Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara

Episode: NBA Talk with Evan Turner
Release Date: December 4, 2025
Guests: Evan Turner (Former NBA Player, Podcaster)
Summary Prepared By: [Your Name]

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode dives deep into the current landscape of the NBA with special guest Evan Turner—former #2 NBA draft pick, Ohio State legend, and emerging podcast voice. Matt, Jerry, and Evan riff on the NBA's shifting power balance toward international players, behind-the-scenes locker room stories, basketball culture, memorable “wasted” superstar talents, and how pop culture intersects with sports. The tone is unfiltered, nostalgic, hilarious, and sharp, giving fans both insight and off-the-cuff banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Quick Banter

• Jokes about the rarity of white players in the NBA, tossing out names like Dante DiVincenzo and Peyton Pritchard.
• Jerry laments never having real school pride like Matt’s USC hoodie moment ([00:43]).

2. NBA International Takeover

• Discussion: The All-Star game’s new USA vs. World format and the dominance of international talent.
• Matt: “The top five players in the NBA arguably are all European.” ([02:54])
• Jerry proposes an Olympic men's basketball hypothetical: Is Team USA still the favorite for gold in 2028? Both hedge, noting the thinning US talent pool (Curry, LeBron, KD likely retired).

Notable Quotes

• Jerry: "I'm like, caught up? Luka, Wemby, Jokic, Shai, Giannis—that's five best players in the league." ([32:38])
• Matt: "They're beating our ass, dude." ([32:54])
• Evan (on the new rivalry): “I like to see that type of stuff...America against the world.” ([32:55])

3. NBA All-Star Voting & Fan Bases

• Jerry explains how SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) gets more votes than, e.g., Knicks players: "The whole country of Canada votes for SGA. Not just Oklahoma City." ([04:14])
• Discussion on Canadian NBA stars and fan engagement.

4. The "Wasted Talent" Debate (Wendy's Fresh Take of the Week)

• Who's the greatest superstar “wasted” on a bad team?
  • Matt's pick: Mike Trout (“One of the greatest of all time...never going to win a World Series.” [07:02])
  • Jerry's pick: Calvin Johnson (“That was the best player to be on the worst teams and that's Calvin Johnson. It's not close.” [08:21])
  • Honorable Mentions: Barry Sanders, Don Mattingly.

5. Evan Turner Joins the Show ([10:28])

• Welcoming Evan, joking about his social media, TikTok fame, and the evolving athlete-turned-podcaster space.

Key Moments

• Evan: “I'm always supporting it. Just living the dream, man. Good to be here with y'all.” ([10:32])
• Matt: “You know you’re old when people recognize you for TikTok, not for playing football.” ([10:53])

6. College Rivalries & Recruitment Stories

• Michigan-Ohio State rivalry for both football and basketball.
• Evan reflects on his recruitment: “I was in the class with O.J. Mayo, Derrick Rose, Kevin Love...they took all the money, by the time it got to me, it was like, we got bus fare and a meal card." ([12:17])
• Hilarious Notre Dame recruiting visit story: Evan only attended USC-Notre Dame because his AAU coach insisted; experiences the famous "Bush Push" game.
  • Evan: "Some white lady next to me says, 'You come to Notre Dame, we burn couches'—what the fuck does that mean?" ([18:06])

7. Memorable Sporting Events & Spectator Experiences

• Evan’s most memorable sporting event: European soccer finals and Steph Curry’s 2016 Game 7 comeback vs. OKC.
  • “Steph Curry is unbelievable to see in person...giving me chills.” ([19:19])

8. Klay Thompson, NBA Player "Trolling," & Social Media Culture

• Debating public perception of Klay Thompson, player feuds, and why only NBA players seem to troll each other online.
  • Evan: “Clay's an unbelievable dude, but sometimes he pokes the bear...people want to see him come down from his throne.” ([23:52])
  • “NBA is the only sport that trolls each other online; in football, you could actually get hurt.” ([25:47])

9. Building the “All-White, Non-Euro” NBA Team

• Matt’s proposed lineup: Austin Reaves, Chet Holmgren, Knipple, Tyler Herro, Alex Caruso.
• Debated by Jerry and Evan for legitimacy.
  • Evan: “You got to go get Dante Divincenzo, bro.” ([35:04])
  • Peyton Pritchard gets “honorary black” status from Evan ([35:45]), inciting laughter.

10. Hoop Dreams & Athlete Life Lessons

• Evan attended the high school from the documentary “Hoop Dreams.”
  • “Gene Pingator was like a father figure...that was a big part of my childhood.” ([41:18])
• Discussion on the emotional depth and impact of “Hoop Dreams” and athlete journeys.

11. Entourage’s Impact on Athletes

• Evan resonates with the “Vincent Chase moment”—relating his NBA career struggles to Entourage’s plotlines.
  • “When I was looking for signs, like, if Vincent Chase can do it...so can I.” ([44:25])
  • “It kind of humanized what we were going through as athletes...it was okay to be yourself as opposed to be a brand.” ([45:34])

12. Eastern Conference: Who’s Coming Out?

• Jerry asks which East team Evan believes in.
  • Evan: “I'm a Celtics fan...But...I really think the 76ers, if they get it together, can make it to the Eastern Conference Finals...Maxey's on a different level, bro. Every time, he's scoring everything.” ([48:17])

Notable Quotes & Moments

On Internationalization of the NBA:

• "The world players have really caught up—caught up? Luka, Wemby, Jokic, Shai, Giannis—that's five best players in the league." – Jerry ([32:38])
• "They're beating our ass, dude." – Matt ([32:54])
• "I like to see that type of stuff…America against the world.” – Evan ([32:55])

Evan on NBA Trolling:

• "You can't argue with 22 year olds. They'll fight over cereal." ([24:29])
• "NBA is the only sport that trolls each other. In football, you could actually get hurt." – Matt ([25:47])

On Calvin Johnson’s Career:

• "How do you take a receiver like that…putting up 1700 yard seasons. No playoffs…not even in hunt." – Jerry ([08:21])

On Social Media & Player Reputation:

• "I started trolling [Klay Thompson] and everything I saw in the comments for a year." – Evan ([24:38])

On “Hoop Dreams:”

• "Gene Pingator was like a father figure up until I died. Hoop Dreams is the reason why I went [to St. Joseph's]." – Evan ([41:18])

On Entourage's Influence:

• "It humanized what we were going through…helped me understand my agent, my friend group, how to be unapologetic living my life." – Evan ([45:34])

On the East Playoff Race:

• "I really think the 76ers, if they get it together, can make it to the Eastern Conference Finals…" – Evan ([48:29])
• "Maxey's on a different level, bro. Every time, he's scoring everything. Looks like a highlight tape." ([49:24])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• NBA International Takeover: ~02:39–04:28, revisited at 32:00+
• Wasted Talent Debate: 06:09–09:39
• Evan Turner Joins: 10:28
• Recruiting Stories & Rivalries: 11:08–14:36
• USC/Notre Dame & Big Games Discussion: 13:42–19:06
• NBA Social Media Trolling / Klay Thompson: 23:16–26:44
• "All-White, Non-Euro" NBA Lineup Debate: 34:03–37:08
• Hoop Dreams & St. Joseph's roots: 41:11–43:00
• Entourage & Athlete Mentality: 44:25–45:34
• NBA East Playoff Picture: 47:55–50:47

Additional Memorable Segments

• Matt and Evan share hilarious stories of past recruiting and big game pressure—especially the inside scoop on the “Bush Push” at Notre Dame.
• Playful takes on NBA player reputations and the mental game of “trolling,” both on and off the court.
• Honest reflection on hardships—Evan relating his NBA career uncertainty to TV drama, showing the human side of athletes.
• Spirited arguments about building a “white American NBA starting five” (with nearly as much enthusiasm as Olympic roster debates).
• Shout-outs to underappreciated legends from all sports, linking nostalgia to modern dilemmas.

Overall Tone

• Energetic, unfiltered, often irreverent—intended for fans who enjoy honest stories, sharp opinions, and plenty of laughs.
• Evan Turner shines as a guest by being candid, witty, and unafraid to poke fun at himself or NBA culture.

This summary captures the essential conversations and character of the episode, providing enough detail to give a full flavor of the banter, opinions, and inside stories, even for listeners new to the show.