Zach Lowe Show LIVE From Minnesota With Rob Mahoney, Jon Krawczynski, Chris Finch, and Donte DiVincenzo

Summary

The Zach Lowe Show: Live From Minnesota

With Rob Mahoney, Jon Krawczynski, Chris Finch, and Donte DiVincenzo
Date: November 13, 2025
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Host: Zach Lowe

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Episode Overview

Zach Lowe hosts the first-ever live edition of his NBA podcast in Minneapolis, joined by Rob Mahoney, Timberwolves beat writer Jon Krawczynski, Wolves head coach Chris Finch, and Wolves guard Donte DiVincenzo. The episode is a dynamic mix of rapid-fire NBA Western Conference Power Rankings, deep dives into Timberwolves franchise history, interviews, candid behind-the-scenes NBA talk, audience Q&A, and engaging stories—delivered in Zach’s signature sharp, self-aware style.

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Key Sections and Highlights

1. Setting the Scene & Opening Banter

[01:15]

• Zach Lowe welcomes a live Minneapolis crowd, jokes about the prospect of taking the live show on tour if all goes well.
• Rob Mahoney expresses gratitude for being flown in, praises the Timberwolves' current on-court legitimacy.
• Playful banter about the venue’s connection to Prince.

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2. Western Conference Power Rankings (Main Segment)

[02:19 – 20:02]
A rapid-fire, back-and-forth session where Zach and Rob reveal their unseen Western Conference team rankings (from worst to best), sparring about franchise directions, vibes, and recent developments.

Key Discussion Points by Timestamps

• [03:44] Lowest-Ranked Teams:

  • Rob: Dallas Mavericks—“If you have to install new mobile staircases to let your GM exit the arena in shame, you get to the bottom of the list and then you fire him.”
  • Zach: Pelicans—“Do I even need to explain? They’re hopeless. They don’t own their first round pick."
  • Notable audience theme: “Is Nico Harrison the new David Kahn?” (multiple audience questions echoed).

• [04:59] Sacramento Kings judged harshly for “bad vibes” and dysfunctional roster—Zach: “If we got together in a room… to build the stupidest possible basketball team, we could not do any worse or any better, I don't know, than the Sacramento K[ings]. What a miserable team to watch.”

• [07:01] Clippers discourse:
  Rob: “They're the slowest team by choice… They don't seem like they could really be troubled to jog back.”
  Zach: “…still have James Harden guaranteed to shit the bed in game seven of any important playoff series.”

• [09:32] On the Phoenix Suns' resurgence:
  Rob: “Turns out, if you get rid of the bad vibes Express that was last season's collection of stars, there’s a normal thing under there that kind of works.”

• [11:07] Warriors drama:
  Rob: “If your star players are getting into fights on threads, you gotta move down a couple spots.”
  Zach: “These guys seem to hate each other already.”

• [14:07] The “Good, but Old” Lakers:
  Zach: “LeBron’s got sciatica… Age is tough. It’s a young man’s game.”

• [15:24] Wembanyama's Spurs:
  Rob: “My most boomer take is like, I just don't understand why double teams work on him at all… How could someone a foot shorter than you really disrupt you that much?”

• [16:21] Top Six Teams (no huge controversy):
  Zach: “Old, young, weird. Proven. That's what I'm going.”
  Rob (on Julius Randle): “I am addicted to watching Julius Randle play basketball. It is…becoming a problem.”

• [18:47] The Dominant, Disruptive Elite:
  Zach (on Thunder): “They have a net rating of 14.5… and the number one defensive lineup, they're terrifying. Shay gets better and better every year. The Chet Leap is happening… Barring injury, this is the NBA Finals.”

  Rob: “Houston and Minnesota… these are the disruptors to your beautifully laid plans. Oklahoma City and Denver is the proxy finals, these are the two teams who could really muck it up.”

• Most Depressing Franchise?
  Universal answer—Dallas Mavericks.
  Lighthearted fake trade pitches between audience and stage.

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3. Timberwolves Franchise Deep-Dive (w/ Jon Krawczynski)

[22:41 – 38:39]
Jon Krawczynski joins to recount the five most pivotal moments in Timberwolves history.

Notable Picks & Stories

• 2004: Sam Cassell’s “Big Balls Dance”
  Jon: “If you listen to Flip Saunders, he says that's when the avulsion fracture on the hip happens... That team would have won the championship, I'm convinced.”
  Zach: “Did the big balls dance injure Sam Cassell?”
  (25:42)

• 2009: The Hiring of David Kahn
  Jon: “[Owner] Glenn Taylor empowers his son-in-law… They administer a personality survey for GM candidates. Dennis Lindsay: ‘I’m out of here.’ David Kahn: Passed with flying colors.”
  Zach: “He just looks me dead straight in the eye—‘Tell your boss he’s a fucking asshole’—and walks away.” (29:32)

• Rubio’s ACL – The Muskies Jersey Curse (2012)
  Jon: “Ricky Rubio tears ACL… electrifying rookie year… down the toilet… never the same.”

• 2020 Draft: Picking Anthony Edwards over LaMelo Ball
  Jon: “One of the questions: ‘What do you want to do after playing?’ LaMelo: ‘I want to be President of the United States.’” (32:27)

• 2024 Game 7 Comeback vs. Denver
  (Jon: “What is the greatest sequence… in this franchise’s history? Game 7, 2024 Western Conference Finals… down 20 in the third… Ant hits a three, Nas Reed tip dunk, Conley’s steal, Edwards’ three… they finish it off.” (33:26)

Quick-Fire Franchise Oddities and "What Ifs"

• Marbury and KG trades, OJ Mayo for Kevin Love, Jimmy Butler experience, Derrick Williams at #2 pick, crazy trades and the “27-year-old draftee.”
• KG’s mentorship, Nikola Pekovic as locker room legend—"stone faced and terrifying," but surprisingly nice off the court.

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4. Timberwolves Today: Interview with Coach Chris Finch

[39:55 – 60:26]

• Team Vibes:
  Finch: “We're beating teams in the manner we should… we've always struggled against [bad teams]… but now, everyone's kind of expanding in their own role.”

• On Jaden McDaniels’ Development:
  Finch: “He had this game in him and you could see it… more of a usage puzzle… the real catalyst has been finding more opportunities amidst so much talent” (42:01).

• On the Gobert Trade:
  Finch: “We were all in right away… Thought it would make us different. Kind of zigging while the league was zagging… There’s no basketball reason why he and Kat wouldn’t fit.”
  Zach: “I did say, I am in shock… disbelief at how much the Timberwolves gave up for Rudy Gobert. And yet you can't argue with the results.” (44:48)

• Locker Room Turbulence:
  Finch: “He [Rudy] also punched somebody on our team, so… There’s levels to these things. I consider it a step forward.” (47:24)

• Kat’s Departure:
  Finch: “[Trading KAT] was a hard one… He was one of the most coachable superstars I’ve ever been around.”
  Stories of learning about the deal at a Prince tribute concert (49:10).

• Behind-the-Scenes War Stories:
  Finch on coaching overseas in Belarus: “If he wants to take a girl to his room, he has to choose one of ours… I said, ‘This has got to go in the book.’” (59:00)

• Halftime of Game 7 vs Denver:
  Finch: “There was a tremendous confidence that we were going to still win the game… a calmness about us in the locker room.” (52:48)

• NBA “In-Season” Cup Courts and Weird Jerseys:
  Finch: “Some of these courts are unwatchable… Why do the Celtics have a gold jersey with no green on it?" (57:18)

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5. On the Court: Interview with Donte DiVincenzo

[61:02 – 76:29]

• Adapting to Minnesota:
  “This is the first year in four or five I’ve started the season on the same team” (63:50).

• Being Traded From the Knicks:
  “I was up visiting my fiancée’s family, got a call at noon—’might happen’—another call, ‘it’s happening.’”
  First Nova Knicks teammate to reach out: “Josh [Hart]. He’s glued to his phone.”

• The Famous Nova Knicks Commercial:
  “I hurt my toe the night before the shoot, so if you notice, I don’t do much walking in the commercial.” (64:19)

• Trash-Talking Former Team:
  “Tibbs and I had friendly banter, and then somebody jumped in…” [refuses to name participant]. (65:19)

• Big Moments:

  • Game 2, Sixers-Knicks: “The floor was shaking… you’re overwhelmed with emotion.” (67:16)
  • Game 6, Philly—nm clutch free throws and "friendly banter" with Buddy Hield.
  • Villanova National Title: “My foot was supposed to be broken … I ran out to celebrate in a full suit.” (69:05)

• Green Light Off the Bench:
  “Ant is the main one behind me—’You better shoot that every time.’” (69:38)

• Broken Nose Incident:
  “I didn't know it was that bad ... I went back in and finished the game. Didn't see my nose 'til after.” (71:19)

• How Close Are the Wolves?
  “It’s just the little things that put us… to make us a great team. Not like we’re chasing something unattainable.” (71:51)

• Defensive Mentality:
  “Jaden [McDaniels] can guard every single position... When we bring [the energy] up a notch... it's hell.” (74:22)

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6. Live Audience Q&A

[76:33 – 87:04]

• Who would you pair with Anthony Edwards?
  • Zach & Rob: “Wemby.”
    “It’s got to be a big” (77:07).
• Could Ant win MVP with All-Defensive honors?
  “No, not necessarily... it's a tough field” (78:28).
• LeBron’s future and Lakers rank:
  “The Lakers were sixth in both of our power rankings... are we pushing LeBron down [legacy-wise]?” (79:27)
• Best Starting Five of Non-All-Stars:
  Jamal Murray, Austin Reaves, Jaden McDaniels, Denny Avdija, Chet Holmgren, Aaron Gordon—lots of options debated. (82:14)
• Will Jaden McDaniels make an All-Star Team?
  • Rob: "I think the answer might be yes now…”
  • Zach: “If you gave me over/under 1.5 all-star appearances, I’m taking the under… but I could see it.” (84:55)
• Favorite Live Sporting Moments:
  • Rob: “Klay Thompson’s 2016 Game 6 vs. OKC”
  • Zach: “Cavs-Warriors Game 7, 2016… The LeBron block was mesmerizing—live, I thought it was a goaltend.” (88:13)
  • Both muse on being at legendary games and improbable upsets.

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Notable Quotes

• Zach (on Wolves’ past): “If the Timberwolves have done one thing really well their entire existence, it’s be really crazy.” [23:11]
• Jon Krawczynski (on 2004 Wolves): “That team would have won the championship, I’m convinced of it, had Sam Cassell been fully healthy.” [25:07]
• Chris Finch (on the Gobert trade): “We felt he would—there’s no basketball reason why he and Cat wouldn’t fit.” [44:48]
• Rob (on failed franchises): “If you have to install new mobile staircases to let your GM exit the arena in shame, you get to the bottom of the list.” [03:48]
• DiVincenzo (on shooting): “Ant’s the main one... ‘Yo, you better shoot that every time.’ When you have that next to you… just keep letting it go.” [69:38]
• Zach (with heartfelt encore): “Why not the Minnesota Timberwolves? Someone's got to push the Thunder and the Nuggets. Why not you guys?” [75:35]

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains Zach Lowe’s analytical yet humorous, lightly self-deprecating tone; the guests are frank, insightful, and unguarded—encouraged by the live, friendly arena crowd. Banter is loose and conversational but smart, and enthusiasm for basketball (especially the Timberwolves, old and new) runs throughout.

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Conclusion

The first live Zach Lowe Show delivers a unique blend of hard NBA analysis, team history, honest inside stories, hilarious asides, and community spirit, cementing Minneapolis as a passionate basketball city—with Lowe teasing future live shows if this is a success. The Timberwolves' revival and proud past are celebrated alongside real talk about the league’s weirdest franchises, CBA quirks, and why the NBA is never dull.

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Supplemental: Key Segment Timestamps

• [01:15] Welcome, banter
• [02:19 – 20:02] Western Conference Power Rankings
• [22:41 – 38:39] Timberwolves History w/ Jon Krawczynski
• [39:55 – 60:26] Chris Finch Interview
• [61:02 – 76:29] Donte DiVincenzo Interview
• [76:33 – 87:04] Audience Q&A
• [91:42 – End] Why Minneapolis? Lowe on the city's underrated sports culture

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For Wolves fans and NBA obsessives, a must-listen—insightful, nostalgic, and a celebration of the league’s quirks and community.

Transcript

[A]

This episode is brought to you by Prime Video. Hey, Zach Lowe here. The NBA on Prime is back this Friday with another can't miss Emirates Cup NBA doubleheader. It tips off with Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat taking on Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks. Then Steph Curry and the Golden State warriors go toe to toe with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. And if you're not a Prime member, that's not a problem. Sign up for a 30 day free trial. Free to get started today. Heatniks, warriors, spurs should be great games. Heat Nicks old school Eastern Conference rivalry. Love that. Warriors and Spurs. I mean, you can't beat the star power of Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Victor Wembanyama. The spurs have had a great start to the season. De' Aaron Fox is back. Coverage starts Friday at 6:30pm Eastern only on Prime. Restrictions apply. See Amazon.com Amazon prime for details. Rob Mahoney.

[B]

How's it going, y'?

[A]

All? Thanks for coming out. Thanks for coming out. We good? Can you hear me? Thanks, everyone for coming out to the first ever live show. I've already told them if this is a failure, we're never doing it again. If it works, we will go on a tour and go to other places. We're gonna go rapid fire through a few segments. We're gonna have some fun. Rob is here the whole time. He flew in from Los Angeles.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Thank you. And look at you guys. You have a really good Western Conference basketball team. How does that feel? Like. Like it's just. You guys are just a normal, good team. It's kind of a novel thing.

[B]

Oh, completely. How does it feel for you, though, now that there's a straight line from Prince to you playing this venue? Do you feel the pressure of that?

[A]

There's lots of other people, too. There's lots of other people. I had no idea they were like, if this is a famous place. Princess recording.

[C]

All right.

[A]

Okay. Now we're going to do Western Conference power rankings.

[B]

That's what the people want, though.

[A]

All right, you ready to go? We're just going to get into it. No prelude. There's no prelude. Hold up, wait. There is a prelude. There is a prelude. Welcome to the Zach Lowe show, live from Minneapolis. You're listening to the Zach Lowe show, presented by FanDuel. FanDuel now displays your bets directly on your phone's lock screen.

[D]

And.

[A]

And with the latest updates to the live events and player pages, it's never been easier to be part of the game and Missouri. Get excited because FanDuel is coming your way as of December 1st. Download the FanDuel Sportsbook app now and play your game 20 or over present in select states or 18 and over President in DC, Kentucky or Wyoming. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-Gambler or visit rg-help.com, call 1-888-78-9777 or visit ccpg.orgchatinconnecticate. we have poster boards. We have sticky notes. We do not know each other's lists. We thought this would be a good way to kind of address where the Wolves are in the hierarchy of the Western Conference. Number one, we have some Wolves higher ups here, so this will be exciting. Okay, we're just gonna go. We're gonna go 15 to 1. We have not seen each other's list yet. Rapid fire. The worst team in the Western Conference right now. Rob Mahoney. Slap it on.

[B]

Is there any doubt?

[A]

Yes, there is doubt.

[B]

It's gotta be general rule. If you have to install new mobile staircases to let your GM exit the arena in shame, you get to the bottom of the list and then you fire him.

[A]

I'm just gonna spoil this right now. You guys submitted a bunch of questions for a Q and A at the end, if we have time. I think five of you submitted the same exact question in different wordings, which was, is Nico Harrison the new David Khan? Five of you. Five of you. One of you, in something that would made Simmons proud, actually used the championship belt metaphor. Is he taking the bad GM championship belt from David Kahn? I went to Pelicans because. Do I even need to explain they're hopeless? That they don't own their first round draft pick? It's not going well for two phones Dumars over in New Orleans. I can't believe I didn't even have Dallas 14. I'm going to spoil my 14th pick.

[B]

You've been keeping up with current events, though.

[A]

We'll get there. We'll get there. Your number 14 team, stick it on.

[B]

That's got to be the Pelicans. So who do you. You have the Kings.

[A]

The Sacramento Kings. This is. This is the nexus of bad vibes in the NBA right now. Yeah, the Pelicans we get. Although I like Derrick Queen. Derrick Queen's kind of fun. You enjoyed the Derrick Queen completely.

[B]

That's why I'm a little surprised you have him at the bottom. At least there's some good energy there if not good basketball.

[A]

Is there the Mavericks we've. You are Is the fandom dead in you?

[B]

It's unfortunately. And if it wasn't dead, it's like, how could it live on after all this?

[A]

But, you guys, this was your team for so long. Like, the mocked dumb team. Which we will get. Which we will get to the history. And look at all of these incompetent teams. This team, if we all got together in a room and were like, let's go from de' Aaron Fox and Tyrese Halliburton and try in two years to build the stupidest possible basketball team, we could not do any worse or any better, I don't know, than the Sacramento K. What a miserable team to watch. I, I, I'm.

[B]

Personally, I'm shocked it doesn't work. You know, all the pieces just seem to make sense to me. Zach.

[A]

All right, 13. I already spoiled my 13.

[B]

Yeah. So we have a variation of the same.

[A]

See, there's no. There's no other way to go.

[B]

Let's just do it.

[A]

I got to refresh my memory of. All right, 12. Let's do 12. Oh, boom.

[B]

Yeah. It's going great. It's going great in Memphis.

[A]

Memphis, you have lower than the Utah Jazz.

[B]

I do.

[A]

I mean, it's not going great. You know, I'll just put up my 11 right now. You put up your 11 because my 11 is the Memphis Grizzlies. See, you guys want John Moran Clippers. That didn't.

[B]

That seems strong.

[A]

The Clippers. You have the Clippers. I grip. All right, I'm just gonna go.

[B]

I think we have different interpretations, Zach. Like, this is all vibes. These are power rankings. This is astrology for dudes. Like, we're supposed to do it this way.

[A]

Okay, let's just address all three of them. Aren't you guys. We're not even close to Minnesota. This is. So this is good news.

[B]

This is good news.

[A]

I don't know. Just young and. Not that. I mean, Ace Bailey's a little bit fun. Markkanen's really good. Markkanen's averaging 29 points a game.

[B]

Yes. They know what they're doing. It's a little bit of, like, turning a ham bone and gummy bears into, like, a chopped basket for Will Hardy, but, like, he makes it kind of work.

[A]

Do you guys remember the Memphis Minnesota playoff series from three years ago, when it was just Jaren Jackson Jr. And Karl Anthony Towns competition committing stupid fouls against each other the entire time? I'm happy to report that Jaren Jackson Jr. Fouled out in 30 minutes last night. And yet another Loss for the Grizzlies, and I think morant was like 3 of 16 or something with eight turnovers.

[B]

It was horrible. No one wants to be there.

[A]

It's not going great. No. It's not growing great. And the Clippers. I'll just. You just talk about the Clippers.

[B]

I mean, they're the slowest team by choice. Like they wanted to be this way. I don't understand anything they're doing. They don't seem like they could be really troubled to jog back. They have to be low. Do you not have them coming up soon?

[A]

I grandfathered them in a little higher.

[B]

Yes, you did.

[A]

Grandfathered them in a little higher out of respect for. They won 50 games last year. Fair took the Nuggets to seven in the first round.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Still have James Harden guaranteed to shit the bed in game seven of any important playoff series. Still have Kawhi leonard Still my MVP from 2017. I'm still clinging to that vote. Russ didn't deserve to win.

[E]

Well.

[B]

And you're an aspiration investor. We know.

[A]

And what?

[B]

You're an aspiration investor.

[A]

I actually have an aspiration hoodie. I almost wore it tonight. Someone. No, seriously, Someone. Made me a fake. A friend of a friend of a friend made me an aspiration hoodie that. I feel like it's too mean to the Clippers to wear it. Bradley Beal is out for the season. Rob, are you. Are you emotionally devastated? Are you. Did you dock them five wins just based on that?

[B]

I mean, I had a visceral reaction to hearing that someone broke their hip. It sounds very painful. He was barely a part of this team. Did not register at all. We wish him the best.

[A]

We do. It doesn't. They had already concluded that Harden plus Beal was untenable defensively. Like they were just getting blown by, blown by, blown by. I guess I got to find who I have 10th. Did you put a 10 yet?

[B]

Not yet. This is where I'm coming back to. The Utah Jazz, who you love so much.

[E]

Boom.

[A]

Phoenix Suns. See, that's mean again. Look, it's early. It's early, but they're frisky. Phoenix Suns. Someone tweeted at me this week saying someone in the national media has to be the one to write the piece about the Phoenix Suns are actually kind of good. I don't write anymore, so it can't be me. And they are kind of good, as evidenced by the fact that you have them in your top 10. I think they're over 500.

[B]

They're just like a Normal playing team as well. It turns out, like, if you get rid of the bad vibes Express that was last season's collection of stars, there's a normal thing under there that kind of works.

[A]

How is it working, Jordan?

[B]

Ot's a good coach.

[A]

He's a good coach.

[B]

He's a good coach. A lot of guys playing real hard. It's not interesting, but it's good.

[A]

Dylan Brooks is fun. I enjoy Dylan Brooks did. He did, yeah.

[B]

Wow. He deserves it, honestly.

[A]

Sometimes he like, second game in, they played the clock Clippers, and he was just like, I'm going to make James Harden mad the entire night. Just chest to chest, all the way down the floor. It was great. I can't. I just. Can I see it for a little longer before I go higher than this?

[B]

These are power rankings. We're reflecting the moment.

[A]

See, I go in with my prior, my Bayesian prior, I think the nerds call it. And I adjust from that. Okay, number nine. We're up to number nine already. This is where I have these guys.

[B]

Yeah. If your star players are getting into fights on threads, you gotta move down a couple spots.

[A]

Wait, is that happening? Oh, yeah, that's a real thing.

[B]

Check Draymond Green's action today. He had a lot of stuff to say.

[A]

Well, I saw he was kind of defending Nico Harrison somehow. He was like, I'm sticking. I'm putting my flag on that historically.

[B]

Great take. They need a vacation. We're like three weeks into the season. These guys seem to hate each other already.

[A]

Yeah. Did you guys, as people who have firsthand experience, did you have like the under on the over. Under ten and a half months before Jimmy Butler made some controversial public comments. Because the comments after last night's lost, which I watched that game, I watched Thunder, Warriors. The warriors tried. And the Thunder, they tried for a little bit. It was close for a little bit.

[B]

It's admirable.

[A]

The Thunder. The Thunder have a way. The spoiler. The Thunder are going to be very high. They have a way of like, sorry, sorry. They just demoralize you to the point where you could see teams be like, I don't even. We don't even want to, like, I don't want to cut anymore. This is a lot of work for absolutely no payoff against this army of just mean guys with long arms. Ninth is aggressive. Rob, I can't co sign.

[B]

Eighth, maybe the same team. The Portland Trail Blazers. There we go. We got some synergy. Our first match, it looks like.

[A]

Is that possible? That's the first match the first match.

[B]

They deserve a middle in the pack ranking. Like a young spry team we can all believe in. They run and gun.

[A]

Yeah, they're fun to watch. I have no fun comments about the Blazers.

[B]

Well, there's lots of fun stuff going on in their coaching staff. There's a lot happening.

[A]

Number seven for me is the aforementioned Golden State Warriors.

[B]

And this is where I'll put the Phoenix Suns. So we're again, we're closing the loops on various tiers here, I think.

[A]

So you think the Suns, can they sustain this? This is a real thing.

[B]

I think they can sustain this, which is like a play in team caliber season. And the warriors again like badly need a vacation or a spirit journey or something already.

[A]

Okay, so we have the same top six.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Which I think is interesting. I thought, you know, if you could. You can't really make an argument for any of these teams. I thought maybe warriors optimism, you know, they started out so well, might get them in the top. We have the same top six. I'm guessing we have the same top two, three, four, five and six was a very tricky exercise to rank these four teams. So without further ado, I'm going to put up my six place team.

[C]

There we go.

[A]

How, how can we justify eight and three? No. LeBron. LeBron's got sciatica. Yep, sciatica. Has anyone here had sciatica? It's all dudes that look, it's tough. Too old to play in the NBA. How can we justify having them solo without LeBron? Luka missed some games. Reaves is on fire. How could dare you, how would you justify this?

[B]

Because these teams are all pretty fucking good. Like I think this whole rank is all worthy of contention. All gonna be really high level teams. I have the most questions about them even still because we've seen so little of them altogether.

[A]

And LeBron is very old.

[B]

He is very old.

[A]

And age is. Age is tough. It's a young man's game. It's a young man's game. All right, now it's getting tricky. Number five.

[B]

Basketball is a younger man's game. But as an old person, I am inherently skeptical of all young people, including Victor Wembanyama. Really good team. Still figuring a lot out. Also my most boomer take is like, I just don't understand why double teams work work on him at all. Like how could someone a foot shorter than you really disrupt you that much? I don't understand it.

[A]

I mean, look, I'm just gonna say I thought, I thought about putting them at three I thought really hard about putting them at three. I think this is, like, pretty real. They're really good. They're good. Fox is really good. Castle is a monster, and he's. Castle has actually very quickly figured out the. Just throw it really, really high, and there's nothing anybody can do about this dude. Wemby is so beyond anything we've ever seen before. It's absolutely terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

[B]

He's nuts.

[A]

But fifth, like, gotta. Gotta show me a little bit longer. Gotta show it to me a little.

[B]

I mean, the fifth best team in the west is basically the fifth best team in the league. So a lot of respect being shown to the Spurs.

[A]

Unnecessary. Is it. I live on the Amtrak corridor, man. It's tough times on the Amtrak corridor. Other than the Knicks right now. Unless you believe in Philly. Do you believe in Philly?

[B]

Believe meaning what?

[A]

Like, it's all. This could be the year. This could be the year. But again, the healthy the rest of the year. Paul George is almost coming back.

[B]

He is almost back.

[A]

Did you remember Paul George was on the team?

[B]

I did.

[A]

Okay. All right. Number four.

[B]

Yeah. I think this is where the crowd turns against us a little bit. Oh, okay. Do you want to just do four and three together? Since I'm assuming we have the same four.

[D]

Three.

[A]

Sure. Yeah.

[B]

Like, if you want to do that. There we go.

[A]

I couldn't go any higher. I couldn't go any higher. Couldn't go any higher.

[B]

3. 4. 3.5 is pretty good.

[A]

All right, so here. I'll just. I'll just go old, young, weird. Proven. That's what. That's what I'm going.

[B]

I like that. While we are in a room of our closest friends. Zach, I need to tell you something I've never told anyone else before. I am addicted to watching Julius Randall play basketball. It is. It's becoming a problem. I do hear the goosebumps every single time. Every time. I feel like it's one of the one things in life I've been waiting for, which is Julius Randall, to get it for basically my entire adult life. And all of a sudden, I have everything I ever wanted. I don't know what to do with it.

[A]

When he was on the Lakers. When he was on the Lakers. You know, Bill has his islands, and now he's. He's now misconstrued. Well, he can afford an island, but he's miscon. He. He tried to posit that he was on Yannis island, and I was like, that's not. You're now missing the point of what the island is. But for a while, I was on. I called it Julius Randall Hill. I was alone, by myself. I was trying to make fire with sticks on Julius Randall Hill. I was eating acorns. Now everybody wants to be a part of it. He's always been good. Just waited for the right fit. But seriously, old, young, so weird. Like, can this incredibly. Can this actually work? Can an NBA offense built around missing shots actually. Actually work? I mean, I really. They have, I think, the number one or two offense in the NBA. Maybe. Maybe this has been a great plan. I don't know. It's just weird to me. This. I know you. You know what I know. Conference finals, two years in a row. That's what I know. All right?

[B]

You gotta respect it.

[A]

However, I'm sorry. I had breakfast with a bunch of people from the Timberwolves this morning, and we concluded by saying. Talking about expansion, potential expansion. I said, look, you guys need to put every resource, every legal dollar you have into moving to the Eastern Conference if it ever comes up. Because these two teams. I know you. I know one of them, you got their number, but it's. It's just tough sledding against number two and number one.

[B]

Yeah, sorry. Sorry. If we're being honest, Zach, number one is the Thunder. Number two might be like the Thunder missing three guys, and then number three is the Denver Nuggets.

[A]

This. This. Well, first of all, the Thunder have been. The Thunder missing three guys, and they're 11 and one. And they have a net rating of 14. 14 and a half. And the number one defensive lineup, they're terrifying. Shay gets better and better every year. The Chet Leap is happening. That's what should scare everyone. The Chet Leap, I think he's shooting 70 something percent on twos, so something like that. This. This. Barring injury, this is the NBA Finals. And you guys have to hope that somehow something befalls the Nuggets and they fall to fourth and have to play the Thunder in the second round. Because going through both of these teams. I know, look, the Wolves have played the Nuggets well. Completely, really, really well with Randall and with Cat. So there's something. There's definitely something there. And we. We. I can't talk about enough Jaden McDaniels, you guys. It's. It's all. It's all happening for Jaden McDaniels. He rules. The wrong things are happening. The pump and spin and lay it up. It's all happening.

[B]

He's so good. I mean, I think these two, ultimately, Houston and Minnesota, like These are the disruptors to your beautifully laid plans. Like, if Oklahoma City and Denver is the proxy finals, these are the two teams who could really muck it up.

[A]

Okay, before we bring on our next guest, most depressing situation among all of these teams. Who is the most?

[B]

The Dallas Mavericks. Still, I think that's pretty depressing.

[A]

I think it has to be the Mavericks. But you know what, though? They had Cooper flag. It was all part of the vision they got.

[B]

It was part of the vision. But now they have to trade Anthony Davis. Basically, they have to keep.

[A]

You guys want Anthony Davis? No.

[B]

No.

[A]

Who? Go Bear? Gobert Conley? Throw in Dillingham. No. All right, who.

[B]

Who do they want?

[A]

They want their. Yeah, who do you want? You don't feel like you need another guard? Well, I just heard. I heard lots of noise, and I thought I heard Gerald Wilkins, and I'm like, I don't think that's possible somehow.

[B]

I don't think so.

[A]

So those are our power rankings. I think they're pretty good.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I feel bad for the Suns. I should have had the Suns higher.

[B]

I think you were very mean to them.

[A]

All right, Timberwolves. Yeah. Easels are gonna go away now. Thank you, guys. This episode is brought to you by ServiceNow. AI is only as powerful as the platform it's built into. That's why it's no surprise that more than 85% of the Fortune 500 use the ServiceNow AI platform. While other platforms duct tape tools together, ServiceNow seamlessly unifies people, data, workflows, and AI connecting every corner of your business. And with AI agents working together autonomously, anyone in any department can focus on the work that matters Most. Learn how ServiceNow puts AI to work for [e-mail] this episode is brought to you by Loom. Feeling a little stuck at work lately? Stuck in email, back and forth, stuck in endless meetings? Get your team unstuck with Loom by Atlassian. Just record your screen, your face, your voice, and send quick videos that actually get the message across. Unstuck your process, projects and teams with video communication from Loom. Try Loom [e-mail]. that's L O O M dot com. It's been a checkered how many years now for the temporal? Like a lot of years. It's a lot of years and there's nobody better to guide us through them. You guys are so lucky to have him covering all of your sports teams. From the athletic, my buddy John Krasinski. Elizabeth. I think I lost my phone, by the way. So if you're texting me, I'm not gonna get it.

[E]

What's up, y'?

[A]

All? He's very handsome. All right, John Krasinski. How you doing?

[E]

I'm doing great. Look at this.

[B]

I know.

[E]

Crowd. It's all for you, Zach. Thanks for coming. This is awesome.

[A]

This is awesome. Vikings. Mediocre Vikings. Mediocre Twins. Bad, bad. Soccer team exists. I don't know much about it.

[E]

Nice little story. Nice little story. Oh, Gophers good on the rise, but they got a ways to go.

[A]

Timberwolves toast of the town right now.

[E]

Top of the mountain right now.

[A]

Right? Top of the mountain. All right, so I gave John a job, and it was also an excuse for me to go down a lot of, like, crazy rabbit holes. Because, you guys, if the Timberwolves have done one thing really well their entire existence, it's be really crazy. We used to have a running joke that every time he appeared on my podcast, we would wrap the segment and Twitter would. Would. We'd check Twitter and it'd be like, gerson Rosas has been fired for an un. Un. Like. And it was like, goddamn. Again, like, how did this keep happening? And I asked John, I want you to go back and pick. I said, the five most pivotal moments in the history of the Timberwolves franchise. So I will. And he could define pivotal however he wanted. So I'm going to just leave it to you. You're going to go in chronological order. We'll refer a little bit y.

[E]

So, first of all, as I thought about this, I'm going to go five pivotal. Not the most. Every one of you all in here knows about how they almost moved to New Orleans and they didn't. About how they drafted KG and a few of those things. So we're going to go a little bit deeper, but still, very pivotal moments. Honorable mention number one. This show is a pivotal moment.

[B]

How about that?

[E]

No, I'm not pandering. I am not pandering. Like, all of these people in here have been waiting for people like you and the national media to pay attention to the Wolves, and it's been a long, long time. And so this is a really cool thing that you're doing, Zach.

[A]

So I didn't. I didn't. I. I. No honorable mentions. Just get to.

[E]

Here we go. All right, number one.

[A]

Number one, in chronological order.

[E]

Chronological order for me, number one, 2004, game two of the Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves series, Western Conference semifinals. Why am I bringing up game two and not game seven? Because in game two, Sam Cassell hits a three from the corner.

[B]

Gotta do it.

[E]

The big balls dance. If you listen to Flip Saunders, he says that's when the avulsion fracture on the hip happens. That team, that's what Flip claimed.

[A]

The late, great Flip Saunders.

[E]

Sam denies it, but that's what Flip says. And so that team would have won the championship, I'm convinced of it, had Sam Cassell been fully healthy into the Western Conference finals and then into the finals. So a very pivotal moment.

[B]

So is the problem the celebrating or that his balls were that large?

[E]

I think both.

[B]

Okay.

[E]

I think it was a. It was a two pronged problem. Literally.

[A]

I did go back and research. Somewhere in my Google search engine is like, did the big balls dance injure Sam Cassell? And like, there's a whole Reddit thread about this.

[E]

All you have to do is Google Sam Cassell, big balls dance. And injury comes right up with it. So, like that.

[A]

So you think they beat the Lakers?

[E]

I think they beat the Pistons. Yep. And I think they beat the Pistons because I think that team was just really well equipped to match up with what the Lakers were doing and then to handle the Pistons pressure. And so I think.

[A]

And then it's. Then the next level is like, well, what does that mean for kids? Kevin Garnett.

[E]

Exactly.

[A]

Traded. Did the Celtics Never win in 2008? Do you guys never experience Theo Ratliff.

[E]

And you know, Gerald Green, Alexi Petrov.

[B]

Or, or Marco Yaritz? Doesn't Cassel turn into Marco Yari?

[A]

There's a lot of Marco Yaris.

[E]

So many tentacles.

[A]

I'm sorry to that dance. I. I didn't know it was game two. I knew it. It was that series that Flip had this theory. Who knows if it's right or not. But I mean, if you were Sam Cassell, I think you would deny that that's how you injured yourself.

[E]

You would have to, because you can't say I lost my chance at a championship because I did this. Even as iconic as that celebration is. Do you just have to like, I.

[A]

Guess you could injure yourself doing that. I'm not going to get up and try to do it as aggressively as possible to see if I can injure myself.

[B]

There's now a Surgeon General warning on that dance, so please do.

[E]

I watched the video in preparation for this and I will give it to him. He went full big balls. Like he did not half ass it at all.

[A]

You also googled big balls.

[E]

I did, yeah. It's going to be a problem.

[A]

So you just went right to 2004. So forget KG, forget the Marbury trade.

[E]

Yeah, everyone knows about that.

[A]

Forget KG's contract, causing a lockout, etc. Etc. Okay, go to your number two.

[E]

One. Number two. May of 2009, the Timberwolves decide that they're going to hire a new general manager.

[B]

Who was that?

[D]

Khan.

[E]

At the time.

[A]

Never watched Star Trek one time, by the way. I have no idea what Khan is, who he is.

[B]

So you're just doing an impression of other people doing the con, basically.

[E]

At the time, Glenn Taylor is in poor health. So he empowers his son in law, Rob Moore to do the search. And during that search, Rob Moore asks all of the candidates to fill out a. Basically like a personality survey, like a long test that tells you all about the personality, all the way they think about life in general and all this stuff. Dennis Lindsay was one of the candidates. Very well thought of at the time and continues to be. And so you're thinking, oh, Dennis Lindsey might be the general manager of the Timberwolves. That's great. And when he was told that he had to do this test, he's like, no, I'm out of here. I am not doing this at all. David Kahn did do that test.

[A]

Oh yeah, he did.

[E]

Passed it with flying colors, apparently, because he got hired and then a little while later passed on Steph Curry in the draft. And here we are.

[A]

I'm going to tell my David Kahn story.

[E]

Please do.

[A]

I don't know if I should, but I will.

[B]

I think you should.

[E]

They.

[B]

They paid to hear this story.

[A]

So, Bill, you know, I started at Grantland, or I started Sports Illustrated, then I went to Grantland. Bill was my boss for a long time. Made glorious fun of many people, including David Kahn. Some of those people took it well, others did not. And some of those others would like to take out their rage against Bill on Bill's subordinates. And at the Board of Governors meeting one year in New York, I was there. And David Kahn was there representing the Timberwolves. And Glenn Taylor was also there. But David Kahn, I guess was an alternate governor. Maybe, I don't know. I said, you know, there's David Kahn. I'm gonna go. Never met him before. I'm gonna go introduce myself, walk across the room. Hey, David. Zach Loguennlan. Just want to put a face to a name, all that. I don't know if I probably had made fun of it at some point. He just looks me dead straight in the eye. Tell your boss he's a fucking asshole and walks away. And I was like, okay, that's how it's gonna be. All right. Like, if that's. That's. Now he's killing it in Europe, though.

[E]

Killing it in Europe. Things are going well. You know, he figured it out, stabilized himself.

[A]

All right, so something else happened in 2009, in the spring. Is that gonna be on your list?

[E]

It is not. So let's get into it now if you want.

[A]

Wow. 2009 draft. We can't. We can't. We just have to at least mention.

[E]

Johnny Flynn, David Kahn being hired, then begat that, which is why I went with. With the David Khan Hyde.

[A]

Okay, go to number three. We'll just keep going.

[E]

Number three is gonna be a little more obscure. February 1, 2012. The wolves put out this press release. And you're gonna say, why are they putting out this press release? Why are you talking about this? It was to announce that they are going to honor the 1967-68 ABA Muskies by wearing their uniforms this year. They spent one year in the ABA and then they moved. And it's like, why are we honoring these people? Why is this important? Because those uniforms were cursed. And Ricky Rubio is wearing the Muskies uniform in March of 2 of 2012. They go into that game on fire. They are. They are coming up. They're in the eighth seed in the West. They are 21 and 19. They lose to the Lakers. Ricky Rubio tears ACL, that whole electrifying rookie year of rookies down the toilet. He's never the same. What would have been if he never got injured because he was wearing that uniform?

[A]

That's on my list.

[B]

Brutal.

[A]

It's a flashbulb moment for me because that was one of those, like, you could see it coming together for a guy that everybody loved and everybody rooted for. There's a Rubio jersey in the front row right here.

[E]

There he is. I was. I was texting with Ricky the other day, so he's doing well.

[A]

Everybody loves Ricky. Everybody loved watching Ricky play. Play. Everybody wanted to play with Ricky because all he wanted to do is make his teammates better. And it was like a smaller, lower level version of when, like, Jamal Morator is acl, right? When the Nuggets were, like, trying to. Starting to really figure it out. It was just like. It broke your heart.

[E]

Just broke the worst.

[A]

And Ricky had a tough run of it for a while. Okay, go to. Go to the next one.

[E]

All right. We've had three kind of rough ones. Let's finish on a high note with a couple here. Number four, 20, 20 draft preparation. GERSON Rosas is leading the front office. They are working around the clock because at the time, if you remember, there's three guys at number one. It's Edwards, it's James Wiseman, it's Lamelo Ball. And you're like, I don't know what the right pick is. These guys are all, you're trying to figure this out. You're trying to get to the bottom of it. So we know they picked Edwards, but that's not my little nugget that I have for y'.

[A]

All.

[E]

It was, why did they pick Edwards? A million different reasons in their evaluation, but why? One of them was that they had an interview with LaMelo Ball during this process, trying to figure out, hey, is this the guy for us? And Lamelo did not interview very well. And one of the questions that was asked of him is, hey, Lamelo, like, okay, after you're done playing, like, what do you see yourself doing when your career is over? Like, what kind of, what do you think do you aspire to? And Lamelo said, I want to be President of the United States States.

[A]

And yet. And yet, perhaps not as implausible as they might have said at the time.

[E]

At the time, it seemed implausible, but.

[B]

Tell me he wouldn't have your vote.

[E]

He might now. And so that goes down. And lo and behold, Anthony Edwards is the number one pick. And now here they are contending for Western Conference championships every year.

[A]

Similarly, the James Wiseman pick kind of ruined the warriors two timelines.

[B]

Experience.

[E]

Absolutely.

[A]

All right, one. One more. One more. And we're. We're post 2020. We're post 2020.

[E]

Now, I am hoping for a little audience participation in this last one, because if you're talking about pivotal moments in this franchise's history, you have to say, what is the greatest sequence that has ever happened on the court in this franchise's history?

[A]

Big room.

[E]

Game 7, 2024. Western Conference Finals in the house of the reigning champions. The wolves are down 20 in the third quarter. It's over, right? Minnesota Sports. Everything goes bad. Falling flat again. They start chipping away. And they start chipping away. And they start chipping away. Ant hits a three at the end of the third quarter. They're in range. They're down nine. And Nasreed comes in. Tip dunk. It's now 89. 82, I believe it is. And now, let me see, guys. Kevin Harlan is on the call. The first Timberwolves play by play radio guy ever. They're wearing the throwback. You Uniforms. This is destiny. All of a sudden is happening in front of us. This is all happening. And what. What happens? It's stolen by Conley. He pickpockets Murray. He gets it off to Reed.

[B]

Corner.

[E]

Edwards fire, aims, fires, score. They're up 10. The whole place goes crazy in Ballerina. And it's for the Timberwolves. And they finish that off. And that is the number one moment Timberwolves is.

[A]

I thought.

[B]

How about John Krasinski on the call, ladies and gentlemen? I thought you guys were all gonna.

[E]

Help me out here. That's what I was waiting for, but I guess so.

[A]

So Denver, Minnesota, Game seven is on my list. Yeah. I thought you were gonna go with the Big Roo. Big one. Big Roo hit that turnaround. Big Roo hit the turnaround.

[B]

That's a moment that changed history.

[E]

That's where you thought. You thought it was gonna happen. But then when Reed stolen from Jamal, Murray hits and Ann hits and he's talking trash to the person in the corner, like that was it. It's like. All right, they are going to the Western Conference final.

[A]

All right. Just to check the boxes. Can I.

[E]

Let's go. Yeah, please, please, just.

[A]

We're not commenting on it. We're just going to say these things that happened. Marbury trade, kg trade. 2011 draft. Underrated Timberwolves moment. Derrick Williams at number two. And if you look at the next. Here are the next, like, eight picks in that draft because you. No, it's the. It's the. It's the opposite. Ennis Freedom, Tristan Thompson, Jonas Valanchunis, Jan Veseli, Bismack, Biyombo, Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker. Finally Jimmy Fredette and then Klay Thompson and Kawhi, like five picks later. It's not. It's not. It happens. It's that. But that's the same draft. If you. You would take three. Need three hours to go through all the trades Khan made on that night. Trading down and down and down and down and down. And somehow trading the rights to Nicole Mirotic, Chandler Parsons, Norris Cole and somebody else good for nothing. And then drafting a guy who was so old, it turned out he was ineligible to actually be drafted. The immortal tan guy, Nagumbo, I think his name was. And they found out after the fact, or I guess they found out after the fact that he was 27 years old.

[E]

27.

[A]

You can't be drafted at age 27. That was a con special.

[E]

I would have taken D Will at that time. I was in it. I was in the D Will camp. He had just beaten Duke. Like, it was like, all right, this is great. And it did not work out.

[A]

Joe Smith DeLuca shot O.J. mayo for Kevin Love.

[E]

Brilliant.

[A]

Huge deal. Which was unpopular. Yes, it was unpopular. I've heard stories from their draft party that night. That team, that team officials had to get up and be like, hey, I know you guys are all excited about OJ Mayo, but this is the trade we made. And people were like, mad, right?

[E]

They were furious with it because OJ Mayo's name is fun to say, apparently. Like, that was all I could think about, but. And then Kevin Love was doughy and like, who is this big white guy? And it was the right pick for sure.

[A]

Kevin Love signing a three plus one instead of a five year max, precipitating its trades of the Cleveland Cavaliers in.

[E]

The contract and throwing it in the trash after, you know, when it was first offered to him. Yeah.

[A]

Oh, I didn't know that.

[E]

Yeah. Yep.

[A]

Okay. The whole Jimmy Butler experience. We don't need to get into Wally Zerbiak getting beaten up by Kevin Garnett in the locker room. And the time I ate dinner at a restaurant next to Nikola Pekovic and two of his friends and had never seen a human being eat so much food at one time and looked stone faced and terrifying the entire time.

[B]

Do you know who his friends were? Cause he's got some friends, shady guys.

[A]

I didn't want to mess with. Which is why one of Flip's all time favorite stories is when KG came back late in his career. It was first practice with the team. Peck was being lazy and KG him, like, hard, like. And everyone stopped.

[E]

The biggest guy in the prison yard.

[A]

And everyone stopped was like, I don't think anyone's ever talked to Peck like this before. Like, what's gonna. What's gonna happen? And I asked Flip, so what happened? He's like, peck put his damn head down and started running back faster on defense.

[E]

Absolutely right. And. But Peck was the nicest guy in person in that locker room that you could ever ask for. Turns out his career's taken a little turn since then.

[A]

John Krasinski, thank you so much for showing up.

[E]

Thank you.

[A]

This episode is brought to you by Salty Cheesy Cheez It Crackers. Should this whole podcast just be me eating Cheez It? That would be a top notch podcast. You could hear them crunching in my mouth. You could think about how salty and savory and delicious they are. You can just get Cheez it on the brain. Oh, man, those Cheez it cravings they get you. Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah. Oh, cheez it. Yeah, cheez it. Crackers. Go check them out. I still have no idea what time it is, but I do know we have another guest, another guy. You guys are lucky to have nothing. But success has followed him. The head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Chris Finch. He's in the house. Look at that. I didn't even. I didn't. My name is there. I didn't get a standing ovation. Thank you for doing this. Thanks.

[C]

Hey, so after a year off, this is what you're doing now?

[A]

First of all, six months off and it was a glorious six months.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

My wife was worried about me. She's like, you're such a workaholic, what are you gonna do? I was like, watch. Watch how amazing I am at doing nothing. It was great.

[C]

I mean, I bet you 3/4 of these people are gonna go home and do a podcast tonight.

[A]

You know, you're going with the anti media tropes. Right, right out of the, right out of the gate.

[C]

I mean, it'll qualify you to coach the Lakers. You know.

[A]

It'S fair.

[B]

Can't argue it.

[A]

It's fair. How you feeling about the team? 7 and 4 beat a bunch of bad teams, but, you know, up and down, but good. All good so far. He did beat a bunch of bad teams. Stop yelling at me about the schedule.

[C]

Appreciate the left handed compliment. I feel good. I mean, we, for some reason we started the season flat. You know, I don't know why that was. We found our juice now and, you know, we're, we're beating teams by the, you know, in the manner that we should. And if you follow the Timberwolves at all, which I know you probably don't, but if you followed us, we always struggled against the play. Down.

[A]

You played down.

[C]

Yeah. So anyway, it's good to see right now, but. Yeah, we'll see. With a long way to go. Yeah.

[A]

You like the group? Good group, good personalities.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah, it's been a great group to work with. Good, good guys. I think they're really comfortable with each other, with what they, who they need to be right now. Everyone's kind of, kind of expanding in their own role a little bit, which is fun to see. And you know, we have some moodiness to us like all NBA teams, but generally it's a great group to work.

[A]

With every day before I ask you the actual fun questions. Yeah, we, we had a Jada McDaniels shout out earlier and they have to.

[C]

Yeah, we like Jaden.

[A]

Did you, did you think he could get this good, this like with the ball in his hands in particular this fast?

[C]

Yeah. You know, listen, the question, the answer is not that simple, but I'll give it to you the best I can. Okay? Yes. You know, he has, he had this game in him and you could see it coming. You can see it coming. It's more of a usage puzzle, right? Like how much usage is on the floor at any one time. You have Ant, you have Julius, etc. So no matter what, you can have all the talent you want. And that's what happens with these three, three star teams. There's just not enough usage to go around. So it was, how do we figure out how to increase his usage? You know, maybe shuffle the rotation a little bit, break up his runs with Anthony and, and all that. But the, the real thing is, the real, I think catalyst to it all has been just we felt coming into last season that we were, he would be able to take this type of jump. But when we made the trade, it was kind of. We had to scrap everything. Just kind of get Julius and Dante in situated comfortable. That took a long time. We had some injuries in the middle of last season and then we saw Jaden take the step forward when those guys weren't on the floor. And it's just continued really from there.

[A]

When you say the trade, it strikes me you could be talking about like three different things.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Do you ever want to. Do you ever want to tell Tim Connolly, like just settle down a little bit, like throwing stuff around?

[C]

He's really playing on my ghost league experience. You know, he changes, change the roster every 48 hours.

[A]

Okay, so trade number one.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

How do you remember finding out that Gobert was a potential option and what was your first reaction?

[C]

Well, the great thing about working with Tim and his team is that it, you know, it's super collaborative and transparent. It's. Everything's out. He wants your input. He knows that from a coaching staff point of view that he, you got to have the buy in or it's not going to work. Because if you don't believe in something as a coach, you know, you're not going to be all in. And we were all in right away, you know, when I, when we found out was a possibility. Very, very bullish on the trade. Thought it would make us different. We were kind of zigging when the league was zagging and you know, it makes us sound like we were trying to outsmart the room that really wasn't the case, it was like, how do we incorporate one of the best players available who gives us everything that we need? Rebounding, defense, presence at the rim. We felt he would, there's no basketball reason why he and Cat wouldn't fit well together. You know, defensively, we knew we'd have to figure out some things with Kat at the four. You know, Cat's a super gracious person and he's going to kind of figure out a way to make everything work. So, you know, kind of everything just lined up for us to say, let's go for it and see if we can make it work.

[A]

Look, I mean, I wasn't as harsh as some of our colleagues.

[B]

Why are you looking at me?

[A]

No, I'm just, I don't, I don't.

[B]

I came here to write a big feature about how this would work. This was interesting.

[A]

That's right, you did. But I did have to go on tv, my former employer, about five minutes after the trade. And I did say, I am in shock, I think I said disbelief. I'm in disbelief at how much the Timberwolves gave up for Rudy Gobert. And I kind of still am. And yet you can't argue with the results to like, for a team that has been mired for. They did make the playoffs from like 2004 till the Jimmy Butler year, two straight Western Conference finals. The guy's a one man defense.

[C]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you know, and in, he's a walking top five defense all by himself, you know, at times and with, with, with, with, with Rudy and all that. In the beginning, like, yeah, it was super bumpy. Like all these massive trades are, you just have to have the patience to work through them and, but you know, he was, he's, he was been part of the turnaround.

[A]

What I, I, One of my favorite things is all the times that Rudy calls for the ball and doesn't, it doesn't get it. I feel like Julius Randle was intentionally not throwing him the ball for like the first three months. But when he got the three second violation, I think it was in Toronto that Rudy got like, how do you handle that as a coach? Do you guys remember this? He did. He was so. Okay.

[C]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

[A]

No, but you're good. Like you've, you've talked to me before about how like you've sat ant during crunch time of close games and because it was, he was injured or flowing the wrong way, what the game wasn't going well for him and like you deal with It. And he's fine with it. Like, that's another one. Where did you guys lose that game?

[C]

I think we did lose that game.

[A]

Yeah. Like, that's not a great loss.

[C]

No, not a great loss at all. And it was a tough moment. You know, anyone who knows Rudy knows how prideful he can be. And, like, and he's, you know, it's a bit out of character for him. He's never wanting to hurt the team in any way. And by the time I had gotten to the locker room and I was ready to rip into some souls, there was, you know, they were police in the locker room themselves. So that was a good thing. And we talked it out the next day when we got to Boston and we turned around and we, you know, we played our tails off and lost at the buzzer in Boston. But, yeah, I mean, listen, like, he also punched somebody in our team, so, you know, there's levels to these things. So is true.

[A]

We.

[C]

I. I consider it a step forward.

[B]

There we go.

[A]

Okay. You did have a wall punch during one of your playoff runs.

[C]

The wall punch and the Kyle Anderson punch. Same game.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Oh.

[A]

Same question for the cat.

[C]

I may never get another job, by the way, after doing this.

[A]

So my cat trade story is I got laid off from espn. I was in. I was in Los Angeles doing television. I was not on television. I was ironing my suit to go on television. I flew back two days later, and a bunch of my buddies met me at my house with alcohol, and I'm three beers in, and the alert comes out two days before training camp or the season or whatever. Whatever it was October or September 28th or something like that. That cat gets traded, and A, I'm drunk and B, and really tempted to tweet stuff, and we get my takes off on the trade. And B, I'm like, this is actually like, a top five most interesting trade that has happened in my entire career doing this, and I can't say anything. When did you learn about that? And what was your first reaction to that? Because that is because Kat had been here so long, and it was so beloved. That's like almost more of an earthquake than the Gobert one.

[C]

I mean, that was a hard one. Personally, of course, you know, again, conversational through all these processes. And the night that the trade was actually executed was a Friday night, and I was actually just talking to Dante in the green room about this.

[A]

You just spoiled that. Dante's here.

[B]

It could be any Dante. Dante Cunningham coming back from the green room.

[A]

Yeah. You know.

[C]

Yeah. Sorry.

[A]

That's okay.

[C]

I was, I was at a, I was at a, this is, I was at a Nick Nurse fundraiser at Paisley park where he had a Prince, Prince tribute band with Sheila E. And the New Power Generation. It was a private concert and a real thing. This is a real thing. Yeah, it was a Friday night. He was there, he had flown in and he had some of his play players there. I had, some of us were there and you know, Nick and I go a long, long way back. So I was there to support him. And then in the middle of that I got a phone call from Tim and I had to run and we ran to Cat's house and.

[A]

Oh, you were at. I know Tim has talked about.

[C]

Tim beat me there by about a half a vodka bottle and but, but no. So yeah, that one was painful because you know, I, I, I have, I'll always have a soft spot for Kat. I mean the way that he welcomed me here when I came, how I came. He called me at 3 and 3 in the morning the night that I, you know, that I was coming on board and he didn't have to do any of that. He had been through a lot of trauma here and he didn't have to be that. And then when I got here, he was one of the most coachable superstars I've ever been around. So.

[D]

Yeah. All right.

[A]

Some rapid fire fun ones.

[E]

Okay.

[A]

Do you still have the scooter?

[C]

No.

[B]

No.

[A]

Okay. That was during the 2024, right? Was that 2024?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Just for fun, I rewatched the Patrick Beverly play in game celebration because I wanted some of the best questions come from like what was happening with this person I'm interviewing during that crazy thing that happened and I discovered he almost ran you over on the way to the scorers table. Like he kind of hip checks you. Were you startled? Do you remember this at all?

[C]

No, I only remember Mike Conley running me over.

[A]

Oh, well, that was. Yeah. You never, you've never forgiven him for that.

[C]

No, I don't remember that. I do remember, you know, some of the, you know, know some of the silly commentary and stuff like that that came about that but you have to understand like what it meant to this franchise at that moment in time. And I, it's not just. That's the beauty of the playing tournament. It creates a one game means everything situation which we don't often see in the NBA. And we were fortunate enough to put ourselves into that position and you know, we had a team that. And this, this is mostly down to Patrick Beverly. I'll. I'll give it. When he stepped into our locker room on day one, he made a team full of young guys believe they could be good. And that is what he brought to our team more than anything else. He brought a lot of other.

[A]

I was going to say, yeah.

[C]

And then technicals, delay of games.

[B]

Sure.

[C]

Interesting film sessions.

[A]

And then he wasn't on the team again the next year.

[C]

Well, we traded him for Rudy.

[A]

That's true.

[C]

It's a good trade.

[A]

It was a good trade. Krasinski brought up game seven. Nuggets, Wolves, 20, 24. Yeah, you guys are down 15 at the half. 20 earlier in the third quarter. Is there something you remember from halftime in the locker room or from a huddle early in the third quarter when it's like, oh, it's now up to 20. Like a moment, a conversation where you're like, all right, we're still in this. Or a moment of despair, like, maybe we're not in this.

[C]

Halftime. Went into the locker room. It was very calm. Some of the things that were said were exactly the right things that needed to be said by the players. There was a tremendous confidence that we were going to still win the game. And we probably played one of our worst halves of basketball in the entire season. Like, we didn't look anything like ourselves. The moment looked too big. We were kind of all over the place. I think Kat was, like, the only one was able to maybe. Maybe throw in a basket here and there. And there was just a calmness about us in the locker room that felt like, we're going to win this game. And I remember walking in feeling the exact same way. And, you know, sometimes as a coach, you go in there, you're trying to sell something, but there was just this, like, connection. And I was like, we're going to win this game if we do X, Y and Z. And part of that was just getting back to who we were, and we were able to do that. And it was a crazy game. And it was a crazy, even crazier series.

[A]

You know, there was. It was. I'm not going to ask you about the Luca shot. I'm just. I don't have it in me.

[C]

Right. The what?

[A]

The Luca shot. Because I watched that one, too. Yeah.

[C]

What do you want to know?

[A]

I mean, you were in the back. Back of the bench because you were recovering from your injury, so. But you were standing.

[C]

Yeah, I was trying to say, get up. Don't let him shoot.

[A]

And. And if you watch this clip, I mean, this is. This is One of the moments we should have talked about, because this is potentially one. One in a. In a winnable series, like against a team that was kind of ahead, ahead of schedule in Dallas and then against a team in Boston that was beatable for you. Yeah. And I watched that shot, and you're in the back, arms crossed, it goes in. You just look up at the scoreboard. It's like you're just. It's stoic.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

But inside you're going crazy, for sure.

[C]

I was also. If you go back and look at the Lillard shot, I was an assistant in Houston. I probably had the same reaction, you know, so I've been. Been there a few times in my life. Yeah. I mean, it's just sometimes you get beat by a great player making a great shot.

[A]

Okay. So sometimes I have to ask, I have to be a steward for the fans and ask the fan question.

[D]

All right.

[A]

What does Rob Dillingham have to do?

[C]

Hey, listen, it's all about consistency, right? And you know, it is for young players when they come into the NBA. They come into two situations. They come into situations where they play a lot of empty minutes and can develop on, you know, over a period of time, or they come in and they play high leverage, meaningful minutes. I think that the second is the best way to develop because you're playing meaningful basketball and you gotta play in a manner that doesn't hurt your team. And this goes to all young players, not about Rob. I'll come to Rob specifically. Rob definitely has the skill set to help us, you know, create some pace, get to the paint, make, make the right reads and get the balls to ball to his teammates and fight his tail off on defense. And we see some of that, and it's just the consistency. That's all it is, you know, and with our young depth, whether it be Rob, TJ or Jalen Clark, and, you know, hopefully soon we'll, we'll. We'll throw in Johan Behringer in there too.

[A]

Just every young guy just, just. They're so excited.

[C]

Yeah, exactly. And they should be because they're good players. But, you know, the good thing about it is, like, we have really experienced seven guys, and those guys, you know, are good minute eaters and produce at a high level. And, you know, we don't feel married to anybody right now. We're 11 games in. You know, we're still feeling our way through players and through rotations and through possibilities. And if they have a good stint, great. If they don't have a good stint, maybe we don't go back to them. But it doesn't mean that we're giving up on them moving forward.

[B]

So, Zach, if I can borrow the stewardship for a second for the fans, for the city, for the community, world at large. Chris, what do you actually think of the green NBA cup court? I think this is a very important subject that we need to the bottom of.

[C]

Well, you know, I said, I went to work the other day. I played on a green court with dark lighting in the stands. I had no idea where I was. I was like, it's not Target center that. I'm used to the green court. After a while, I guess you kind of get used to it. You know, it's better than the red court. I mean, the red courts are unwatchable. I think. I actually think the league's doing a disservice because some of these courts are unwatchable.

[A]

Yeah.

[E]

And.

[C]

Why don't we. Why don't we just put the big trophy on the court and call it a day?

[A]

Let's go. Full old man yelling at clouds. Why do the Celtics have a jersey with no green on it? What are we doing?

[C]

What?

[A]

Gold jersey? Like, there are too many jerseys. The courts are ugly. Yours is not. It's not great.

[C]

No, it's not great. Sometimes you'll turn on the game on the NBA and you'll see two teams. You'll be like, who the heck's playing out there? I have no idea.

[A]

You know, it's a highlight league anyway. You know, it's just a highlight. All right, last one. One of the reasons I always like talking to you is Chris Finch being year five or six for you here?

[C]

Five and a half.

[A]

Yeah. Covid is, like, threw everything off. It's five and a half. Six year coach of a winning NBA team is such an awesome story and an unlikely one in a lot of ways. I mean, you guys probably know his story. Coached in England. He coached in Belgium. He would coach in the G League. And, like, now you're like, the guy. And you still carry yourself like someone who came up through the G League and through England. So in preparation for this, I was like, everyone who's been through the, like, the minor. Minor leagues has the story where they're like, man, this is. This isn't the NBA. Like, whether it's a bad flag flight, a bad trip, an incident at a hotel, I said, give me your best. Like, what the hell am I even doing here in Belarus, for instance? Stories. So share the one. Share the one you shared with me.

[C]

Okay, so I'VE coached all over. I think the greatest part about my job is it's taking me to places that you would never choose to go. And you get to spend real time there in real cities with real people.

[A]

Not including Minneapolis in that. In that.

[C]

Oh, no, no, no. I have Minyana. So. So I was coaching a team. We played a game in. In Minsk, which is in. In Belarusia. And I got a phone call in the middle of the night about three in the morning. And it was the hotel manager. And he said, hey, come down here. We have a problem with one of your players. Which is not something you ever want to hear. And so I get dressed, I go down, I walk out, and there's one of my guys. He's there with a girl that he had come friendly with over, you know, at the club. Yeah, right. So. And then there was a big kind of Russian looking guy there. And I said, what? Seems. What's the problem? And he says, well, he's trying to go up to his room. I said, yeah, we're staying here. And he said, well, she's. She's not allowed to go up with them. And I said, okay, is there a problem with that? He says, yeah, if he wants to take a girl to his room, he has to choose one of ours. So in the bar was a selection of women for the evening. And I said, this has got to go in the book.

[A]

You're like, I gotta. I'm drawing a pick and roll coverages for tomorrow night. Like, what am I. What am I doing here? You guys are lucky to have Chris Finch. He's a great coach. He's a great guy. Thanks for. Thanks for coming out.

[C]

Good luck.

[A]

I had to ask you about Dilly. I'm sorry. All right, all right, all right. Last. Last guy. And then you guys can get out here and go have some beverages. Two time college national champion, one time NBA champion. He wins everywhere he goes. Dante DiVincenzo.

[D]

Got a little surprise for you, man. Our jersey's come out. We're playing them on Saturday, so we got you a little surprise.

[A]

What is it? Oh, look at that. My wife is going to be so excited to have more NBA memorabilia hanging in our house.

[B]

Zach, are you not going to complete the jersey swap?

[A]

You got to give. I did not bring a Grady Dick jersey with me to. To complete. Complete the swap. Thank you for doing this. You're a good sport. Do you feel at home here now?

[D]

Yes, absolutely. Yes, very much so.

[A]

Obviously the Nova Knicks were a thing.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

You have said. We just talked about it. It happened so close to the season starting. And I was reading back, you know, what was his reaction to this? And you were said, there's some quote that I read probably by Krasinski saying I was home chilling and the next thing I knew I was flying to Minnesota. But like, who actually called you? Who do you hear from?

[D]

My agent. And I was actually visiting. So we were leaving for training camp that Monday after media day. So that weekend my fiance and I decided to go see her family before the season kind of kicks off. And I was up there and I got a call, I want to say around noon, one o', clock, like, hey, this is stuff I'm hearing nothing really gaining traction, but just keep you posted. And then later on it was like, hey, I think this is gonna happen. And then like 30 seconds later, already out. So I was getting calls.

[A]

So who's the first Nova guy you hear from?

[D]

The first Nova? It was Josh, of course. Josh. Josh is glued to his phone.

[A]

And what was. Were you guys all like shocked? Sad? I mean this was like such a fairy tale thing.

[E]

Yeah.

[B]

You were in commercials together. You know, that's how you.

[A]

That was after.

[D]

That was after the fact. Yeah. So I still went back and did the commercial. But no, I. I was kind of just shocked. It was kind of like you didn't really believe it just because, you know, we had a great year individually, had a good year. And you're going into the season. I think the timing of everything was the real shock behind everything. Like, I know this, I've been traded before, but I haven't been traded the day before the season started. So like that was the shock. But you know, once you get the initial emotions out, then it's like, okay, where are we gonna live? What are we gonna. You know, I mean like all those logistics of everything. That's where my mind can like initially went.

[B]

Is it weird to not be moving around like that? Cuz you've now had like four or five years where you've just constantly been going new places.

[D]

This is the first. I think this is the first year going this season. In the last last four or five seasons that I've been on. Like, this is the first time I've been on the same team.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Which is insane. Like, so you talk about home. Yeah.

[A]

You guys have seen. Seen the commercial, right? With the Nova Nicks. So I heard that commercial almost didn't happen.

[D]

Yes.

[A]

And because of your participation, can you shed light on this?

[D]

So do you guys remember it was. I hurt my toe that one game and the commercial was the next morning. So I had this messed up toe. Didn't really know what was going on. Went there, filmed this. It was like four, four, four and a half hours. And my foot was huge. I was like. But if you notice, I don't do much walking in the commercial. Hey, listen, they're really good at hiding.

[A]

I watched it knowing this.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

And I'm like, he doesn't look like he's moving great.

[D]

Because I was. I was waddling down the hallway. So they had to cut it. But it was. It was a lot of fun.

[A]

It was.

[D]

It was kind of weird at first, just, you know, being back for the first time. I was so excited to play against them and not get that opportunity. And I'm like, hey, let's shoot the damn commercial. I guess.

[A]

Who are you actually talking shit to on their bench the first time you guys played?

[B]

We need it.

[E]

I knew this was coming.

[D]

We need it. I knew this was coming. I wasn't.

[A]

All right, first of all. First of all, everyone was rooting for you in that moment. You were the spurned one. Everyone can relate to that.

[D]

Listen, I. Tibbs and I had friendly banter and somebody jumped in. So then that is what escalated everything. It was going absolutely nowhere with Tibbs and I. Then what the cameras call and all that stuff and ESPN and how it went crazy. That was. Someone jumped into an argument or a banter that wasn't there there necessarily.

[A]

And they'll remain nameless.

[D]

They will remain. You can assume.

[A]

You remember this, right?

[B]

It rhymes with.

[A]

All right, let's go through some of your fun moments in your career. Some of your big moments.

[D]

That is a fun moment. What do you mean?

[A]

It was fun for me. I'm glad it was fun. Fun for you. Game two, Sixers, Knicks.

[D]

Crazy is.

[A]

This is the crazy Knicks comeback. Jalen brunt. You're down five with, like 30 seconds left.

[D]

Drive kick. Jaylen hits a three.

[A]

And then you had. You have two shots at a three and you make the second one.

[D]

Jaylen and Josh got a steal, kick it to me. And I missed that bad.

[A]

And. Which I had forgotten. And I was like, oh, there's another offensive rebound.

[D]

Yeah. I saw Isaiah go get the ball. Ball. And like, you can see me the whole time. I'm, like, clapping and shaking my hands like, please give me this ball back. And OG Swung it. And as soon as it left my hand, I knew it was in because I was like, I need another shot of this.

[A]

Your post game interview in that in the arena at MSG is Is one of the rare moments where an athlete looks. I don't mean this in a bad way, like, overwhelmed by the noise, the emotion.

[D]

It was insane. The floor was shaking. Like, I didn't get off to a good start in that series. So that kind of just gave me, like, you know, you're overwhelmed with emotion. You're finally like, you get that shot to fall, you get another win, and, you know, in the series, and you can kind of finally, like, all right, now I'm into the series. Let's, you know, kick it off.

[A]

Game six of that series, you guys win the series four games to two. You're up 1:14, 113. But by one with 11 seconds left, they foul you because they're losing.

[D]

Is it in Philly?

[A]

Philly. No, it was in. It was in Philly. They foul you intentionally to stop the clock.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

And then there's like a 45 second stoppage. For some reason, the refs are talking to the review table, and you're just waiting to take these massive. Amigo, you made like, hell yeah. Nothing but that. Remember this?

[D]

I don't. I don't.

[A]

So there's like a 45 second stoppage, and then Buddy healed starts talking to you. Buddy, he plays for the Sixers, and he's literally. He's like, up in your business and like, talking shit to you. He's. He's touching the ball. What's he saying?

[D]

Friendly banter, man.

[A]

So you're like, you're totally unfazed. They're like, yeah, he was just saying.

[D]

Like, give me one. Like, give me a miss. Like he wanted to, you know, just get in my head to try to make me miss a shot. So they had an opportunity.

[A]

And you're 100%, Stone Cold confident I'm going to do something. Two for two.

[D]

I think I ended up smiling or something, or laughing, cuz Buddy is just a funny dude. So like I said, there's friendly dancers. It's fun. It's fun out there.

[A]

I had also forgotten you were injured when Chris Jenkins hit the shot to win the national title. And I was looking for you. This is Villanova national title Archie Diacono pitched to Chris Jenkins, and there's this redhead in a full dress suit, like suit and tie, coming off the bench. You must have been healthy because you sprinted out there, man.

[D]

The funniest part about that is my foot was supposed to be broken.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, that's what I'm. That's what I'm saying. Like, you were like, I guess he's healthy.

[D]

I was recovering, so I was just. I was able to move at that point.

[A]

Is there. Is there any such thing on this Timberwolves team as, like, a slump for you? You have the greenest green light and you. You should. That's your job. But, like, you could. I feel like you give us five, six, threes in a row, you're like, I don't care. I'm taking the next four contested or not. Like, is it. Is slump like, out of your mind vocabulary now?

[D]

Yeah. I think it comes from my teammates and the coaching staff. The nose. I mean, the game that actually broke my nose. I, like, I started the game like, one for seven, and it was just not. Just not feeling great. And all the coaches were like, just keep. They're good looks. Just keep firing them and, you know, play your game. And I think ant is the, you know, the main one. Ant's the main one behind me. Like, yo, you better shoot that every time. So when you have that next to you, it's like. And I think I rattled off like, four or five in a row to finish the game. Like, percentages are always going to equal out. Like, I'm not worried about that. I'm not worried about any of that in the initial, um, because I know everything's gonna work out as long as I can keep my mindset straight of just, like, keep letting it go. Keep letting it go.

[B]

How did you keep playing in that game after the Collins? The elbow from Collins? I'm wincing just thinking about watching it.

[D]

I didn't know it was that bad looking, so we didn't have a mirror in the back. So I went back there and it's all bleeding and they stopped the blood. I was like, hey, like, is it broken? Like, yeah, it's kind of broken. I'm like, all right, so can we break it back? Well, there was, like, dilemma of when to do it, timing of when to do it. So I was like, all right, I'll just go finish the game, come back, and then we'll, you know, put it back in place. I went out there and I went up to the assistant Mike, and I was like, yo, I'm ready. He just, like, looked at me. I remember Joe Ng was like, dude, what though? And at this point, I had still not seen my nose.

[B]

Oh, no.

[D]

So I didn't see my nose until after the game.

[B]

Yeah, I imagine you got some text with that screenshot.

[D]

Yeah, it was a bunch of. It was a bunch of different photos and videos of me. And I was like, that thing was like, this.

[A]

Outside looking in west finals last year, 41 chalk prevails. Thunder is supposed to win. They win short series. How did it feel from inside your experience? Did you feel like, man, we're a couple of breaks away from this being 2:2. We're not that far away. Like, how do you come out of that series?

[D]

I think we learned from him about, like, all the little things throughout the regular season. Take that series out of it. We played catch up last year, and I think that's kind of what we want to avoid. And that's our mindset of doing all the little things, becoming, making those habits early. Because if you look at the, you know, the seeding last year, it's like a game away from playing, but you're a game away from home court. So to have that understanding in the regular season, then, you know, creates those habits. So when you get to those moments, it's second nature. I think just they had done the little things, you know, another possession more than us for a full 48. And I think that's the only thing that we learned from it. Like, talent wise, roster wise, coaching wise, top to bottom, like, we're right there. Like, it's not. It's not like we're chasing something that is not attainable. It's just the little things that put us to make us a great team.

[A]

We were talking about that before the show because we. Before you got here, we did power rankings in the Western Conference. He had the warriors, like, 10th. I had him seventh. And we were talking about, I don't know if you saw last night, Jimmy Butler and Jeremond Green had some comments after their loss. Like, you know, I don't know if we're basically like, we got to get back to being serious about winning. And the Clippers are obviously struggling. And I mentioned to Rob, like, they're kind of playing like a team that feels like it's above the regular season. And if you do that in the west, like, you're ninth. That's like, that's life in the West. Yeah.

[D]

I mean, you look at a. We started off in Portland and you look at that team and that team's like, you think Portland's going to be, like, going, oh, they're not going to be that good. They're a good team. They're long, athletic, can play defense, pick up full court, and they're going to surprise a lot of different teams. And that's the west every single night.

[A]

Where are you right now? Like 11 games in. What's your grade for the Timberwolves like, where are you? And what. What's like the next phase for you guys?

[D]

I think the next phase is just to. To do what we've been doing as the teams that, you know, the teams that we're supposed to be, keep doing them. And then the teams that are the good teams in NBA, the OkCs, the Denver's, the. The Lakers, the Knicks, those are the teams that we need to do the exact same thing that we did against Sacramento, against, you know, Utah, and do those. Exam those good teams as well and not have. It's a consistency factor. I think just being consistent every single night, having the energy every single night is what separates, you know, the top two, three teams in each conference.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

You had a quote about how you guys are like a sometimes team on defense, always team on defense. I mean, a fucking bar, first of all. But also, how do you become that.

[D]

Oh, man.

[B]

I mean, right.

[D]

I don't know which game that was, but it's. I mean, it starts with, you know, the head of our snake defensively is Jaden and Rudy. And then you throw in there. Their ability to affect the game is. It's kind of crazy to witness sometimes of how, you know, Jaden can guard every single position and what he's, you know. Yeah, like, he is unbelievable. And to see what he's given us offensively as well, it's hard to do. So I think it starts there with that energy. But also it's like those that had us think defensively, but everybody else has to bring it up a notch. And when we bring it up a notch and you have full 48 minutes of guys coming off the bench, you have Jalen Clark coming off the bench, picking up full court. Like, the dude's like a pit bull, so he usually is the one that like gets the game jump start. So we have to do it from the, from the jump ball.

[B]

Yeah. Can we talk about the Jalen Clark, Jaden McDaniels thing happening? Brewer, like that pairing on defense, and it seems like it's really clicking.

[D]

Yeah, it's a really. It's a really good deal. Jaden goes out and Jalen comes in. It's like hell, so.

[E]

Nuts.

[A]

Look, why not, right? Like, why not the Minnesota Timberwolves? Someone's. Exactly, someone's. Someone's got to push the Thunder and the Nuggets. Why not? Why not? You guys. All you guys do is win. You mentioned, it's. You mentioned the Lakers before as one of the teams on your list and like one of the fun subplots for me, the last couple years is back to back. First rounds, Suns, Glamour team. Like, that's before you got here, but. And then Lakers, the ultimate glamour team. I picked against you guys both series. I think most people did. And it's been fun. Just like, not only did you guys win those series again, one before you got here, you kicked the crap out of them and it's like, oh, yeah, no, we're just really, really good. Why don't you stop doubting?

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

And, like, stop falling in love with these big. And, like, I regretted the Phoenix pick, like, five minutes into game one. I was like, oh, my God, I totally play this one. So, anyway, Dante d', Vincento, thanks for coming out, man.

[D]

Yeah, thank you very much for coming.

[A]

We have some time for questions.

[B]

Oh, please.

[A]

We were fast. We didn't waste anyone's time. Okay, Rob, you feel free to take any of these. You guys think I was kidding? First note card. Did Nico end up taking the worst GM belt ever from Khan? Rob, we can both field this. If you could pair Ant with anyone in the league, who would it be?

[B]

What do we want with Ant? What do we want for Ant?

[A]

There's only one answer to the question. You can overthink it if you want. Go ahead.

[B]

What is the easy answer? Wemby.

[A]

Wemby.

[B]

I mean, Nicole Wembs would be pretty cool.

[A]

Wemby. Wemby. It's got to be Wemby. I get. He's 22 years old or whatever. Yeah, Jokic.

[B]

I mean, that seems like a pretty great combination to me.

[A]

They would be a lot of fun together. It'd be a good comedy duo.

[B]

See, this is the angle we really need to be harnessing.

[A]

Any other candidates, even.

[B]

It's gotta be a big. I mean. Cause Ant's basically a point guard now. I don't know if you heard.

[C]

So.

[B]

Yes. A lead guard. I'm sorry. Apologies to Chris Finch. So it's gotta be a big. And if it's gonna be a big, it's one of those, too.

[A]

Giannis. Giannis.

[B]

I don't mind it. We already heard. Not Anthony Davis. We've been told.

[A]

Not Anthony Davis. Nobody. People don't want trade.

[B]

That was emphatic.

[A]

That's not bad. Evan Mobley is a good.

[B]

I like that.

[C]

Thank you.

[A]

Hopefully that was. Hopefully that wasn't Tim Connolly. Rob. You guys think I was kidding? Should Nico Harrison be federally prosecuted?

[B]

You know, I've heard there's indictments on the way, you know.

[A]

Okay, this is a two parter. Whoever wrote this, kudos. Part One is not. Is not the reason for the kudos. If Ant makes an all defense team, does he win mvp?

[B]

No, not necessarily. No.

[A]

I'm sorry. I'm just. Sorry. Like, the top four guys are so good. Shay, Jokic, Giannis. Who am I forgetting?

[B]

I mean, Wemby might be in there.

[A]

Oh, Wemby. Duh. And. And it's. And Luca. Thank you. It's just like.

[B]

It's a tough field.

[A]

It's a tough field. But all. If he makes all. By the way, I think I'm actually. I think he's overdue to make an all defense team. I thought he would have made one by now. Yes, he has all the tools. If he just dials in, particularly off.

[B]

The ball, like he would like to make one. He has the ability.

[A]

I'll never forget when you guys played the Grizzlies in the playoffs, and he was like, give me. I want John Moran. I want every bit of John Moran. I want to beat him up when I have the ball, and I want to beat him up when he has the ball. And it was like, okay, all right. I like this guy. Rob, this is a very important one. The second part knows. Knows. I was gonna say knows his audience. He knows his host's boss. How does this live show affect LeBron's legacy?

[B]

Well, where did we put the Lakers in the power rankings again?

[A]

The Lakers were sixth in both of our power rankings.

[B]

I think we're pushing LeBron down, I think, in the legacy talk. I mean, the Wolves. The Wolves have been the talk all night. You said, why not the Wolves? So then it can't.

[A]

Why not the wolves? Why not LeBron's legacy? Should we talk? No. Does LeBron play for the Lakers next season?

[E]

No.

[A]

No.

[B]

The answer is, does he play for them this season?

[A]

He just got assigned to the South Bay Lakers. I guess that counts, which I guess he's gonna play for the Lakers. We both can answer this From Jordan, only nobody signed their name, so if you sign your name, I'm gonna say your name. Jordan. What rewatchables movie would you pick to do if you curated an episode? Curated? So fancy. And with whom would you do it? From the ringer? I'm contractually obligated to not answer that question. Do you have a dream? Rewatchables.

[B]

Aliens. But I think they've already done it.

[A]

What was it?

[E]

Aliens.

[A]

Aliens, Plural?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

There are multiple aliens in it. The resurrection is good, but we'll take it. What's your pick, Zach?

[A]

First of all, people talk about scary movies a lot like now there's all these jump scare movies and, you know, I don't know what was scary.

[B]

They came scare movies for the like.

[A]

Was sinners supposed to be scary?

[B]

No.

[A]

Was weapons supposed to be scary? Ish. I had. I watched Aliens at a sleepover when I was 12 years old and it was the most cowardly I ever felt in my life. I was. I wanted to go home. I was absolutely scared shitless. It is so scary. And there's no, it's not. There's. It's just. It's a slow, methodical build.

[B]

This is why it's perfect for the rewatchables, because what are we harnessing on that podcast if not 12 year old sleepover energy? That's really what we're trying to tap into.

[A]

So Bill has asked me this question because I want to do a rewatchables and he wants me to do one. And I submitted 10 movies.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

They ranged in scope and theme from Ace Ventura, Pet Detective.

[B]

You're not a nature calls guy.

[A]

No, the first one, Spaceballs, is on my list because Spaceballs 2 is coming out in a couple years.

[B]

Got the news plague.

[A]

And ultimately I think we settled on Dog Day Afternoon. Deep cut for the cinema files. 70s Pacino. Can't. Can't be beat. Any, but. Any of those. But they've done all of them. Everyone I look up, I'm like, you already did this one.

[B]

How many done Heat five times. So I think they could do one again for you.

[A]

Is Heat two. Is that happening?

[B]

It's kind of a thing.

[A]

Are we sure Heat's good? I'm gonna put. Let me, Let me.

[D]

Let me do.

[A]

Let me do Simmons is Michael Mann. Having a moment?

[B]

Never stopped.

[A]

This one requires some thought. What is the first of all? The handwriting on this is just pristine. What is the best starting five you can build of a current out of current NBA players who have never made an all star team, excluding rookies.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Never made an all star team. Austin Reaves probably has to be on it at this point. Jaden. I think Jaden is the reason for the question. Denny Abdia is up there.

[B]

We're talking about Jamal Murray.

[A]

Jamal Murray. Jamal Murray. Jamal Murray is the starting point guard of the team.

[B]

Who's the big? Is the question.

[A]

The bigs. All right, let's think bigs.

[B]

That hasn't been rewarded.

[A]

Someone said. Deandre Ayton. I feel like we've reached. I feel like we've already reached the bottom of the conversation. And I'm a deandre Ayton.

[B]

Optimist I like the Jalen Duran option. Option.

[A]

He. Dude, he might make it this year the way he's playing.

[B]

Well, this. This question's expiring very quickly.

[A]

Other other bigs? Oh, I think.

[B]

Oh, not Nas. Yeah.

[A]

It's hard to make it. Also a team coming off the bench. OG and Anobi. Sure. Yo, Hartenstein. I don't know if that was a joke. Shout out. It was. He's playing like, really, really well. Chet. Chet.

[B]

I mean, you could pick basically the Thunders.

[A]

Like, Chet's got a. Chet's got to be on here.

[B]

Who are we missing? I feel like we're missing somebody obvious. Aaron Gordon.

[A]

Now you're.

[B]

Now you're speaking my language. Thank you. Aaron Gordon's a great one.

[A]

Aaron Gordon is. He is he. Did the Denver series make people not like Aaron Gordon here? Is he respected?

[B]

Grudging respected?

[A]

Yeah, he's a beautiful basketball story. He wanted to be one thing. He was kind of in a dysfunctional place to let him explore being that thing. It didn't go well. Then he got traded to like nirvana. Basketball nirvana. He became the player he was destined to be.

[B]

May we all be so lucky for that kind of evolution in life. Zach.

[A]

Another Nico Harrison. David Kahn. Okay, well, we're transitioning right into this from Andrew and ryan. It took two people to write this question, do you think Jaden McDaniels will make an all Star team? And when. When is a lot. Andrew and Ryan, when.

[B]

I think the answer might be yes now. Like he is an honest to goodness creator in a way he wasn't before. We already know he's one of the best defensive players in the league, especially at his position. Like, what would be holding him back other than, you know, Ant and Julius being on his team, for example. And if the Wolves are very good, they probably get rewarded before for him.

[A]

I want to. I want to be the bad guy and go, no. Just to be a jerk about it.

[B]

Realize where we are.

[A]

I'm going to say yeah. I'm going to say yes. But if you gave me over under one and a half all star appearances, I'm taking the under. I could see one year where he sneaks in as like the co. 2nd best guy on a 60 win pace wolves team. You know, I could see that.

[B]

Could that be this year? Because we're introducing this new All Star game format. American players versus versus international players. I'm going to be honest with you, there's not that many.

[A]

It's a round robin tournament of how many games am I supposed to take.

[B]

It's all very complicated, but basically, Adam Silver has the executive power very strong in this country right now to plug Jaden McDaniels on that roster if he so chooses.

[A]

Wait, why? He does?

[B]

Yeah, like, if they're basically.

[D]

If the.

[B]

If the All Star votes created imbalance of international players to American players, they just get to decide we want this American guy on the.

[A]

No, See, that's when Trump has to come in and make the decision. I did start the Jada McDaniels for Team USA 2028 bandwagon on my podcast because team every team USA needs a guy like that. Doesn't need the ball. Just wants to defend the hell out of everyone can make open threes, get out in transition. I'm going to say yes. And he will make the all star team in 2028. Dear Zach. Sean. That's very sweet from Sean. Dear Zach, did you buy your Mets jersey? Circle yes or no? Sean, you're not getting the card back, man. Like, it's not the way. That's not the way this works. I have not purchased my Mets jersey yet. I can't decide which player has speaks most deeply to my soul. I want it to be Juan Soto, but I just can't like something. It's like there's a wall there and I just can't get past. I can't get past the wall. I can't. I look into his eyes and there's nothing there. But I want to hit the baseball and look cool, which I love. Like, keep hitting the baseballs. I love it.

[B]

I mean, sometimes they're the right match on paper, but you. You just aren't feeling it. Zach, I think it's okay.

[A]

My daughter wants Lindor. My daughter absolutely loves Francisco Lindor. No, it has to be a current man. I have a Piazza. I have a Hunley. Who. No, come on. Who is the Timberwolves equivalent of Mauricio? It might be Rob Dillingham. I hate to break it to you. Lots of potential ends up not playing if Pete Alonso resigns. It might be Pete Alonso, though. I was at the Minneapolis Miracle. Parentheses Humble brag. What. What is the coolest, best live sports experience you've been a part of?

[B]

I think for me, it is Klay Thompson. Absolutely obliterating the Oklahoma City Thunder.

[A]

You were at that game?

[B]

Game six.

[A]

Oh, my God. That's a great one.

[B]

It was an act of God. I don't know how else to describe it. Unbelievable.

[A]

Were you, like, courtside in the good media scene?

[B]

Sadly, not too much media at that one.

[A]

I watched that one on tv. That was a heartbreaker for the Thunder.

[B]

I mean, it imploded a franchise.

[A]

I'm trying to think for work. For work. It's 1000% Cavs warriors game seven. The most. The most intense thing I've ever been a part of professionally. I mean, like, I could feel my blood pressure reaching unhealthy levels and I didn't care who won the game. The four minutes when it just didn't stop. Like there were no stoppages and everybody missed every shot. And before the Kyrie shot is the most intense thing I've ever seen live. The LeBron chase down block happened. Like I was eye to eye with the block. And apologies if you heard me tell this story before. I was on press roll like one level up, eye to eye, and I was a thousand percent sure it was a goaltend. Like there was absolutely no way a human being could have made that play. And as the game was going on, I got up from my seat and ran. Almost tripped over like laptop cords and ruined people's days to a monitor that I Knew was like 10 seconds behind the real action because I had to see, did this guy actually do this? And I was like, God damn, that's a good block. I don't know. What about non NBA? Non NBA sporting?

[B]

I only care about the NBA.

[A]

It's a sad.

[E]

They get it.

[B]

What was the adjective? Is it the greatest sporting event?

[A]

Coolest slash best?

[B]

I mean, I was there for Luka Doncic's return game to Dallas, which was one of the most surreal.

[A]

Oh yeah, how was that? That's timely.

[B]

I've never seen a building like that. A lot of anguish, a lot of booing. Obviously a precursor for everything that's happening right now. I don't know that we're ever going to see anything like that again.

[A]

He put up 40 something in that game, didn't he?

[B]

He sure did.

[A]

He might. That might be a mistake, that trade.

[B]

I mean, what gives you that idea though? There's still time.

[A]

I was at the Halliburton Knicks game last year. That was the high bounce. That was absolutely. I don't think I'll ever go to a game that crazy again. That's. That was absolutely insane.

[B]

How did you feel about the aping of the Reggie choke?

[A]

I didn't see it happening because I was way up in the stands and I thought the game was over and I was like, where's the elevator? What happened? So I only saw it on tv. Is anybody anti that? That's Awesome.

[B]

I mean, I think the question is, like, should you just come up with your own celebration?

[A]

Not in Madison Square. Not in Madison Square Garden, and not with Reggie there. Fair, by the way. That's got to be top three. If I could rewind and change history for a single game 7 of the Finals last year, everyone asks, I get asked all the time, would Indiana have won that game? I say, I don't know, but I'll know this. That was a coin flip. Like, they were. They were there to win that fucking game. They were not scared at all. If anything, the thunder were a little bit like, oh, I thought playing at home, we might roll here. And we're not going to roll. I went to a couple good Mets games. I don't know what other. I'll tell you. I almost. When Soccer, Croatia Soccer. 2022 World Cup when they beat Brazil in penalty kicks. They went down 1 0, an extra time tied. The game went to penalty kicks. When Brazil's last kick hit the post and the game was over. I kind of thought I was having a heart attack. Like, actually, I was on the floor and I kind of couldn't get off the floor. And I really thought, it's finally happened. I've become the sports guy who's so crazy that I'm actually having a heart attack from a game. And then I was, okay.

[B]

Then you just got up and you were fine.

[A]

I don't know. What's the. I mean, the Minneapolis Miracle. What's the best? What's the best? There's a twin, like a Kirby Puckett Twins game, right? I have a homer Hanke, by the way, at my house. A 1987 original Homer Hanker. Do you even know what that is?

[B]

Zero idea.

[A]

When they.

[B]

You could tell me anything.

[A]

When they played in the Metro dome, they won two World Series. Yeah, 87 and 91. Is that right?

[B]

Now you are pandering.

[A]

I do remember exactly. I do remember exactly where I was in my college door in my college dorm room lounge when Gary Anderson missed a field goal. I do remember that one day it's gonna happen. This is. I'll conclude by saying this. People are like, One of the questions was, why are you here? Like, why did you pick Minneapolis? So I've never done one of these before, and I just didn't feel comfortable doing it at espn. It wasn't the right fit. And I was like, you know what? I'll try it. And we wanted to check, like, any LA, NY, those are obvious. It's like, let's find. Let's test drive it, see if anyone actually cares. Rabid sports fans. Great city. Probably feels a little bit underserved by the national media. I bet people will come out. And my best buddy from college lives here and he's here tonight. We went to a wild game last night, three on three in overtime in hockey. I didn't know that was a thing. It was great. So that's why I'm in Minneapolis. Cause it's awesome and the fitness are awesome and it's always the one people forget when they do the trivia of, like, name all the cities that have every major sports team. It's like Minneapolis, really. It's a great city. So anyway, first time live show. Thank you guys all so much for coming out. Thank you. Thank you to Rob Mahoney. Thank you to Chris Finch, Dante DiVincenzo, John Krasinski. Thank you to all of you. I'll be hanging around for a little bit. We're done. Go wolves must be 21 or over in president. Select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 and over in President D.C. kentucky or Wyoming. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rg-help.com, call 1-888-78977 777 or visit ccpg.org chat in Connecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 800-327-5050 for 24. 7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8-HOPE NY or text HOPE NY in New York.