Timberwolves Assistant Micah Nori On What Makes Anthony Edwards and Kobe Special, Coaching Rookie Jokic and His Coaching Journey

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Timberwolves Assistant Micah Nori On What Makes Anthony Edwards and Kobe Special, Coaching Rookie Jokic and His Coaching Journey"

Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara
Episode Date: February 12, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this action-packed episode, Matt Leinart and Jerry Ferrara welcome Micah Nori, lead assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves, for an in-depth discussion about all things NBA. The conversation weaves between memorable hoops stories—like defending Kobe Bryant during his legendary 81-point game—coaching young stars such as Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic, and what truly sets apart great players. The guys also dip into recent Super Bowl aftermath, share all-time favorite dunk contest moments, and reveal behind-the-scenes tales from NBA locker rooms.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Super Bowl Recap and Locker Room Stories (00:34–15:00)

• Matt recaps the vibes and parties around Super Bowl weekend, highlighting emotional reunions with old teammates Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Bolden.

• Jerry recounts his unlikely $3,000 betting win after inadvertently parlaying a Knicks NBA props bet with a Kenneth Walker Super Bowl MVP wager.

  Notable Quote:
  “I literally won a $60 parlay to win three G's on Kenneth Walker. Falling asleep at 5:30 in the morning cuz I had the flu, bro. I had 102 fever, man.” — Jerry (10:22)

• The hosts analyze the dynamics of the game, redemption arcs like Sam Darnold’s, and speculate on the NFL’s next big “comeback kid”.

---

2. All-Time Dunk Contest Favorites & NBA All-Star Vibes (23:00–31:00)

• Matt and Jerry reminisce about their favorite individual dunks from slam dunk contests past, citing icons like Vince Carter, Jason Richardson, Zach LaVine, Aaron Gordon, and Dominique Wilkins.

• Discussion about who they’d pay to see in today’s dunk contest: Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant (in his prime), VJ Edgecombe, and Zion Williamson.

  Notable Quote:
  “Vince Carter is the greatest dunker of all time. It’s not even close.” — Matt (63:55)

---

3. Introducing Micah Nori: His Journey and Famous Sideline Quotes (31:09–34:00)

• Matt and Jerry introduce Micah Nori, discussing his NBA résumé—including coaching Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady in Toronto, Nikola Jokic in Denver, and his now legendary comedic halftime interview soundbites.

  Notable Sideline Lines from Nori, played in montage (21:41):
  “Boom goes the dynamite. There goes our lead.”
  “Our paint defense was like 7/11—open 24 hours.”

• Micah reveals these catchphrases started as a way to bring life to the otherwise mundane halftime interviews, spurred by staff dares and keeping things fun (32:34).

---

4. NBA Fight Protocols, Timberwolves Season, and West Playoff Chaos (34:03–39:51)

• Nori explains how NBA bench protocols and player safety have changed in the era of real, more intense on-court altercations.
• Talks about the Timberwolves' up-and-down season, the impact of losing Nikhil Alexander-Walker in free agency, and integrating new pickup Ayo Dosunmu.
• West seeding chaos: Nori notes the difference between simply making the playoffs and the nerve-racking prospect of the play-in tournament, especially in the loaded Western Conference.

---

5. The Anthony Edwards Effect: What Sets Him Apart (39:51–43:49)

• Micah details what makes Anthony Edwards “the real deal”—his unrivaled competitiveness, availability, and authenticity.

• Shares anecdotes about Edwards thriving on crowd taunts and big moments, directly likening his mentality to Kobe Bryant:

  Notable Quote:
  “He just is who he is... he’s a Hooper. He is literally a throwback that just loves to compete.” — Micah (40:02)

• Tells a story of Edwards turning boos to brilliance in Toronto, much like Kobe would do.

---

6. On Kobe’s 81-point Game and Coaching Perspectives (53:15–55:35)

• Nori recounts being on the Raptors’ bench during Kobe’s historic night and describes the difficult choices coaches face: “Do you want to double and let the others beat you, or do you challenge the superstar to do it himself?”

  Memorable Moment:
  “The game plan was, you know what? We're going to force it to be tough on Kobe, make him score. Well, he did.” — Micah (54:05)

• Admits to another infamous defensive performance: being on the bench when Klay Thompson scored 37 in a quarter (“So thank God you don't want to hire me as your damn defensive [coach].” 54:07)

• Reflects on Kobe as a generational competitor, ranking him #2 or #3 all-time and emphasizing his “not here to make friends” old-school edge (56:38).

---

7. Adjusting to the Modern NBA: Inside-Out to Outside-In (45:06–49:33)

• Comparing eras, Micah points to the three-point revolution and “positionless basketball” as the biggest changes since the 1990s.
• Shares stories about defending dominant big men like Shaq and the modern challenge of facing unicorns like Victor Wembanyama and floor-stretching 7-footers.
• The game’s evolution: “Basketball is obviously more fun to watch now, but you do miss some of those [inside post battles]. Now it’s essentially a three-point shooting contest and a free throw contest.” (47:42)

---

8. Challenging Superstars: Defending SGA, Jokic, and More (50:57–53:15)

• Nori breaks down different strategies to defensive assignments on elite players—alternating coverages, using analytics to exploit tendencies, and the psychological battle with basketball geniuses like Jokic and Chris Paul.

---

9. Raptors Era: Vince Carter, TMac, and Charles Oakley Stories (58:26–65:05)

• Memories of the late-90s Raptors: coaching a young Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, Oakley’s culture-setting toughness and generosity, and laugh-out-loud tales from the locker room.

• The real origin of Vince’s iconic “elbow dunk”—born from practice “no-dunking” rules.

• Butch Carter would always run the first offensive play for Oakley, just to keep him happy and invested:

  Notable Quote:
  “I don’t give a [bleep] if he catches it and punts it into the upper deck, because he’s going to get every rebound, set every screen, guard every action.” — Micah quoting Butch Carter (64:50)

---

10. The Road to Coaching: Lessons from the Bench (65:05–68:56)

• Nori reflects on his journey to (soon-to-be) NBA head coach, sharing wisdom learned from multiple head coaching interviews:
  • “It’s not about X’s and O’s; it’s about being a leader, managing personalities, keeping the locker room together, and getting guys to play hard for 82 games.”

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Anthony Edwards’ Uniqueness:
  “He just is who he is and sometimes to a fault... He is literally a throwback that just loves to compete.” — Micah Nori (40:02)
• On Kobe’s Mentality:
  “There's very few of them that have it. I do believe Anthony's one... at any given moment they're going to take over a game.” — Micah Nori (55:35)
• Reflecting on Modern NBA:
  “Basketball is obviously more fun to watch now, but you do miss some of those things... It essentially feels like it's a three-point shooting contest and a free throw contest.” — Micah Nori (47:42)
• Locker Room Culture:
  “He goes over, rips the whole old tuner amplifier out of the wall, throws it down, doesn’t say a word... Guess what? No more music.” — Micah on Charles Oakley (61:05)

---

Section Timestamps

• Super Bowl/Football Talk: 00:34–15:00
• NBA All-Star/Dunk Contest: 23:00–31:00
• Introducing Micah Nori: 31:09–34:00
• NBA Culture & Sideline Stories: 32:00–36:00
• Timberwolves Season Overview: 36:07–39:51
• Anthony Edwards Segment: 39:51–43:49
• Era Differences/Defending Superstars: 45:06–53:15
• Kobe’s 81-Point Game: 53:15–55:35
• Vince Carter & Raptors Stories: 58:26–65:05
• Coaching Journey Lessons: 65:05–68:56

---

Tone & Style

• Candid, often irreverent—true to the “throwback” spirit
• Laced with behind-the-scenes stories, humor (especially with Nori’s sideline quotes), and palpable respect for NBA history
• Blend of deep basketball insight with personality-driven storytelling

---

For Basketball (and Podcast) Fans Who Missed the Episode...

This is a must-listen episode brimming with insight into what makes great NBA players tick, how the sport has evolved, and the challenges of coaching in the modern league. Whether you love X’s and O’s, NBA lore, or just want to hear wild first-hand accounts (like what it's actually like to defend a player in the midst of an 81-point night), this episode brings energy, knowledge, and laughter in equal measure.

Transcript

[Mike Anori]

The game plan was, you know what? We're going to force it to be tough on Kobe, make him score. Well, he did.

[Jerry]

I don't care if he scores 80. Let make it tough. Well, okay.

[Mike Anori]

I was also on the bench with Sacramento when Clay got 37 in the third on, like, seven dribbles. So thank God you don't want to hire me as your damn defensive.

[Jerry]

All right, everybody, another episode of Throwbacks. If I sound a little sad, it's because football's over. But don't worry, we're gonna turn it around. We are gonna talk hoops. I get to talk hoops later.

[Mike Anori]

There we go.

[Matt]

This is the time. This is the time of the year where Jerry all of a sudden lights up like a Christmas tree. We get to talk NBA for the next four months.

[Jerry]

And we have a cool. We have a cool NBA guest. We'll talk about him in a second because he needs his own proper intro. But, Maddie, you were out there. I, unfortunately, did not make it. It was a combination of baby being born. My two older kids went down with the flu. I ended up watching the super bowl with the flu on my cell phone, under covers while sweating out a fever.

[Matt]

I mean, listen, man, excuses are like. Everybody has one. That's what they say.

[Jerry]

I didn't have my flu game in me, but how was. Dude, all in all, before they could get to the game, how were the vibes in San Fran?

[Matt]

You know what? The vibes. Well, first of all, super bowl should always be in Las Vegas. Super. Super bowl should always be in Las Vegas. I. I don't get it. I. I just. I don't understand what we're doing, trying to bounce around. And I. And I get it for the city itself, but, like, super bowl should be in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the epicenter. It is built a host. It is built. It is. It is the best. I. I will say this. San Francisco, the energy was good because San Francisco is a really unique, cool city.

[Mike Anori]

If.

[Matt]

If those of you been there, you know, if those of you haven'. You've seen pictures, like, it's a really cool city on the water and all this stuff, the history, the architecture, all that. Obviously, the city has taken it over the last handful of years to say it loosely, but I will say this. The vibes are good. I enjoyed it. You know, we walked around, the parties were fun. I saw a lot of old friends. You know how super bowl weekend is, man. It's like event to event to event, and you do this and you do that, and then by the Time the game rolls around, you want to go home. I actually went home Saturday night, but we did the throwbacks triple option pod, which was.

[Jerry]

Yeah, show was great. So it was great.

[Matt]

Saw the guys out there. So all in all it was, it was great. I always enjoyed that weekend. It should be in Vegas. It's actually in LA next year, which is great, but it should be in Vegas every year. And then just the game, you know, like, obviously happy for Sam Darnold and the Seahawks. You know, a lot of the narrative was his journey and you know how everybody wrote him off and the path of quarterbacks and we talk a lot about it on the show. It's pretty, it's pretty remarkable. The redemption story if you really think about in the history of the sport, like what five teams in eight years been thrown to the wolves, all these things. And then he ends up winning a Super bowl. And by the way, just as bald. Like he didn't have to do much in this game, obviously, but over the last two years.

[Jerry]

But he did what he needed to do.

[Matt]

Yeah, he did. I mean, and he did what he needed to do in the playoffs too. So shout out to the Seahawks your Super bowl champs. That was a dominant defense. Sam did great. Kenneth Walker was outstanding.

[Jerry]

I got a story about Kenny and.

[Matt]

And, and Drake May. Keep your head up, man. Drake May's a star. Patriots probably overachieved this year, but NFL is the best. It was a great season culmination with the Seahawks being your super bowl champs.

[Jerry]

So before I ask you a few questions about the game that I have for you, give me your, your favorite party and then your favorite run in could. And it doesn't have to be necessarily a famous person, your favorite party and your favorite run in that year.

[Mike Anori]

Good question.

[Matt]

Favorite party, favorite party.

[Jerry]

And it could be because the food was good. Like it could be a random.

[Matt]

Yeah, I mean, I didn't really eat too much at the parties. The favorite, I would say probably my DraftKings party Friday night was pretty, pretty legit. And I, I hung out with Portnoy a little bit. Running, I mean run inside. Actually, you know what the best run in I had that night, I ran into two run ins. Larry Fitzgerald. I ran into Friday night draftkings wide.

[Jerry]

Receiver, your wide receiver 1.

[Matt]

The night before he got inducted into the hall of Fame. So he made the hall of Fame, which is awesome. So I hadn't. We text but I hadn't seen him in a while. So we caught up for like 10, 15 minutes. That was pretty cool. So I got to run into him. And then. Honestly, dude, my favorite run in was Anquan Bolden. I had both, both my receivers. I hadn't seen Anquan or talk to him in 15 years for whatever reason. You know, he's quiet, kind of does something. I'm in the lobby and he's talking to TJ Hushman, Zada and I just get in and I know tj, he's la. I know, I know tj. I, I talk to him all the time because of flag football and all this kind of stuff. And I, I go up to tj, what up? And then Q goes, Matt, I go, q, what up? It was like the coolest thing, man. We caught up for a couple minutes. It was just good to see him because I always talk about. I said, it's like one of my favorite teammates of all time and one of the best pure football players I've ever seen. I hope he, I hope he gets in the hall of Fame. I don't know if he will, but, man, and then, dude, just, you know, obviously I, I saw Jamis. I saw Jamis on the red carpet at ea. That was fun. You know how it is, dude. You just run into everybody and you kind of say, what up? And then you kind of go about your way. But tons of great run ins. But seeing my old teammates was the best, I think.

[Jerry]

And you, you would be a far better judge. But as a fan of the game, watching football for almost 40 years, I think Anquan Bolden is one of the toughest I've ever seen. Because I think of this one play when someone on the jets in the end zone speared him in the face.

[Matt]

I was, I was on team. I was on that.

[Jerry]

And he broke his face, essentially.

[Matt]

He. So what? H. Yeah, I. Dude, it's. It's the crazy, like played next week.

[Jerry]

Or two weeks later or.

[Matt]

We're playing, we're playing. It was when Brett Favre was on the Jets.

[Jerry]

On the Jets.

[Matt]

We're playing in New York and Kurt throws a. It was like. It was, you know, four vertically or three by one seams. And he throws a seam and I think it was Jim Leonard that hit him. I'm almost positive. Anquan goes up and just boom. And just lays lifeless. Honestly, I'm getting chills. Think about it. Because we were like, oh, shit. Like, that's bad.

[Jerry]

It's one of the worst hits I've.

[Matt]

Ever started to think. The worst. I walk up to a man and he's like, eyes back of his head. We're all kind of there. We kind of gather around. Long story short, I. He breaks, like, his orbital bone. He breaks his jaw and other fractures.

[Mike Anori]

We.

[Matt]

I think he was supposed to miss, like, six weeks or so.

[Mike Anori]

I think his.

[Matt]

His jaw was wired shut. He played. He played two or three weeks later. We had a bottle.

[Jerry]

I was stunned.

[Matt]

Yeah, he played three weeks later when, like, this. This dude. I always say this. This is like one of the few guys in the league that now it's different. Right now all these kids, a lot of these guys could probably play both ways. But, like, back then, like, I was like, anquan is a great receiver. He could probably play outside linebacker or safety. Like, you know, he was just. He was just such a great football player. But yeah, man, we.

[Mike Anori]

Dude.

[Matt]

One of the toughest dudes I've ever met.

[Jerry]

Would have been cool to get a video of, like, the three of you all together, because someone did send me a video of, like, Jamis and Scatterboo, like, lining.

[Mike Anori]

Yeah, that was.

[Matt]

So they were on the red carpet for the EA party.

[Mike Anori]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Jamis was doing stuff with K. Adams.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Matt]

And. And Scatterboo and Jackson Dart were together. I didn't get a chance to see them, but I saw Mendoza. I mean, gosh, you know, man, you just see everybody. I talked to Mendoza for a while. He's so. He's so funny, man. You know, catch up with. Gosh, who else did you catch up with? A lot of guys, man. But.

[Jerry]

So I'm gonna give the audience my fever dream. Slash. One of the greatest bets I've ever made in my life. Now stick with me for a second and try and follow this. So I bet a lot of basketball, Right? We have a great basketball guest coming up. We're going to talk about that in a second. We're going to talk hoops for the rest of the show after we talk Super Bowl. So I like to throw in these, like, eight or nine leg parlays on props, usually involving the Knicks, but very safe, like, not long shots like Jalen Brunson, one three cat, six rebounds. So the odds aren't insane at all. So I put in a 10. I put in the 10 leg last week and I saw it was like, plus 400, I bet, I think 60 bucks to win like 300. And it hits, right. I hit all 10, but then I don't get paid. So I'm looking in the app and I'm like, why didn't I get paid? As I'm scrolling, I see 60 to win 3,000. I'm like wait, what? I from a day before had a bet slip with a Super Bowl MVP pick that I was toying with that I guess I didn't delete and somehow this Knicks 10 leg parlay attached to that. So I have this 10 leg hit and the Super Bowl MVP pick. Matt, I you not was Kenneth Walker at +800. So the whole bet in its entirety. 60 bucks to win 3,000.

[Matt]

How excited were you?

[Jerry]

Well, not at first. I was mad because I'm like oh, I had, I had this 10 leg nice little $300 victory which is hard to win bets. So I just thought it was a dead ticket. So then the game starts. Now I'm sick all week and I'm in bed with the flu. I'm watching on my phone, I see Kenneth Walker with the big first half. I doze off somewhere in the third quarter, wake up and I start seeing, oh, Myers is kicking all these field goals.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

So now I'm like in hedge mode. I'm. I'm thinking I should throw because his odds were still like plus 1200 or something. Like I should throw 100 bucks on Myers to win. These are going to be the two guys Siswa hedge. And then I thought I put a bet slip and I swear Matt, I thought I placed bet. I fell asleep again for like 10 minutes because it was fever. And then I woke up midway through the fourth quarter, never put the bed in and Kenneth Walker hits. So I literally won a $60 parlay to win three G's on Kenneth Walker.

[Matt]

Falling asleep at 5:30 in the morning.

[Jerry]

Cuz I had the flu bro. I had 102 fever, man.

[Matt]

And also that game was. That game was ter. That game was terrible anyway.

[Jerry]

Yeah, it wasn't really. That's why I wanna. First of all it's like Drake May, you had to think was still hurt. I'm not trying to excuse his play, but I will say Matt, I don't know how closely you were like if you were on the couch for the first quarter. Those first few Darnold passes were shaky as like the Pats jumped routes.

[Matt]

Well, the first pass of the game almost was a pick. They ran like that little out. They ran like a little stick route to the tight end and he caught it.

[Jerry]

But yeah, I was worried for him because they were on him and he was still. But he kept throwing it and then like I don't know, I just felt like Rabel was waiting for the Darnold mistake that just never happened. Like the Pats are playing for the Seahawks to make a mistake.

[Matt]

Listen, I. I think this was one of those games where I just.

[Mike Anori]

I.

[Matt]

For me, personally, I was telling people. And again, I didn't know what the outcome is going to be, but I was telling people. I'm like, don't overthink this game. If you're betting Seattle is a much better team, they just are like, it, like. And again, you have a dominant. You have the number one defense in all of football going up against the Patriots offense. That's like. I don't even want to say it's smoke and mirrors, but like, Like, Drake May is a star, you know, but. But they don't really have, like, they didn't scare you. You know what I mean? Like, they didn't. They didn't really have, like, stuff. Stefan Diggs isn't the player, and they.

[Jerry]

Haven'T played a good game in, like, four weeks.

[Matt]

So it's like, you know, they were kind of coming in like, Like, Like Seattle's like, I guarantee in those meetings that defensive, like, dude, we're. They're not going to score a point on us. Like, I just guarantee that. And then on top of that, you combine that with one. The Patriots defense. I was playing pretty well, but still not like, not an elite, elite defense. And you had jsn, you have Kenneth Walker, you had Sam, who's playing really well.

[Jerry]

Bonner was awesome, too.

[Matt]

Yeah, it just. It was one of those things where it was fairly lopsided. If you really dive into it. I thought that's why a lot of people are on Seattle and the spread and the number, but, like. Yeah, so, like, I thought Sam played well. I mean, he had a great, you know, great pass to Cooper cup early on the sideline. He, you know, he just did what he had to do. And they leaned on the run game, and that's all they had to do in that game. And Drake May, like, I would just say, like, whether he was hurt or not, like, their offensive line got beat up. He kind of knew that was going to happen. He's young, man. Like, they just need to, like. And Frable's outstanding, but they just need to get some. Some guys around him. Like, they need. You need to get, like, get that boy. Yeah, get a number one, you know, the running back. Like, Trayvon Henderson's a good young running back, but get that guy. A guy on the outside, you know, because again, the whole narrative after is like, well, they'll be. It's like. It's like, dude, it's hard to get back. I mean, you still got Buffalo in there. You know, these teams are going to get better. And. And the schedule obviously was, you know, was the easiest schedule in the NFL this year, so. But yeah, man, Sam. Sam did his thing and. And again, that Seattle defense was suffocating. I mean, and I just saw their. Them and the Rams are the, what, the highest odds to win it next year. I mean, think about that. The Rams. Think about that.

[Jerry]

It's like that was the Super Bowl, Matt. That was the super.

[Matt]

That was the Super Bowl. And you can just see the difference between Stafford and the coaching of an offense and the playmakers they have as opposed to like what Drake Bay and all that, you know, because I mean, Stafford lit up that Seattle defense multiple times this year.

[Jerry]

Did you see any of the Julian Love wired up st on this? So he was coming out. Yeah, he was coming off, just going. These young boys, like, they plant that back foot, but they wait that one second. He's like Stafford was planting that back.

[Matt]

Foot and he wasn't even looking. It's just.

[Mike Anori]

Yeah, it's just.

[Matt]

Yeah, but that's, that's the experience, man. I mean that's like Drake Maze as a young star, man. He's going to be a great player for a long time. He just. That just that happens with. With reps experience.

[Jerry]

You got.

[Matt]

Stafford played 18 years, dude. The dude's been doing no look passes for a decade when Drake May was still in middle school, you know.

[Jerry]

Well, I, I thought it was an A plus football season. Even though the super bowl game wasn't the greatest game, it was still was entertaining in spots. I think all in all the season was an A plus and now obviously we get to reset things. I'm hopeful for my Giants, but I'm really looking too. We talked a little bit off the air of, you know, Sam's one of the best redemption stories in the NFL we'll ever see. Right. Super bowl champion. I like that he was at Disneyland with Kenneth Walker. People giving him. They invited say, would you want to be Kenneth walk going alone or like, like he.

[Matt]

It's not like Sam. Yeah, it's not like Sam went on his own.

[Jerry]

Yeah, like, come on. Like I would love if I got invited to Disneyland. I'd be like, hey, Matt, want to come? Like, I would invite my boy. So. But I am trying to figure out who's the next kind of comeback guy. It might take a few years for it to happen, you know, because I don't think we're not going to get one of these a year. Baker sort of rebooted his stuff. Basically a lot of guys who went through the Panthers system but I mean there's some interesting names out there of guys who definitely need redemption. Daniel Jones has certainly seen like he was on his way. Like is it Kyle Murray?

[Matt]

You know what's an interesting one and I'm just thinking about this now is like they made the playoffs this year is Bryce Young.

[Jerry]

Yeah he's still.

[Matt]

I don't think, I don't think Carolina is like this super bowl contender but they did make the playoffs. But you look at kind of like he got benched this year. I mean he got bench for Andy Dalton right?

[Mike Anori]

This year. Yeah.

[Matt]

Like and then came back and led them to. And like he's been kind of this up and down for three or four years and a majority of it surrounding him has been sort of negative. You know like, like, like there just isn't a lot of positive. Like that's one that could be interesting. Yeah, I mean it's. I mean then you look at the big guys like I mean Josh Allen still hasn't won. Burrow hasn't won in a long time. Lamar like the big name guys who are always there. Herbert like now I think surrounding with some new staff and all this like it's going to be interesting. Man. That's why the NFL is the best. Because the parody is so great. This year was. Was just so weird going to the playoff because you had like you could have picked any of these teams to win it really. Right. I mean at the end of the day the number one defense prevailed. I mean that that's what happened. And a good running attack which is typically what happens Jerry in the, in the playoffs.

[Jerry]

Awesome year and I'll be sad till it comes back but I. I'm starting to get into like basketball mode. Masters coming up in April.

[Matt]

Wendy's really outdid themselves with these new biggie deals. At $4, $6 and $8 the new Biggie deals are bigger and biggier than ever. I know what you're thinking. How could the Biggie get even bigger and better?

[Jerry]

These new Biggie deals are perfect because you get to choose between the four dollar Biggie bites, the six dollar Biggie bag or the eight dollar Biggie bundle. If you're feeling something snacky, you can get the four dollar Biggie bites with the JBC and a four piece nugget.

[Matt]

Feeling something medium. Get yourself a six dollar Bigg, four piece nuggets, a small soft drink and a junior fry. If you want to go full biggie you can get the $8 Biggie bundle with your choice of two sandwiches, a small soft drink, and a junior fry.

[Jerry]

The choice is yours for a pretty Biggie Deal. Gotta be Wendy's. U.S. price of participation may vary. Single items at regular price. Prices may be higher in Alaska, California, and Hawaii. Guys, it's officially playoff season, and we know what that means. Our weekends are booked and played around kickoffs.

[Mike Anori]

What? Spot on the couch is the lucky one. And hoping your neighbors ignore the yelling.

[Matt]

When you're yelling at the tv, everybody can get it. Refs, the coach, even the quarterback. But while you're losing it and pacing during the first drive, you need something to keep you going. And Twisted Tea is the answer.

[Jerry]

And twisted tea is a refreshing hard iced tea made with real brewed tea and 5% alcohol. Which means it tastes like iced tea because it is iced tea. Just with a little kick, no carbonation.

[Mike Anori]

Super smooth, full of flavor.

[Jerry]

Flavor perfect for that stressful moment when your kicker's lining up for a 44.

[Matt]

Yarder with the season on the line.

[Mike Anori]

Too soon? Yeah.

[Jerry]

Sorry, Baltimore. It happens to all of us.

[Matt]

Twisted T keeps the good times going all postseason long. So crack one open, settle in, and remember, your team might stress you out, but your drink shouldn't.

[Mike Anori]

So grab a twisted tea today and keep the playoffs twisted.

[Jerry]

Sticking with hoops. And again, I don't know how you pulled this off, Matt. Like you're you. I know you don't want to be a guest booker by day, but some.

[Matt]

Of these, I mean, should be getting paid for guest booking.

[Jerry]

I would be down for you to get some extra money because I don't know how you got our guest today. An NBA centric coach. He is an active coach who is currently like, on his way, probably as we're recording this now, to go coach somewhere and he's scouting for someone. Do you want to take the table here? Because you know him. This is your friend. I'm curious how you guys even know each other.

[Mike Anori]

The.

[Jerry]

The.

[Matt]

The lead assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves is Mike Anori. Micah Noria is joining our throwback show. Today. I met Micah kind of long. The long story short, Finchy, who's the head coach, is great. Micah is great. There's a connection there with. With a Rod who is an owner of the T. Wolves.

[Jerry]

Yep.

[Matt]

Fox, Our producer, Bardia. Shout out to Bardia, my guy who got to know these guys through a rod, you know, being around basketball and all these kind of things. Finch and Micah have come to big noon kickoff. A handful of times over the years, whether they're on the road playing in Cleveland or whether it's Michigan, Ohio State. Like, Micah came, I believe, last year, the year before, brought his family out to Michigan, Ohio State. So, like, I just got to know these guys and I got to know Micah really well. We text on. He's just an awesome guy.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Matt]

And he's a hell of a basketball coach. So, you know, with the NBA going on football over, we got all star kind of coming up. We hit him up and just say, hey, come on, let's talk some ball. Let's talk. Let's talk. Let's talk NBA now, where they sit, obviously, they're always a perennial playoff team over the last couple of years, the gauntlet of the west and how you defend some of these players and most. He's got the. He's been coaching over 20 years.

[Jerry]

Coach Vincent, Tracy McGrady. He was with Toronto, the guys he's.

[Matt]

Coached Charles Oakley in Toronto, Vincent T. Mac. He coached Jokic for a couple of years. He's coached Anthony Edwards, obviously over the last handful of years. He is. He is. He was. He was on the Raptor staff when Kobe went for 81. And he tells that story. He's been around. He's gonna be an NBA head coach.

[Jerry]

Yeah. The Knicks interviewed him before they hired Mike Brown and famously, too, for those of you still want. Like, he remember when Finch got hit on the sideline and messed up his knee? We talked about that because Micah then was next man up. He was on the front line while Finch went to the second row. And then the best part about Mike Annori, besides his basketball acumen, is I don't know. You know, he's the assistant coach. He comes out after halftime and has to do those interviews. And he works in. What these funny. Do they come up with these funny things to say beforehand? Is that.

[Matt]

Well, I think it's. I think it. Because, you know, they get. They're so boring and so like, oh, like, yeah, we need to. We need to box out better or, hey, we need to be better on the fast break. So I. I know this for a fact because he and I have. I've done this on Big Noon. He gets together with his staff and they come up with some funny phrase to say that he has to get into a pregame or a halftime interview. And that's what makes it even better when you listen to it.

[Jerry]

Well, there's a great cut up on Twitter of. Of Mike and Nori's best ones. So let's play this Clip So you know what we're talking about. And the first one for me is the. Is my favorite thing of all time. Let's play it. Mike and Nori. Sideline interviews.

[Mike Anori]

Nothing fast. Breakpoints. Boom goes the dynamite. There goes our lead. We gotta treat Maine like you do the elf on a shelf on Christmas morning. You gotta find him. He makes everybody comfortable. He's like popcorn during Saturday night movies. Our paint defense was like 7:11 open 24 hours. Realized they had hits on like Donkey Kong the way they started out. First time all year that we're kind of on almost like a hot mess express.

[Jerry]

It's just stellar.

[Matt]

The best part is he keeps a straight face knowing that he's just being an idiot doing that with his coaches.

[Jerry]

He's asked you to work something in on Big Noon.

[Matt]

Yeah, I've gotten, I've gotten stuff in on Big Noon during a live show or even like a taped. And our, and our producer Barty will be in our ear. Hey, hey. Remember, get in Boom Boom goes to Dynamite. Like this year like I got in like the whole 6, 7 craze.

[Mike Anori]

Right.

[Matt]

So I got in a 6, 7 reference deadpan talking about whatever 6, 7 yards per game. And I, and I was just like, yeah, he's, you know, he's averaging about 6, 7 yards per game. And I did the hand gesture but dead serious into the camera. And the boys, Mark and Brady next to me look at me and they just start laughing. They're like, you got to be kidding me. Dude. The elf on the shelf was great. Yeah. So yeah, Micah, Micah's fantastic, man. And again, like I said, he's a future NBA head coach. Whether it's this cycle or the next, he's going to be, he's going to be a head coach here sooner than later.

[Jerry]

I agree. Well, we're kicking, we're kicking the Micah in a second. It is All Star weekend coming up and we thought for our Wendy's fresh take it's only fitting to stick with basketball. And we're going to do that right now. So it's our fresh take of the week presented by Wendy's. Get yourself a four dollar Biggie Bites six dollar Biggie bag or eight dollar Biggie Bundle now at Wendy's. So Matt, I thought we should just talk dunk contest because I think it's the only part of All Star weekend that I still understand what's happening and that you actually happening in the game.

[Matt]

Yeah. And that you actually tune into to at least see if it's any good.

[Jerry]

Yeah. And I think we should name a few. We could do three or just whatever calls to you. Not favorite dunk contests. Favorite dunks from any dunk contest.

[Matt]

Well, well, first I want to say when I was growing up, there were like, at this time of the year, there were two things that you would almost schedule things around, right? One was like March Madness. When you grew up, you were like, man, I gotta. If you got to miss school for March, man, I think I missed school. Like, or you got. You were home sick. Like, I just loved watching like Thursday March Madness or you would come home and watch it, right? And that still exists today for the most part. The other one was the dunk contest. Dude, cuz you and I about the same age. I mean, you grew up in, you know, like, like the, the late 80s 90s dunk contest when it was Jordan and it was Dominique and it was Spud Web. Sean Kemp came out Sean Kemp in the 90s like Jason Richardson in the night, like Kobe in the 90s. And the slam dunk contest was just a can't miss whether it was Saturday night. You didn't go. You were glued to the TV to watch the freaking slam gun slam dunk contest. So I, I do want, I say that because like, I'm not going to really say any Jordan dunk. Like Jordan, there's. There's probably a 100 better dunks than what Jordan did when you actually look at it. But like he was the trend setter. It was the aura of Jordan. It was the, it was the flying in the air, it was the gold chain, it was the tongue out. Like he is icon. He's an icon. So I guess I'll give, I'll just, just. I'll just give my top three and then. Or my three favorite ones. And then you go. If that works. 2003 Jason Richardson dunk. The lob between the legs, baseline. And then he kind of throw. Yeah, he kind of throws it in there. Like. Yeah, it was just, yeah, just. It was just ridiculous. The Zach Levine, which I'm sure we're both going to have Zach Levine. And he rivals Vince Carter's maybe the greatest dunker of all time. The 2016 free throw line for me through the legs and just like, I mean, just like with ease. And then the favorite 12000 NBA dunk contest with T Max Steve Francis was Vince Carter. And for me it was the 360 windmill dunk.

[Mike Anori]

Just.

[Matt]

And it's just like the cupping, like he's flying in the air. He's still going up as he's already doing.

[Jerry]

Turning the opposite way, though. It was crazy.

[Matt]

I got. I mean, I got goosebumps. You just watch it. You're like. And Vince Carter is like, like, six, six. Like, he's. I mean, I know he's listed six, seven, but he's not that much taller than me. He's like six, six, six, six and a half. Kind of like mj. So it just looks like they're flying through the air, man. I mean, gosh, I don't know. I could name. I mean, I left out a million of them, but I can name a hundred of them. But those to me are kind of three that I remember. Like, God damn. How did he do that?

[Jerry]

We gotta remember to ask Mike and Nori because he coached both Vince Carter and TMAC up there. What, those practices?

[Matt]

Oh, yeah.

[Jerry]

Like, because I'm sure he saw some. No, those are all. Those are all undeniably great.

[Matt]

Yeah, for sure. Before we get to your guy for your dunks, who would you pay money to see to be in the dunk contest? I imagine Anthony Edwards is one. But if you for sure get three or four guys in today's NBA right now that you want to see square off in the dunk contest, who are they?

[Jerry]

Ant for sure. Because I do think if he did it, he's so competitive. Like, he would. He was going to win. He's not going there to, like. I think if it's, like, healthy jaw. Like, I don't know how healthy jaw is these days. If you give me a job from, like, two years ago where he still has his legs and he's healthy, I'm like, all in on that dude, VJ Edgecomb. Give me VJ Edge comb on the Sixers. That dude is Looks electric. And then, like, I do want, like, just a pure gunker. Like, it. Not necessarily Mac McClung, but, I mean, I don't know who's, like, the best. Like, I loved. All right, so one of my guys. Here's what I would put in as.

[Matt]

Just, like, I mean, Zion Williamson.

[Mike Anori]

Could we.

[Matt]

I mean, could we. I mean, even Zion.

[Jerry]

Now I just imagine, like, I would worry about his safety. I would worry.

[Mike Anori]

Yeah.

[Matt]

But that aside, like, you had a dunk contest with Zion Jaw Anthony Edwards. Are you Kidding me?

[Jerry]

And V.J. edge Cove. Trust me, B.J.

[Matt]

Edge, you could throw V.J. in there. I mean, he's, you know, he's a young buck. But I'm just saying, like, oh, I'm glued. Like, I don't even know. I don't even know who's in the dunk contest this. This weekend?

[Jerry]

Well, you know, I used to love watching. He's not a big name, but he's a great dunker. And he's on my list for a moment is Derrick Jones Jr. Yeah, because he, on Miami had that dunk where he basically caught. It went through his legs dunk. And it led us to the Dwyane Wade meme. Like, he's in that outfit in Miami with the glasses, where he's. It's a. It's one of the best NBA memes of all time. That was off of the Darren dunk. So that one's up there for me. My number two, Aaron Gordon, over the mascot. But under his legs.

[Matt]

Yeah. That's ridiculous.

[Jerry]

And I know we get. We give 610 dudes a hard time. Like, oh, you're in the dunk hot. You're 6 10. How hard is it? Try being 610 and lifting your legs.

[Matt]

Well, his ability to float and, like, Hang at 610 is ridiculous. Like, he. He looks the same as someone like Zach Levine at six six, like, flying through the air. Like his. His dunk. He. I'm telling you, that dunk contest was unbelievable.

[Jerry]

And for me, I. It's Vince Carter. It's the. When he did the elbow in the hoop thing. You could say now that that's not okay. I get it. Probably 90, if not 99 of the NBA could do that, right? But we just didn't even know you could do that back then.

[Matt]

And it's not even like. It's not even creative when you look at it. But it's just. You're just. It's just like, wait. It's one of those where you go.

[Mike Anori]

Like, wait, wait, wait.

[Matt]

What happened? Oh, he put his elbow crease right like that.

[Jerry]

In the Twitter generation, not seeing that, people would have lost their mind. And I think that is. It's not the greatest dunk, but as far as iconic and also never saw that before. And that's the problem with the dunk contest now. We've seen everything. We've seen so much. It's so hard for these guys.

[Matt]

So I will say. I will say Joe MJ's where he, like, he'd roll the ball like this, and he did his little, you know, windmill like that.

[Jerry]

That.

[Matt]

Yeah, that. I mean, well, there's. That was the first time where he.

[Jerry]

Jumps up with the ball high, right? And he go. It like, reverses under the hoop, and he brings it back down. But then, like, when he stuffs it in his. His elbows like, in the. He almost did the elbow thing while wrapping underneath the hoop. It didn't really get as much hype as it.

[Matt]

I mean, Dominique. Dominique was a great dunker, too, man.

[Jerry]

Well, that's just like, power. You want to talk about the power?

[Matt]

Two hands just back all.

[Jerry]

If they had, like, you know, those punch machines that tell you how hard you punch. If they had that with, like, how hard you dunk, Dominique Wilkins would have the high score on that.

[Matt]

So we agree. We agree. Vince Carter is the greatest dunker of all time, right?

[Jerry]

I think so. But, like, it's hard to ignore lavine and Gordon, though. But I think, like, Carter in that generation, I think would have been toe to toe with lavine and Gordon. I think for sure that's like. And that's like, the greatest matchup you could have had.

[Mike Anori]

So.

[Jerry]

Shout outs to Wendy's. We're gonna. We're gonna ask coach Mike Anori about some of these guys because he coached a lot of these people that we just talked about. So let's get into. I can't believe you got an active coach during the year, Matt. Shout outs to you. You're getting extra. You're getting extra Wendy's money this week.

[Matt]

This one gets me fired up, boys. Our guest was once the captain of the Indiana Hoosiers baseball team, where he also did a stint as a hitting coach. A former statistician for the Middletown High junior varsity basketball team, he's partially responsible for Kobe Bryant's 81 point game. We're going to get into that a little bit later. He is known, maybe more importantly, for his strategic basketball insight and colorful, memorable sideline interviews. He currently serves as lead assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves and a buddy of mine, coach Mike Annori. Coach, what's up, man?

[Mike Anori]

How you doing? Thank you for having me excited, dude.

[Matt]

I'm. I don't know who's more excited, me or Jerry, because Jerry is the basketball nut on this pod. But, you know, I love you, man. I always love seeing you during the fall, and to get you on throwbacks is a real treat for us.

[Mike Anori]

No, thank you for having me. I'm excited as well.

[Jerry]

No, this was good because, like, Matt's always down the talk hoops. He's a little bit more of a playoff guy. Like, he really locks in around the playoffs, but he enjoys watching me sweat. I'm excited because for years I've been watching you and the. The sideline quotes, right? And in game quotes that we get with the minute you said we played the mashup that I'm sure you've seen floating around Twitter. We played it in our A block for our audience. The minute you went boom goes to dynamite, you stole my heart with that one. Because to me, that's one of the best moments in sports media is boom goes to dynamite.

[Mike Anori]

Yeah, for sure. I think it was. What's he doing? I think it was a kid from Ball State or something. And there was the Pacer clip with Reggie Miller and all that. And, yeah, that was a good one. And again, all that stuff started because those halftime interviews, to me, like, okay, you have a coach out there and you're sitting there like, what do you think? Oh, we need to box out more, we need to rebound more. And they just seem so very mundane, very monotonous, and very boring, for lack of a better term. So kind of came across that we were joking around one time. Coach Malone in Denver was like, you know, we used to try to get things into pregame speeches for personnel. Just try to keep guys, you know, keep them in tune and all that. And so then I was like, well, why don't we try this? And then it thing where guys started saying things we. I bet you can't say this, but you won't say this. I bet you won't. Meow. I bet you won't do that. And it was like, all right, so what? So we just tried to figure it out and, you know, have fun with it. Jerry.

[Matt]

My Micah and I have texted when I'm on Big Noon, you know, and I'll say, hey, I'm going to get this line in on live tv. And I've done it and we've sent you the clips, man. It's freaking hilarious. You know what? It keeps it. It keeps it fun and entertaining, obviously.

[Mike Anori]

Oh, yeah, you got Tom and Jerry in, remember?

[Matt]

I got Tom. That's it. That was Tom and Jerry. I was thinking. I was like, was it Wiley Coyote? It was Tom and Jerry. And we don't need to go into the history of Tom and Jerry. But, I mean, listen, a lot of news this week for the T Wolves.

[Mike Anori]

A little.

[Matt]

Little. Little scrummage happened in the game. Well, what, what. What goes through a coach's mind when you see the players just out there throwing haymakers?

[Mike Anori]

It's funny. I've evolved. I think, you know, when I first started the NBA 28 years ago, I'd be one of those ones thinking, run out there and try to break this up and all that. Now I'm the first one to turn to the bench and Say, hey guys, don't go on the floor. You have to have security, but it's a lot safer there. Let's hear. You know, we have. And now the staffs are so big and there's a lot of young guys that are all gung ho to run out there and try to break it up and all that. So. But the first thing is obviously you hope that nobody throws a punch because then you're talking number one, break a hand, all that type of thing out later. But just the. You don't want to deal with suspensions and all that type of thing. But. And I will say the ones that have been of late and you know, Nas has been in a couple of them, but the ones we had with Detroit, you look at Detroit's last night, these things are getting a little more serious. Usually you think of the basketball fights where nobody wanted to hit anybody, they're just looking for someone to stop them. Yeah, these things are getting a lot more serious. So no, you will not see me in the middle of those scrums breaking those things up for sure.

[Jerry]

Well, I remember, you know, I'm a Knicks fan, grew up in New York in the 90s and I remember watching that playoff series with the heat in 90s and it was a hotly contested battle and it was a big brawl and Knicks players left the bench and I don't think I knew that rule and that rule wasn't really enforced in a long time. And for game seven or what maybe was game five back then, I think the Knicks were down three starters. So I do remember every coach after that fight breaks out and literally the job was to hold every player on the bench. So that's why I was interesting to see Stuart escape the coaching staff onto the floor in that Detroit brawl.

[Mike Anori]

Yeah, yeah, I think that one you're talking about, Gary, was the one when Van Gundy was hanging on Alonzo's leg. Remember that? And then caught him with. Anyway, so yeah, there were some.

[Jerry]

Are you a hang on the leg guy? I feel like you would get in there if you had to or those.

[Matt]

Micah be throwing some blows in there if you could.

[Mike Anori]

And then the one I got tell on myself, we did the one year I went in out and I still was holding my clipboard, which was an awful look. And guys were like, Mikey, you can't be running out there holding your clipboard in the left hand. And so it's just. Yeah. So at the end of the day. But again, there's usually a lot more John and that type of stuff. And guys acting like they're going to do things, but who knows?

[Matt]

Well, we got All Star weekend coming up. You guys get a little bit of a break and you guys are sitting right now currently at the thick spot right behind my Lakers. Thought I'd get that in there. But how would you assess the, the squad so far this year, man? And kind of just the temperature of, of the team and, and getting ready for the rest of the, you know, the home stretch here?

[Mike Anori]

Yeah, it's been up and down. I think. You know, we started off kind of hovering right around 500 and then went on a five game win streak and then lost five games here recently before winning a like I think four in row right after that. So it's been up and down for sure. Been relatively healthy, which has been good. I think the biggest thing for us, the biggest difference this year was Nikhil Alexander Walker. He went down to Atlanta, signed down there as a free agent. And you know, just because we're up against the cap and money wise and all that really couldn't add a whole lot and was relying on some young kids. And so our bench last year I think we were fourth in the NBA in scoring. And this year at one point we were right around 26th or 27th. Had a nice pickup with the I.O. just came over from Chicago. He had 20 plus points last night. So up and down. I think the biggest thing is trying to secure and make sure that our bench is solid because last year when we go to a bench of basically was Nikhil Alexander Walker, Dante DiVincenzo, obviously former Nick and Nas Reed, sixth man of the year, you didn't lose a whole lot. And so this year bench had struggled a little bit with Dante now starting and still just relying kind of on Nas. So hopefully we get that shored up with the addition of I.O. get him incorporated and everything. Got few days almost, you know, a week, so some practices to get him caught up as far as what we're trying to do offensively and like that. So been up and down, but the west is, I tell you, it's right there. I think we were, we were fourth, we were half a game behind San Antonio when we played them recently. They beat us and then next thing you know we were seventh. So I mean it's like every day you're either wake up, we're either looking at fourth or seventh or eighth.

[Jerry]

You know, it really makes such a interesting debate amongst my friends because we always kind of debate the, the play in tournament, right? Because on one level in the east you know, it is exciting. It spices things up in the East. Let's just say that you're taking some teams that maybe don't necessarily belong in the playoffs and you're spicing up and maybe they get hot at the right time. But then when you go to the west, making the eight seed in the west before the playing is a legitimate. Accomplish a legitimate accomplishment. And I also think it's very scary for a one seed to play. Like, if you. For some reason, I, I don't think that would happen. But to, like, have to face Minnesota as like a seven or eight seed seems like a punishment for being one or two seed in the West.

[Mike Anori]

Yeah, it's a very crazy. It's a great take by you. And reason being is, like, it's all matchups, right in the West. Like, there's teams that, you know, we match up pretty well. Let's say Houston, over the years, we've matched up well with Denver. But then there's certain teams that have our number, like okc, obviously, or Whatnot and India. So. But to your point, Jerry, it's all about matchups, whether, I mean, yeah, home court is obviously nice. You'd like to have home court. But the thing is, too, you start home court and you got the first two and you lose one of those first two, it's gone. And so sometimes coming in as a, as a visitor, like we did last year in la, you steal game one, you're like, oh, shoot, now we're playing with house money, you know, on the game two or whatnot. And. But at the end of the day, you're absolutely right. The west is crazy. A lot of it has to do with matchups. And the other thing is, you see, I think that's regardless of sport, health is such a big deal. You know, when you have guys that are, that are, you know, healthy and that. And I mean, you look at it, I think no team's been affected more by their star player. Like, you look at what Philadelphia's had to deal with. Embiid and George, just those two guys being hurt and out when you're looking crossed over there. But yeah, it's a great take. I think The west playoffs, 1 through 8, is going to be very, very. Should be some exciting basketball.

[Matt]

You talk about star player. You guys have one in Anthony Edwards. I feel like you and I have talked about them before. But what, what is it about this kid that you get to see every day? What makes him so unique?

[Mike Anori]

I think the fact, Matt, that he, I mean, what you see is what you get. He doesn't change for anybody. He is a, he's a great. Not a kid anymore, but he's a great guy. You know, his great personality. Teammates obviously love him. He's. He's a lot of fun. He's not going to change for anybody. There's nothing fake. He's not worried about social medias, he's not worried about the clicks, whatever. He just is who he is and sometimes to a fault. But I tell you what, and I know you, that probably gets overused, but he's about as real as it gets. Doesn't have a whole lot of, I would say hobbies. Yeah, you see the stuff with the ping pong, that type of thing. But at the end of the day he just, he's a Hooper. He's a, he is literally a throwback that just loves to compete. I think that's his one hobby is just competing whether. Whatever it is. I mean at the end of practice, some young guys will start a one on one that we're trying and he'll jump in. Some guys are doing a shooting competition, he'll jump in. He just, he literally just love, compete, loves to play. And I think the one thing that we talk about, health, that availability, I think across all sports is a skill essentially now. And it's there. I think at one time we've been here, this is our fifth season and we were looking at it. We had played 320 some odd games and he was available for 310 of them. So he's there all the time. And he's one of those guys and there's, there's a few of them in the league where on any given night he's going to do something that you either haven't seen before, you're just going to go, wow, that was pretty, you know, especially at the level that Matt, you played at, obviously professional levels where you see guys do things, you're just like, man.

[Jerry]

So I was at the Knicks Wolves game when you guys were in New York. I was seated fortunately not that far from a rod on the sideline by your bench. Tough game. Knicks won that game. But some of the crowd where I was sitting was kind of chirping ant during the game. And I just feel like, listen, there's some players maybe you can chirp and.

[Matt]

He'S one you don't want to.

[Jerry]

But there's like some like, I'm like, why on earth would you. Not that he needed to be woken up, he was playing well. But like, why would you give him even 1% more of let me just break your hearts right now. I was already telling people I didn't know to sit down and shut up and stop talking to Ant during the game because we were close enough that he could hear. And I don't want that dude having even 1% more fire in his heart.

[Mike Anori]

Jerry, it just happened in Toronto. It was a one possession game. He shoots an airball and with about a minute and a half to go and they start jeering him or, you know, booing and this and that. He gave it the old, all right, keep coming, keep coming. Next possession, honest to goodness, next possession, RJ Barrett comes down the floor, he just strips him, goes in and dunks, puts us up one. And then he starts doing the same thing. But he's one of those guys. It reminds me of what people used to say. We, you know, Kobe, you know, we can talk about the 81, but he beat us one time in Toronto, excuse me, in la. It was a, you know, he had a turnaround jumper, last second shot. And Alvin Williams, who, you know, coached him 28 years ago, had a great comment. I said, hey, you know, we forced him into a tough shot and a very good point. He said, listen, everybody's tough shots. Not the same. Meaning Kobe's got 3,000 times. And to that point, ants like that, like all these guys, some guys aren't built for moments. They're not built for, you know, and then you look at the. And that's the thing, I think the biggest thing with, with Anthony that coach Finch always is on him about and that we have to fight and push is that, you know, he's ready for the playoffs right now. But you can't just breeze through 80 games and just kind of just play and compete and, and just pick and choose. Not that he picks and chooses, but you know, he's going to get up for the Oklahoma cities and all this. But on any given night when we're playing teams that are struggling, just bringing it and, but you know, the playoffs and you look the first playoff series we ever had with him in Memphis, I think he had 40 as a second year guy. So you're like, okay, these, these moments are obviously not too big for him at all.

[Jerry]

And you know what else? Personally got me a little annoyed at him because he went into my turf for a second. He was good in Hustle. He was like a good, he had a good performance in the movie. He was good, he acted, he performed well. I'm like, God, now you're even like good at that. That like, come on, man, what happened to lanes? Is he not supposed to go into that lane?

[Mike Anori]

Exactly, exactly.

[Matt]

Coach, you, you've. I mean it's, it's pretty cool when you look at your career, you've coached. You mentioned Kobe. You want to get into that because I believe you were on the Raptors coaching staff when you went up against Kobe in his 81 point game. But I want to ask you this because there's so much, there's so much like basketball players are fascinating to me because there's so much shit talking between guys now that have a microphone. You know, like KD is always chirping with guys online. Like it's just funny to me. And a lot of it now has become, is between these eras, right? You have the older guys who talk about the new era of basketball and saying they're soft and this and that. And then you have the new guys that say, well, these old guys can't play in this era. I mean you've coached in different eras. You've been around the game a long time. Like, what do you make of all that and what do you think the biggest difference is between, you know, 90s, early 2000s to the game that we watch today?

[Mike Anori]

Okay, good. I think the very first thing. Let's talk about the game itself. The biggest difference to me is there's two things. Number one, the three point shot. So when I first got in the league in the late 90s, teams were taking 10 to 12 threes a game. Now on any given night, I think the leading NBA team is at. Is at right around 40. And the fewest teams we just played, the Clippers, I think they're 27th in league and they're taking 28.

[Matt]

So I think the warriors took 55 the other night. I think I saw that.

[Mike Anori]

It's crazy and, but you're right. And I think in. And so the three point shot has really changed the basket, changed the game. And the other thing that's changed is, you know, the positionless basketball, if you will. But anymore there used to always be a 4 and a 5. Like to go back to Jerry's Knicks, you know, we had Charles Oakley in Toronto, but you know, Oak was a. Is your prototypical four man. And then even you look at back in the days of the spurs and there when they were rolling, they had Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Now it's kind of like there is no more four man. It's, you know, it's the stretch fours and all this type of thing. I think it reminds me A little bit, man, I'm probably wrong, but like football, to put it in your world a little bit is like, remember when they just took everybody and they moved, you know, line linebackers to defensive ends, free safeties to, you know, like just. Everybody got faster and it's just a faster game now. And the other thing is too, because back in the 90s when we first started, and I first started, excuse me, there wasn't a whole lot of offense. I mean, playoff games, like if you can remember, even the chase down block that, that Prince had against the Pacers, whatever, the score was like 84 to 82. And, and so those are some halftime scores now. So the league wanted, the league wanted more offense. The league wanted more, you know, action. And so they've changed the rules to really benefit the offense. But the three point game, the three point shot has really changed that if you ask me. Are guys, were guys tougher then? Yeah, I think it was just naturally so, because again, you had. There wasn't the freedom of movement that they force you to have now. But when you're talking Anthony Masons and Charles Oakley's and all those guys down at the four fives and setting screens and it was like everybody was in the paint. Now no one's in the paint. It's all a out game, it feels like. So those to me are the biggest differences. And comparing the eras, I think it'd be very, very difficult because just the way the games were played and they're totally different, it'd be like saying, okay, is Jim Brown the best running back or is, you know, whomever that's going now. So I think it's tough. I think basketball is obviously more fun to watch now, but you do miss some of those things now. It's just essentially feels like it's a three point shooting contest and a free throw contest.

[Matt]

I just, I just miss Shaq on the block, dude. Just like the game used to be an inside out game. Now it's just, just. It's not even outside in, it's just all outside with a lot of guys moving.

[Mike Anori]

Shaq, we were in Phoenix and this was late in his career and my two favorite Shaq stories playing against him. One time he was posting up against on the block in Phoenix, right in front of our bench. And I'm screaming, you know, it looked like he was by himself and I'm like, get Shaq. And Chris Bosh who's, you know, he was, he leans out, he's like, I got him. I'm like, okay, see him I mean, Shaq is just obviously a huge human being. And then we had and. And rest in peace, God bless him. He since passed, but we had Guy come over from Europe and playing with us, and Shaq called a play, or Phil called a play and wanted something. And Shaq Nut said no, solo solo, which means post up him. He catches on the block, he turns, he dunks, he runs back by our bench and he's like, who the F is that? You know, just typical Shaq. And I mean, you talk about a guy that you could do nothing with, and especially when early in his career as athletic and when he wanted to play. I mean, my goodness. Unreal.

[Jerry]

He has the most disrespectful dunk, I think, on Chris Dudley. Yeah, Chris throws him under the hoop. Like, all Dudley could do was just throw the ball at him. And even being a Nick fan, I was like, like, ah, I feel bad. That was just sad to watch. That was hard to watch.

[Mike Anori]

No, and. And you know, you see these guys nowadays. I mean, you know, they're all huge. I mean, Wimby is the. I guess the one thing when like, as big and he is, and you're like, holy cow. But Shaq is the one human being. When you see Shaq just. You know, the first time I ever saw Shaq in person, like, right there, you're like, my God. And then just see the way he moved and as athletic as he was, it was scary.

[Jerry]

But what was it like for you in like, the first moment is like, okay, I'm going to get a look at Wemby tonight, like, in person with an NBA jersey on.

[Matt]

You got to be like, how the fuck is someone that fast?

[Jerry]

Shaq, physically, you're right, like strength. But then he. The guy just keeps going. Like, it doesn't end.

[Mike Anori]

It's crazy. Especially like when you see. And again, you're used to these guys, these seven footers, but when your guy is seven six, as long as he is and does the things. And I mean, we all know that. I mean, he's going to be a problem for a long time in the west as he continues to get better and continues to fill out a little bit. And I mean, you just. You can't do anything with it. I mean, I remember like, on a smaller scale, obviously, but like, you look at Durant, like when Durant first got in the league, and the way he would shoot and. And Dwayne Casey, who I worked with in Toronto, always had the. I thought the best. He just said that the rim is always open to him. Meaning. So there is no tough shot for KD because you're not going to block his shot. He's 6 11, you know, he gets it, he shoots it. So. But those guys, when they're that long, that big and that skilled and then. And Wimby's pretty much all of those. I mean, I tell you, when we just beat them at our place, you know, our guys didn't. They just. He just takes up the whole paint. You can't see. So they're not, you know, you're like, aunt, go to the bucket. He's like, where do you want me to go? Down there. He just covers up everything. And it's kind of. Then you watch, like, oh, yeah. I mean, it's just. It's crazy. How do you. With. With.

[Matt]

I mean, obviously you got a long ways to go and stuff, and you're probably going to be matched up against one of these guys and SGA is another one who's. I got a little bit of a throwback, I think, because of his mid range and the way he can play. But how do you def. How do you defend guys like that? Like, like you just bodies at them or, or what do you do?

[Mike Anori]

Yeah, I think the. Probably the. The one we've played the most and the one that we've probably thrown the most at defensively is Jokic. And you kind of can go one of two ways, and I think. And he's proven to do both. It's like, how do you want to lose? You know, I mean, if that makes sense. Like, you sit there and so like, all right, yeah. Do you want to play him one on one, make him shoot twos and make him, you know, try to make him shoot tough shots and not foul him? Or do you want to double him every time he touches it? Which when you do double him, he's going to make the right play and then you're at the mercy of those guys making threes behind it or whatever. So you basically say, all right. So for Biggs, it's kind of like, do you want to double them or let him go with like an sga? It's more. So do you want to trap him, get it out of his hands? But also you try to get guys. We throw different looks at them. And that's why we were. Had success, you know, the last couple years, because Anthony Edwards can guard him as well as anybody. Jay Daniels can guard him as well as anybody. Nikhil, who's his cousin, did a good job and competed against him so we could throw different people in different bodies at him. But also it's just so much now is tendencies. And I think that's where analytics has really impacted, obviously, the three point shot, the numbers. Yes. But the other thing that you can look at now analytically is guys always go back to what they're good at, meaning if a guy wants to go left, that's where he's going to go. If a guy, you know, if a guy's going to cross over, whatever their moves may be, and you just try and just keep on showing personnel, like, try to take this away and make them have to do something else that they may not is not a strength of theirs or. I mean, they're all pretty much strengths, but they're not as good at, if you will. So it's always trying to change it up. The other thing, I think Chris Paul was the other one that, you know, thinking back, that you would have to change. Like if you just played the same coverage against Chris Paul for the whole game, he's gonna. He's gonna beat you. So you'd have to switch things up, whether it be coming out of timeouts. All right, we're gonna blitz them here. We'll play drop, we'll switch, we'll early double. Just trying to keep them off balance, especially the great ones. That's what you. You kind of have to. Obviously, when Kobe had 81, none of it worked.

[Matt]

Well, what do you. I mean, you were. What do you remember about that game? I mean, you were on the Raptors staff.

[Mike Anori]

Yes, I can say it now because it's been, you know, almost 20 years.

[Jerry]

But.

[Mike Anori]

And the reason I say that is deep down, like. And it was a regular season game. I mean, you're almost like, the game starts, it's kind of like, remember Rocky 5 when he was fighting the Russian and everybody was hating on Rocky and at the end, everybody was.

[Jerry]

The crowd turned.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Mike Anori]

So, exactly. So it was in la. They obviously cheering, but by the, like, when it got to 80, you were kind of like, oh, maybe he's going to get 100. This kind of, you know. And I know, I know Jalen Rose and those guys that were defending him and Mo Pete, they probably want to know part of it. But the game plan was kind of like what we talked about. What do you want to do? Do you want to make somebody else beat you? Like, you know what, we're going to force it to be tough on Kobe, make him score. Well, he did.

[Jerry]

I don't care if he scores 80, let make it tough. Well, okay.

[Mike Anori]

And you know what, I shouldn't say this because this probably. This is another bad reflection. Not only is was I a part of when Kobe got 81, I was also on the bench with Sacramento when Clay got 37 in the third on like seven dribbles. So thank God you don't want to hire me as you. Damn.

[Matt]

Yeah, but you're not. I mean, you're not, you're not, you're not. You're not the defensive guru. No.

[Jerry]

And damn sure bringing good offense out for both sides. You're just, you're elevating the offense on both sides. Yeah. That game I. My former co star and good buddy Kevin Connolly on Entourage, I'll never forget that day. He got invited for like, hey, you got courtside at the Lakers, like were they playing the Raptors? He passed on the game and went to go see some three hour movie at the Beverly Theater stuff and he literally skipped courtsides for the Kobe 81. And he's a massive Laker guy. I don't think I could ever live that down if I knew I could have been in the building for that.

[Mike Anori]

Well, and it's going to live forever too because I think on one of the Kobe statues outside of, you know, crypto or whatever, they've got this, they got the score sheet, the, literally the score sheet on the side of the statue there.

[Matt]

I mean just. He's my all time favorite athlete. I got his jersey right here. He signed for me. Rest in peace, man. He's. He's my favorite athlete of all time. I mean, just guy, what a treat to be able to watch him put up 80 on your team though.

[Mike Anori]

You know what's funny, Matt, you're absolutely right. And what you love about Kobe, I mean many things, but Kobe wasn't imposingly big, you know, I mean it's not like, I mean Shaq and not take anything away from those guys. Like, I mean Shaq is 7 foot, whatever. LeBron is literally 6, 8. When he was in his prime, he was 260, just, you know, so those guys. And again they're very, very steel. But Kobe, you just look. And Kobe was like a normal dude, but just unreal. Unbelievable competitor and you know, just one of those guys that like you talk about and there's very few of them that have it. I do believe Anthony's one of those guys and there's a couple of them. But at any given moment they're going to, they can take over a game. They're going to make a shot that, you know, big moments in all this year, you're never too far ahead against them. And it's. It's. He was impressive.

[Matt]

Where do you. I don't want to get into list because you're coaching all this stuff, but where do you rank him all time as far as. Because. Because I put him too behind MJ. People have LeBron, all that. Is he up there for you? You've seen a lot of great players. Yeah, Kobe.

[Jerry]

Yeah.

[Mike Anori]

I mean, Toby's. Kobe would be two or three. I mean, Michael, I mean, because I was young, would be one for me. And I think the reason why, again, not to get into it a whole lot, but I think Michael, too, is just the greatest competitor we've. That's ever been around and just, you know, in his record of finals, this and that. But. And then Kobe and LeBron to me are 2 and 3 and I mean. Yeah. And again, I think a lot of it is just like the way Kobe was like, you know, I think nowadays, I think we're all throwbacks a little bit in the sense that he didn't. He was never buddies with guys. You know what I'm saying? He wasn't worried about being buddies or friends.

[Matt]

I think I love that about him.

[Mike Anori]

Yeah. Like the Olympic Games, when he ran through his teammate Gasol, that gave me.

[Jerry]

Chills in the dock.

[Mike Anori]

Like Pat Riley back in the day. Like, you would get fined if you were on the Knicks team and help helped another opposing player up. You know, like that type of stuff, or dapping guys up before the game and still smiling and, you know, and I understand it a little bit more, but just. I mean, that the ultimate competitor and. And. And the work ethic, obviously that, you know, is unprecedented, if you will, is. Chris Bosh talks about that. He said that he was on that first Olympic team. And, you know, they talk about Kobe obviously coming back, and he's already worked out twice. But Kevin Durant said the one thing, and Jay Trano was a former head coach of the Raptors, was an assistant with them, and he said he'll never forget. They went on a. They were having a night shooting in Vegas and two guys were there. KD and Kobe were on the bus, and KD was shooting at one end and Kobe at the other. And I think KD to that point was like. I looked down and I saw the work that he was putting in, and I was just, you know, and Katie was still doing extra work, like getting his shots and all this. But watch the workout and the effort and the things that Kobe was doing and kind of changed his whole mindset of this explains a lot. So pretty cool.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

So really quick, when you talk about Oakley on the Raptors, was that all, was that Vince Carter? Tmac? That was. Right, so you were, you were there during that time period because those are also now they have a podcast, cousins, for lack of a better word. Because that's what they're on. Our very own amp network that we're a part of.

[Mike Anori]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

That must have been seeing those two guys at the same time coming in, being that young, you almost wish those are two guys you wish could have stayed together. I don't know if it would have worked because they were both big stars in their own right. But that was always a what if for me. Like, what if Vincent T. Mack found a way to like play together for 10 years?

[Mike Anori]

I'd probably still be in Toronto. Jared.

[Matt]

Well, I feel like TMAC is like one of the biggest what ifs because he's one of the greatest skilled players we've ever seen in the history of the game.

[Mike Anori]

Absolutely. He's another one of those guys. Six, eight, six nine, skilled, could handle, could defend, you know, do a lot of, a lot of things. But yeah, so my first, I'm in Toronto, I'm an intern 28 years ago, Vince's rookie year, and we trade Marcus Camby for Oak and Oak is coming to Toronto of all places, you know, obviously the place he wanted to be. And so our head Butch Carter's like, hey, Oak's pulling up, you know, and this was a lockout too. So it was the middle of winter, I can remember, in Toronto. So there's snow, there's this, and I have to go down to meet him. And Oak gets, Oak gets out. He's got a full length fur on, he's got his fedora on, and I'm like, hi, Mr. Oakley, we're here, you know, pissed off because he's in Toronto. But Oak was unbelievable, obviously for that team and changing the culture there. But Oak had some great one liners, man, and just some great things. Like, I remember we were talking to the team and so he was like, you know, T, Mac and Vince, you guys are the lead singers, but, but you know, we're the band and all that type of thing. But at the end of the day, you still gotta feed us, help us do this, do that. And Oak was great when I talk about culture, so I'll give you. I mean there's a thousand of them, but so Oak said this was before headphones nowadays, you know, and everybody on their Phones. So the music was in the locker room. And so Oak had a rule, no, no music 45 minutes before the game. And so Oak was one of those guys that would shoot last on the floor and then he'd come back in and 45 minutes, he walks in, comes back in from the floors down to 44, music's still on. He goes over and unplugs it, turns it off, said, I'm just telling y' all right now, 45 minutes, shut the music off. I'm not going to say it again. So I don't know if it. Maybe not the next home game, but maybe a week later, he comes in, the music is still on. He goes over, he rips the whole old tuner amplifier out of the wall, throws it down, doesn't say a word, and then just goes and sits down and guess what? No more music. But I'm one of those guys that, I mean, he was just.

[Matt]

Yeah. You weren't messing with him though?

[Mike Anori]

No. Yeah, just no nonsense. But like, what I love about Oak, I mean, many things and is like, like things that you don't hear about. Like. So I remember the equipment guy, the ball boy, what the lead, you know, clubhouse guy comes in and he asks, he asked me, he says, hey, do you have. I have a hundred dollar bill. Do you have five twenties? And I was like, I don't. Whatever. So he asked Oak, and then Oak was like, well, what's it for? And he said, well, I want to pay the, you know, all the help, like the other ball boys and all that, just tip them. And again, this was 25 years ago, so 20 bucks for that maybe, whatever. But. And I'll never forget, Oak was like, what's it for? And he's like, it's for the ball boys. And Oak goes, well, here. And he peeled off $400 bills, says, Here, give each guy 100 bucks, but don't tell him it's from me. And then so. And then the other thing Oak was great about, we got to the playoffs and he just said, all right, listen, here's what we're doing playoff share wise, we're going to take care of all these guys from the interns this and that. And as you can know, Matt, when you're talking about splitting that stuff up, when you got guys like that always looking out for other people, just. It's really cool. And so he. Oak is an all time favorite for sure.

[Matt]

That's awesome.

[Mike Anori]

You.

[Matt]

So when Vince Carter, you coached Vince's rookie year, was that the same year he did the dunk contest. The famous dunk contest of the first couple years.

[Mike Anori]

Yeah. So that's great. The second. It was the second year, and I. Do you guys remember the dunk he did when he. When he caught himself?

[Matt]

Yeah, he hung on a. Yeah.

[Jerry]

Mind blowing in the moment. Never saw anything like that in the moment.

[Mike Anori]

So this is. I still believe this is where this came from, because. So to your point, like practices with T. Mac and Vince. So Butch Carter, who I've known forever, love dearly. These guys, it's just like they run up and down. All they're trying to do is dunk everything. Butch puts in a no dunking rule in practice because that's all they were trying to do. So he's like, all right, no more dunking. Well, then they'd get. Vince would get breakaway, and he would go. And what he would do is he would put his whole arm in and then he would let go and then pull his arm out.

[Jerry]

Not a dunk.

[Mike Anori]

So he didn't even touch the rim.

[Matt]

Wow.

[Mike Anori]

Yeah. So then that's why he would. That's why he kind of came into. He's like, you know what? I can do this. I'll just hang on the rim. And. But Mugsy Bogues was the greatest hype man ever, and he was on that team. And he was trying to tell those guys what to do. And it was like, literally like watching a video game saying, all right, do this, try that, don't do this. And Vince, to this day is still. I mean, some. He's the best dunker there is.

[Matt]

He's the greatest dunker of all time. It's not even close.

[Mike Anori]

No, it's not close. And what was awesome, too, is because Oak loved to throw lobs. And. And Oak would lob sometimes would get away from him, but those would be the best dunks because he would literally throw one to the corner of the backboard. And Vince would jump, reach back, catch it, dunk. I mean, unbelievable.

[Jerry]

I gotta. Yeah, I gotta imagine. Go ahead. No, go ahead.

[Mike Anori]

Should run the first play of every game for Charles Oakley. All right? And Butch Carter would run it, and sometimes he'd make it. It was always a jump shot. And we had one assistant coach go, why do we always run the first play for Oak? Because, you know, we could be nothing. Nothing. I'll never forget. And, you know, we're on air. But he was like, let me tell you something. I don't give a. If he catches it and punts it into the upper deck, because he's going to get Every rebound he's going to set, every screen he's going to guard every single action. And so. And that's all Oak wanted. Give me one play.

[Matt]

He just wanted one play. So you just got it out the.

[Mike Anori]

Way at the beginning? Yes. And then we would make him the past when he just loved to throw lobs and dunks to T, Mac and Vince and all them. And it was, it was a, it was a fun but short lived. Two years with those two guys for sure.

[Jerry]

Well, that's what I was gonna say, Matt. It's probably like having a receiver like Julio Jones or Larry Fitz, just a guy you can't overthrow. Like no matter where you put this thing, I just. He's gonna get it.

[Matt]

I just saw Larry who just got in the hall of Fame. I just saw him at the super bowl and we were just catching up. And I always tell the story like there were a couple times when I was in Arizona and he was one of them. He's a perfect example. He's like, Matt, just throw it, just throw it up and I will go get it. Because he was so good and he and Larry's 6, 4 like but he was so big and his body control. Calvin Johnson is probably the great. Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson are probably two that were like you just throw within 10 yards and you know they're gonna, it didn't matter how many guys were around them. Coach, there's no doubt in my mind that you're going to be a head coach in the NBA soon. And you, you interviewed in the last couple years and all of that stuff. I'd just be curious of what you've learned about maybe yourself as a coach and what you've learned about that process. Because I think, think I, I mean it's right around the corner. It's going to happen.

[Mike Anori]

No, I appreciate that and. But I think the biggest thing, I think I've had four or five interviews for head coaching jobs now. Probably the one that, you know, was the most involved was the Knicks. And I think what, what you learn throughout all this time in the NBA is I used to think it was about X's and O's. You know, how can I, you know, can we get this guy a shot? How can we get this guy a bucket? And then you think, okay, how can we mess up that, that end of game as far as defensively different types of things. And, and it really is about being a leader as far as you know of and getting guys to play. Not only that, but then inhaling the locker room so it's not X's and O's, it's more about personalities. And I think when you look back at the guys that have done it at a high, high level and yes, they've had very, very good players, but like the Phil Jacksons and those type of guys that, that have. And even Steve Kerr, you know, Steve came right out of the, the TV booth and you know, and he had the skill with the players that he had, but just it's more about managing egos, getting guys to play and different than football because football, I think, you know, was 16, 17 regular season games. If you lose one football game, that's a five game losing streak in the NBA. So, so guys are usually, I would assume, ready to go, ready to play. Same thing in college now. It's almost like every game's a playoff game. But, and, and that's what we fight even now. Like how in NBA basketball when you know that you're going to be a playoff team, as you know, we assume that we would be. But how do you get guys to play for 82 straight games and play hard to compete? And then the other thing that you find as a head coach and the way that everything is now is probably a lot like college as well. But it's just, you're almost like a CEO of all of it and you're just. So much of it is managing people and guys have lives outside of basketball and that affects them and just everything there and keeping guys rested, keeping guys healthy. So there's so much more. When I was naive enough to think that, oh, it's just X's and O's, you know, I'm just going to play, call or try to outmaneuver people from that side of the ball. And that's. And that's not it. So I think a lot of it is that. And combinations is the biggest thing. Combinations of players on the floor like rotations and how do you get guys to work together? And I think that that's really helped me in Minnesota because, because the first year we had Carl, Anthony Towns and Nas Reed, and then the next years we had Rudy, who was more of a low block, pick and roll guy with Carl. And then all of a sudden you add Julius Randle. So how do you make all these different people and players mesh together with their talents and with the group that you have and keep everybody, I'll never say happy because no one's ever fully happy, but how do you keep them engaged and, and playing hard? So it's been a great Process, hopefully, like, you say one of these, you know, you break through. Like I told Joe Ingles, who's one of my favorite people on the show, I sound like Australia. I can get on the podium. I just get the gold medal, right?

[Matt]

No, you're gonna get that opportunity, man. There's no doubt. Angles are hilarious, man.

[Mike Anori]

Oh, he's great.

[Jerry]

Yeah. I was like, what must have been going through your mind? I. I still. Like I said, I've been watching basketball since 19. The Trent Tucker game was like, my first game. I watched, watched where I kind of knew what was going on. I was almost a Bulls fan because I'm, like, looking at Jordan going, this guy's great, but I should root for the Knicks because I'm from New York. And then Trent Tucker hits that shot, and I'm like, I'm a Knicks fan, but I've never seen the. The in the finish injury situation. Like, I've never seen a coach get hurt during a game at such an important, crucial time in the season. Yeah, I mean, I'm sure. I don't think you've probably seen that in all your coaching time. So you're.

[Matt]

Yeah. What goes through your head when that happens?

[Jerry]

Like, no.

[Mike Anori]

Well, the first thing, it's funny. Like, it happened. Not funny, obviously.

[Jerry]

No, but it's crazy, though. Yeah.

[Mike Anori]

He goes down and we're like, oh, crap, is he all right? And, you know, then you're worried about Mike Conley, who ran him his heel. Right. Playoff game. And then you're like, all right. And then next thing you know, he's like, he feels down. I never forget because he said he. He knew he did something because he. When he. When he put his hand on his knee where he thought his kneecap should be, it was gone.

[Jerry]

I mean, it wasn't even like, oh, I sprained my kneecap, had a.

[Mike Anori]

Floated all the. And so. And then you're like, obviously. I mean, not only is. Is he my boss, but he's a good friend of mine. And then you're worried about the next thing you know, he's leaving. Like, okay. And then people like, oh, I gotta.

[Jerry]

I gotta spotlight.

[Mike Anori]

Yeah. And so. But it was crazy. I think, in all honesty, it worked out well because that was the closeout game against Phoenix.

[Jerry]

Right.

[Mike Anori]

And so then we had about four or five days before we went and played Denver. I think it would have been more difficult if. If that would have been, let's say, game two or three in the middle of that. And then the games are coming that much quicker. So we had A chance to. To catch our breath, if you will. And I had a chance to catch my breath and really say, okay, this is what, you know, this is kind of what this is and that type of thing. So it was very, very strange. And. Yeah, not that.

[Matt]

Wasn't he sitting? What? He was sitting. Was he sitting second row on like a high chair or something? I remember watching him.

[Jerry]

Yeah, he was sitting.

[Mike Anori]

He was sitting second row and had his leg out. And then I always joke with him, like if he was saying I just stand closer to mid court, I tell.

[Jerry]

Him so it couldn't get to you.

[Mike Anori]

Act like I hear him. But it was. No, it was. It was great. It was kind of like head coaching with training wheels, you know, because he was great. He said, I don't want it to be clunky. So coach the game like you're the head coach. If there's something I see or want or whatever, then, you know, I will make sure that you get that in. So he was still very, very involved, obviously. And. But it was just very, very strange. And with the. And like he said, he's like, what more do I got to do to get you a head job? My God. So I faked an injury for you.

[Jerry]

I faked it. My knee is fine. This was all for you.

[Matt]

I'll tell you what, he's. He's gonna be sad when you leave him, though. That's for sure. It won't some point he's going to be bonded.

[Mike Anori]

He'll be sad. But I think, yeah, but he. But you know, he's. He's always giving me because he's like, you know, my God. I mean, there's always something. He's like Micah, you know, I just overbearing, probably a little bit too much at times. But that's all right. It's all good, you know, because we all close.

[Matt]

I told Jerry just as I've gotten to know you guys over the last couple years with football and you know, just seeing you guys on the road, I was like, man, Micah and Finch, you're awesome, man.

[Mike Anori]

Just.

[Matt]

Just two great dudes, but two great coaches. Coach, we're gonna wrap, man. We appreciate you. I know you're mid season, taking the time. Good luck to. Good luck to your squad the rest of the year. And I know, I know we gained a fan of the T Wolves with Jerry here, even though he's a die hard Knicks fan.

[Jerry]

No, that's my West coast team.

[Mike Anori]

Yeah, 80 games a year. Cheer for the Timberwolves. The two we play new York.

[Jerry]

Listen I, I, I, I could have told you you're not going to be able to keep Divincenzo on the bench. He always ends up a starter. That's my TO and I, I love Randall. Like Randall came to the Knicks at a time where no one wanted to come to New York and he dragged him to a four seed in his first year with not the most skilled team. So I love those dudes, what they did for the Knicks. So I root hard for them. And also I will say that season with the injury like the, the cr. The most impressed I think I've been in the last 10 years when I've seen a team lock in was I think one of the games versus the Nuggets when I felt like the Nuggets couldn't even get the ball across half court against you. It was like an ass kicking that I have not seen. So like from that moment I'm like, this team is must watch because if they go to that level they, they could do anything. So I've always enjoyed watching the Wolves and I'm going to continue as literally my 6 year old son, I hear is out there shooting and he's still trying to understand why the Knicks traded Yabaselli for Alvarado. I have a basketball nerd coach. I got a basketball nerd.

[Mike Anori]

I love it. I just wish that last year we could have got the matchup for you, Jerry of New York and Minnesota finals instead of Indiana okc. You'd have been, you know, you wouldn't have been torn, but it would have.

[Matt]

Been, he would have been, he would have been courtside at the Garden, that's for sure. Jerry's got the court.

[Jerry]

I will, I will always have tons of love. Every Knicks fan, I think has massive love and respect for Divincenzo and Randall. Massive. Like that goes on for and, and they've showed up in Minnesota too. Those guys have been great.

[Mike Anori]

Oh, they've been, they've been phenomenal. Yeah, for sure.

[Jerry]

Matt, buddy, I gotta thank you for that one.

[Matt]

You know, how great is he, man?

[Jerry]

He's awesome. And you know how much I love talking hoops because now I'll be fully locked in. And I still can't believe you got a current active coach who took a break to talk.

[Matt]

It's basketball, it's, it's basketball season, man. We just, we just transition here at throwbacks from football to hoops.

[Jerry]

You know, we talked a lot of dunk contests so we're on the way out here. But the three point contest is still a lot of Fun one still gives us a lot of joy. I'm looking here at the contestants and the odds. Should we make some. Some picks here? Do you need the names or you got them in front of you?

[Matt]

I got the names. You just tell me the odds. I mean, I'm already going with my boy.

[Jerry]

So we got Con Knipple and Damian Lillard as of right now. Plus 400. Jamal Murray plus 450. Norman Powell plus 500. Donovan Mitchell plus 600. Tyres Maxi plus 650. Devin Booker plus 750. And Bobby Portis, folks, he's been all over the place. I've seen 850. I've seen 1700. So he is the clear long shot. If you are venturing a bet, who you betting on?

[Matt]

Well, I'm looking right now. Bobby Portis is hitting 46% from 3 this year.

[Jerry]

I mean, doesn't take a whole lot of them, but he's hitting threes. He's hitting threes.

[Mike Anori]

I mean, I'm probably.

[Matt]

Listen, I'm not going to over what's con Canymple's at what? Plus 400.

[Jerry]

Plus 400. That's the favorite.

[Matt]

The Donovan Mitchell at plus 600. 650 is pretty enticing to me because he's. I'm gonna, I'm just going. I'm not going to overthink it. I'm going to go with great white hype con canyba plus 400 to win this as a rookie and to set the stage for years to come.

[Jerry]

I do think it could be his time.

[Matt]

I mean, he's shooting 43%.

[Jerry]

He's a dog.

[Matt]

I mean, Luke Canard, my. My Laker now is at almost 50 from 3.

[Mike Anori]

Dude.

[Matt]

That'S like me on a Tuesday night at the Bay Club.

[Jerry]

You know, I, as much as I would love to sprinkle some dough on Devin Booker, plus 750 and maybe he could win it. He's just a scorer. I don't know. I'm not just. I mean, he's a great scorer. I guess for my money I'd go Jamal Murray plus 450.

[Matt]

He's like right outside the top. He's hitting 43.

[Jerry]

So yeah, I think I'd go Jamal Murray if he catches fire.

[Matt]

All right, so I canipple plus I got Murray. You put that back.

[Mike Anori]

We.

[Jerry]

We'll get back to you on the dunk content. Matt loves Jackson Hayes, man.

[Matt]

Dude, I couldn't even. I mean, what are we doing here, dude?

[Jerry]

What are we doing?

[Matt]

Protest the dunk contest till we get our stars back in it.

[Jerry]

Hey, I know what we're doing. We're taking the week off, and we're coming right back to you. So we will see you guys next week. Love you, football.