away very much like you in that regard. Right, Right. But it's different when it now becomes one of your children, because they're. You're vulnerable for them, man. You. You want to protect your kids.
- [32:20]
Greg Anthony
Can I Throw this caveat out to you to close this out. Something needs to be added to that, especially when it's of your doing. Because of what he said about Bronny before he got to the NBA. I want to play with my son. My son is better than some of these NBA players in the league right now. These are things he said. So I think it's one element which you're absolutely on point about, about his son. But it's another thing when you instigated it, arguably because of the things you were saying about your son in comparison to others, and you put your son unintentionally. He certainly didn't mean to hurt his son in any way, but that's the unintentional consequence of his actions.
- [33:06]
Stephen A. Smith
I think you hit it on the head because the reality is you assume that your child can handle it the way you can. And the reality is, I think it's hit him that. That Bronnie's struggling with it. He's struggling with the expectations. You know, And I've said this about LeBron. Listen. There's been. In my lifetime, there's really only been. There's been three athletes now that have been this hyped and actually have exceeded the expectations. That was Tiger Woods, LeBron James, and now Caitlin Clark. Those are the three because. Because Michael didn't come in with that kind of hype. Michael was the third pick. Kobe didn't come in with that kind of hype. He's a 13th pick, didn't really even play that much. You know what I'm saying? LeBron and Tiger came in. They were superstars before they had ever even started to perform at the highest level. And not only did they perform, they exceeded the expectations, much like we're seeing with Caitlin Clark. Right. And so. But most athletes are given a period of grace. And the problem for Bronny is, on his own level, he was. There was so much hype and expectation around him, and the fact that it just hasn't materialized, even to the point where he's even performing at a high level in the G League yet. And I think that has weighed on him somewhat, because you can only imagine the level of hatred and nastiness that somebody you don't know can spew about your son and have somebody else pick up on it. And I think that that can. And it's not just LeBron. It's his wife, is his other kids. Because they got to deal with that, too. Like, they probably are comfortable with all that hate going at LeBron. Cause that's all they've ever known. Par for the course.
- [34:45]
Greg Anthony
Par for the course.
- [34:46]
Stephen A. Smith
So I agree with you there, brother.
- [34:49]
Greg Anthony
My man is always good to talk to you. Always good seeing you. I'll be watching you, listening to you call the game tonight. Seeing you on TV tonight, actually. Appreciate you so much, man. Hope you well. Wonderful. Happy holidays to you and yours, my man. All the best.
- [35:01]
Stephen A. Smith
You too, man. Be safe, man. God bless, brother.
- [35:03]
Greg Anthony
The one and only Greg Anthony, NBA tv TNT basketball analyst. Extraordinary. Yes, I'm willing to openly admit. Hell, that man has forgotten more basketball than I ever know. He used to give me lessons on the sport of basketball all the time. I ain't ashamed to tell you. I ain't ashamed to tell you.
- [35:25]
Greg Rosenthal
What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the King of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [35:55]
Stephen A. Smith
What's up, everyone? Julius Ripps here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson. We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go. The Name Energy Line with Nate and jsb. Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right? Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us. Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe. Listen to Energy Lab Find with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.