Turtle’s Jerseys in 2025, NFL’ers at the Olympics & Luke Walton Talking All Things Hoops!

Summary

Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara: Episode Summary

Title: Turtle’s Jerseys in 2025, NFL’ers at the Olympics & Luke Walton Talking All Things Hoops!

Release Date: May 22, 2025

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Introduction and Guest Welcome

The episode opens with hosts Matt Leinart and Jerry Ferrara welcoming their special guest, Luke Walton. Jerry enthusiastically introduces Luke, highlighting his reluctance to appear on shows and expressing excitement about his participation.

Notable Quote:

• [00:46] Jerry Ferrara: "Listen, we got a lot to get to today."

Luke Walton's Coaching Journey

Luke Walton delves into his extensive coaching career, discussing his transitions from player to coach. He reflects on his time with the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and currently the Detroit Pistons. Luke emphasizes the growth and leadership of young stars like Cade Cunningham, showcasing his passion for developing talent and building cohesive teams.

Notable Quotes:

• [02:20] Luke Walton: "He has no problem calling people out if, you know, people are complaining or bitching or whatnot."
• [34:05] Matt Leinart: "It was one of the most fun coaching years I've had."

Rec League Adventures

Matt and Luke share humorous and competitive anecdotes from their experiences in recreational leagues. They discuss the challenges of playing against former beach volleyball athletes, highlighting the differences in athleticism and strategy. Their stories underscore their competitive nature and the camaraderie they build through sports.

Notable Quotes:

• [26:04] Matt Leinart: "We won, we won a hard-fought title together."
• [29:51] Luke Walton: "They have two right hands. I'm like, dude, you're not playing."

Viral 'Turtle Scatter Boo' Picture

The hosts explore the viral image featuring Turtle from "Entourage" alongside Cam Scatter Boo. They discuss Turtle's influence on pop culture and sports fashion, speculating on his potential jersey choices and the impact of such viral moments on fan engagement.

Notable Quotes:

• [12:15] Luke Walton: "Cam Scatter Boo moved to New York and immediately turned into Turtle from Entourage."
• [14:05] Jerry Ferrara: "Cam Scatter Boo is one of the great dudes."

NFL and Olympic Flag Football

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the NFL's decision to allow players to compete in the 2028 Olympics on the flag football team. Matt and Luke analyze the implications for athletes, the evolution of flag football as a competitive sport, and brainstorm potential dream teams, considering current NFL stars and their suitability for the Olympic stage.

Notable Quotes:

• [16:10] Luke Walton: "Flag football is just absolutely booming now."
• [19:04] Matt Leinart: "I just see them being too much for the other teams."

Performance and Team Strategy

Luke and Matt provide an in-depth analysis of the Detroit Pistons' performance, focusing on their young roster and the leadership of Cade Cunningham. They discuss the team's depth, collective spirit, and the importance of experience gained from facing tough opponents, projecting a strong future in the NBA playoffs.

Notable Quotes:

• [35:32] Matt Leinart: "We come together as a team. That's what we had here in Detroit this year."
• [37:27] Jerry Ferrara: "The Pistons are going to know exactly where they need to be mentally, emotionally, physically."

Personal Anecdotes and Family Insights

The conversation shifts to personal stories, including Matt's son Lawson's burgeoning passion for basketball and Jerry's nephew's enthusiasm for the Knicks. They discuss the influence of parental involvement on their children's sports interests, highlighting the joy and challenges of fostering young athletes.

Notable Quotes:

• [38:48] Matt Leinart: "My 10-year-old son Lawson is so hooked on basketball."
• [40:50] Matt Leinart: "He's a die-hard Pistons fan right now."

Throwback Stories and NBA Experiences

Matt shares nostalgic memories of playing basketball with his father, Larry Bird, and recounts valuable coaching experiences with NBA veterans. The hosts emphasize the importance of mentorship, teamwork, and the lasting impact of these relationships on their careers and personal growth.

Notable Quotes:

• [53:09] Matt Leinart: "We played two-on-two in the backyard, and Larry would talk trash."
• [54:50] Matt Leinart: "We're bringing heart and soul, brother."

Emerging Players and Future Stars

The hosts examine emerging talents in the NBA and their potential roles in the upcoming Olympic flag football teams. They highlight players like Travis Hunter and Jaden Daniels, debating their strengths and suitability for international competition, and envisioning how these athletes could shape the future of the sport.

Notable Quotes:

• [18:04] Luke Walton: "Jaden Daniels, someone obviously that can just..."
• [21:05] Jerry Ferrara: "The strategy is going to be crazy because they do flag football for the Pro Bowl now."

Closing Remarks and Future Plans

As the episode concludes, Matt, Jerry, and Luke reflect on their shared passion for sports and camaraderie. They tease future episodes, express excitement about upcoming playoff games, and reaffirm their commitment to bringing heart and soul to every discussion. The hosts leave listeners with a sense of anticipation for what's to come.

Notable Quotes:

• [57:33] Luke Walton: "Do you have a prediction like who do you think's gonna win or who's the toughest team?"
• [58:29] Jerry Ferrara: "I'm coming out for that. I'm coming out to Manhattan Beach."

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This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting key discussions, personal stories, and notable quotes with timestamps. It provides a clear and engaging overview for listeners who haven't tuned in, ensuring they grasp the main points and the dynamic interactions between the hosts and their guest.

Transcript

[Jerry Ferrara]

Does Matt ever see the sand?

[Matt Leinart]

Matt's a winner. We let Matt serve when it's a big point. And Matt gives great speeches during the timeouts. I can tell you one thing, we're bringing heart and soul, brother.

[Luke Walton]

I'll punch somebody in the face out there.

[Jerry Ferrara]

All right, welcome to another episode of Throwbacks. Please give us a follow on social at Throwback show. Don't forget to subscribe on the YouTube. We love that. Give us some likes comment, all that good stuff. Matt, Maddie liner.

[Luke Walton]

What up, baby?

[Jerry Ferrara]

Listen, we got a lot to get to today.

[Luke Walton]

God, we do. There's so much going on right now.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You came through with a guest today, and I'm gonna tell you why. Someone like who we have on the show today is a favorite guest, whether on our show or anyone's show. We have Luke Walton joining us, who is a good friend of yours. Why I'm excited to talk to Luke today and why I'd be excited to see him on any shows, because Luke doesn't do shows. He doesn't do podcasts, doesn't do YouTube shows. Like, he doesn't do it.

[Luke Walton]

There's a lot. There's like, I'll reach out to a lot of people, and I don't really care. With Luke, I was like, buddy, I love you. Can you come on? Like, I just, I was like, and I know you don't. And if you say no, I won't care, but he goes for you, I'll do it. I was like, awesome. And I think people, people need to listen to this because one, he's currently coached for the Pistons. He, you know, he talks. He's going to talk. He talks Knicks and his thoughts on who he thinks is going to win the NBA championship. But he and I had the greatest 2013 of all time. And you have to tune in to listen. Why? Because it was absolutely fire.

[Jerry Ferrara]

And let's say you guys, you guys were ring chasing. We'll just say that you were also ring chasing during.

[Luke Walton]

We were doing a lot of things, and that was one of them. Yes.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Well, we got. Yeah, he's going to be awesome. I, you know, when you texted me that, I was like, you know, obviously I loved watching him play. And then I just had to watch him coach the Pistons against the Knicks, which I sweated every one of those games out. And I was really thinking, you really don't see. Outside of coaching, you don't see Luke Walton anywhere. And he's had such an amazing career, both as a player and now a coach. So it's a Great get.

[Luke Walton]

It's a great think about like he, he think about like when you actually think about his path. Like, he obviously was a great role player for the Lakers for a long time. Like one NBA rings, then coaching, right? So he coached, he played for Phil. He coached with Steve Kerr and the warriors on some of those great teams. He then got a head coach. He coached. So he coached Steph, he coached LeBron as a head coach for the Lakers. He coached a young Sacramento Kings team that was really fun to watch at the time. Then he went back to the Cavs and now he's with the Pistons coach Cade Cunningham, which is a future superstar in this league. Tons of wisdom, tons of knowledge, a great dude. And yeah, man, it's a great interview for everybody. Like, like, stick around. It's, it's fun to listen to him because like you said, he doesn't, he doesn't really do it. He's very just kind of to himself, quiet, just kind of hangs, you know, so it's fun to, it's fun to see him.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So before we get to Luke Walton, I gotta know. I mean, we texted a little bit, but I wanted to save it for the show. How was your. Not your first, but something you don't do often. You played in Patrick Mahomes's golf tournament in Vegas. How did it go, bro?

[Luke Walton]

The golf gods are calling me. Ever since I met you, I didn't really like you. Like, I actually. So I'm gonna, I'm gonna name, I'm just gonna name drop right now.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Drop the mic. Do it. No, no.

[Luke Walton]

Well, Justin Thomas. So Justin Thomas, friend of the show. Like, and I, I, I put out that story on Instagram of my swing, which, by the way, I don't have a good. The problem with me is my back is tight. Like, I don't have a lot of like, movement, but I can't hit.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Okay.

[Luke Walton]

But I, I, I was messaging with him because he had commented and I was like, I was like, dude, Jerry is. I'm starting to get a little bit of the bug. A little bit. It's, it's, it's a little bit because now, like, you know, as you always said, like these golf event, I've done them before. Like, they're fun, they're exciting. So I had a blast, man. My homes does a great job. First class everything, little pairings, party. I hung out with my boy Manziel.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Who'S also, yeah, by the way, he's.

[Luke Walton]

Just like, love Johnny. We caught up a lot. By the way, the, like, I Had a, it was me, Johnny and, and Patch and Mahomes dad, who, by the way, we were talking baseball for like an hour and a half. It was awesome conversation. Shout out to Mr. Mahomes, man. He was fun to talk to. And then the gala was Thursday night and the gala was super cool. I ran into Kelsey, talked to him for a bit. Whitworth, I sat with Danny Amendola. Just, just a who's who. Very obviously, as you can imagine. Great job. Mahomes and his wife too. Such like, amazing things in the community and all the charities they work with. And then golf last week, man, I actually, I actually will say this.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Like, how'd you hit him?

[Luke Walton]

I, I, it's scramble, right? Yeah, but like, I hit the ball way better than I thought. Like, like, I putted. We had, you know, we have a caddy in those things. So my putting was like, I, I was six inches within the hole on everywhere we were.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You know, where they have you in the putting order. Were you putting first? I'm always. Where were you?

[Luke Walton]

I either just kick it off or, or I'll go second because I don't like, I'm, I'm never the best one. So guys, I'll give you guys the line. Right? But I was putting really, really well. I made a, I made like a 15 foot birdie putt, like, just to kick off on one hole. Like, let's go. But dude, it's just like, it was fun, man. It was fun. Like, I can, I, I can, I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Listen, if you would have told me with this show, we were going to get Dodgers, Yankees, World Series, okay, Now we're gonna get the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. And now I got Maddie Liner starting to get the golf bug. Everything with this show I could have ever wanted is slowly, by the way, to happen.

[Luke Walton]

I haven't told my wife that yet either, so we'll see how that flies.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I think it's good that Josie's cool. She's gonna, I think she's gonna be happy you get out there. No, I think it's gonna be great until, unless you turn into me, then you might start having.

[Luke Walton]

I don't have problems. My goal is, and I'm curious of like, like, like you, you play a lot more golf than I do and you got little kids too, but you play a lot more golf. Like, like, my goal is to play like two, like to get to two to three times a month. Yeah. Which by the way, is still like, you're playing once a week, which is. Which is all I can really do anyway. So I. I want to play more and more in these types of tournaments. I want to get there. I want. I. I want to go to the range. Like, I'm gonna go to the range next week. I'm gonna go to the range once or twice by the house, and just. I just want to hit. Because the problem is, is I haven't, Like, I don't know my clubs right? Like, I've had nice gears, but, like, I need to start to know my clubs and distances because I'm out there, I'm, like, thinking, like, oh, this is 180. Like, I don't know, like, should I hit my six iron? Like, I mean, I have a general idea, but, like, I want to get. I. I need to get better.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I. I do have to say this is airing on Thursday, so you're seeing a much calmer version of me because Knicks Pacers, game one has not tipped off. By the time this airs, Knicks will either be up or down 1 0. But let me just tell you, man, first of all, I got. I got media members who I know. My guy, Chris Mannings, all these guys, like, hey, let's do a. A bet now. Yeah, you and I did, like, a Dodgers, Yankees bed.

[Luke Walton]

I want to do a bet with you.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I will, I will. Listen, you want to do a bet with the Yankees or the Giants or the Rangers? Sure. I have enough to worry about. Like, Mannix is like, you got to wear a red sock jersey. I'm like, no, if the Knicks lose, that's the worst punishment I could possibly get. Trust me. Let me ask you a Red Sox jersey, too.

[Luke Walton]

Let me ask you a question. Are you losing sleep at night thinking about the Knicks, whether win or lose? Like, like, like, I. And I want to say this when I coach Cole's teams, and, like, we're playing in the playoffs, like, and, like, you'll get this when your boys get a little older and they're playing like, you start to lose sleep because you're thinking about the thing, or do you lose sleep knowing the Knicks have a shot, I mean, a real shot to win an NBA championship this year. You losing sleep after these games?

[Jerry Ferrara]

I'll tell you what I am. I am losing sleep after every game because, number one, if they lose, right? If they lose, that means, like, okay, well, I guess I can't listen to any podcast tomorrow, turn on espn, look at Twitter. Like, I just. Because I don't want to see it. So that bugs me when they Win. And I'm like, solo. My kids are already asleep half the time. Like, I'm. I'm just on Twitter, as you've seen. I am. I am just yelling at every. Because, like, here's.

[Luke Walton]

I've seen a lot of trolls on Twitter, and you are one of the biggest trolls.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Because I've been getting trolled. I've been getting trolled. My whole basketball fandom, like, it's all been one big troll. You guys.

[Luke Walton]

You guys have sucked for, like 30 years.

[Jerry Ferrara]

And that's why, like, even arguing with these Celtic fans, here's. Here's a sports term that needs to be retired. I don't want to ever hear it again. It's stupid. Oh, why don't you hang a banner? Why don't you hang a second round banner? Because you beat the Celtics, like, buddy. So what you're saying is I shouldn't celebrate that every single person picked the Celtics to beat the Knicks in five, six games? I shouldn't be celebrating? You don't think 7th Avenue is going to be ripping out the telephone poles, going nuts, like, just stop. Hang a banner. Yeah, I'm not hanging a banner because it's not a championship. But that's a dumb term. And you're not. You're not taking this away from me, the joy, because I've suffered. I was there. No, this is no disrespect. I was there for Emmanuel Moody. I was there for Chris Dooha, Frank Nilakina, and these are all players that I thought were going to change the franchise. Chris Copeland, you've been.

[Luke Walton]

You've been let down your whole life. Yeah. I mean, let's just face it.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You've been like, retire that term. Hang a banner.

[Luke Walton]

Will you go. I know we talked about this last time. Is there.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Oh, my God. I just got a huge email. Matt, I just got a huge email.

[Luke Walton]

You got invited to a game.

[Jerry Ferrara]

It looks like I'm gonna be in the building for game two. Hold on to your hat, bro. Holy.

[Luke Walton]

So what you're trying to say is you just got courtside game, too? Hell yeah. You're going.

[Jerry Ferrara]

What I'm trying to say is I am literally plane ticket right now.

[Luke Walton]

I just got goosebumps for you. Look at you, dude. You're like a. You're like a five year old on Christmas morning.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I don't think people. I. I try to tell people too, with like, the Knicks courtside stuff.

[Luke Walton]

Wait, what are you wearing, dude? What are you wearing?

[Jerry Ferrara]

I haven't even begun to think about.

[Luke Walton]

You're wearing.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You.

[Luke Walton]

You Might have. Bust out those shoes that are right behind you with your Knick starter jacket, your Knicks jersey, and your Knicks.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I'm aware of the Fuki. These things have never touched the floor.

[Luke Walton]

Matty. No, I don't. I don't want you to wear those. Well, I don't want you to spill popcorn on that shit.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I. I will just be locked in, and the series is gonna be tough, and we're gonna talk to Walton about it, too. But I just. If you want to make a bet with me about the Yankee. Sure. Because it's been nothing but great Giants. I have a bet with Colt Nose. Like, we bet.

[Luke Walton]

No, I. I want the. I was just thinking, if the Knicks win this in the championship, you get. You're like. You'll shave your head.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You know, the Knicks win the championship. I would maybe get Knicks tatted for sure somewhere on my body. And I have zero tats.

[Luke Walton]

There you go.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I come from a place where everyone's tatted by 30.

[Luke Walton]

Can we confirm that? Can we confirm that?

[Jerry Ferrara]

We could.

[Luke Walton]

If the Knicks win a championship, will you get a Knicks tattoo? Please? Right now.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Too much is happening. Right now, too much is Bri.

[Luke Walton]

Would Bree approve? I just got amped for you.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Listen.

[Luke Walton]

Wow.

[Jerry Ferrara]

She would probably disapprove, but like I said, no one's taking this. Joy. That being said, right now, as you're listening to this, the knicks could be down.01. Like, I. Yeah. This series.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah. Yeah. Let's not jinx this, dude. Let's lock it. We gotta lock in.

[Jerry Ferrara]

But Giants. I mean, did you see. I know. You saw, right? I got so fired up at the draft when they drafted Cam Scatter Boo. This one. I don't know what even is viral. I don't even know what's viral anymore.

[Luke Walton]

Well, I'll tell you what's viral. Let's put up the picture.

[Matt Leinart]

Hold on.

[Luke Walton]

We got. I know we got a picture. So that's. So that picture went viral, right? So. So that's a picture of. Of. I think that's Isaac, too. So I know Isaac and Cam Scatter Boo in a Michael Strahan jersey. Is that a recent. Is that recent? Right? That's after he got drafted.

[Jerry Ferrara]

This is like.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, of course.

[Jerry Ferrara]

He's definitely not wearing that.

[Luke Walton]

I don't know.

[Jerry Ferrara]

He was a Giants fan before he got drafted.

[Luke Walton]

The cat, Cam Scatter Boo moved to New York and immediately turned into Turtle from Entourage, and that went off. And now let's post the next picture because we have.

[Matt Leinart]

Look.

[Luke Walton]

I mean, dude, look at that.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Allen Houston jersey.

[Luke Walton]

But I just want to say this about you really quick. I mean, we've seen some glow ups in this world when we've seen some glow ups. And by the way, that Turtle picture. Turtles a beast, bro. Like, look at that. That's just swag city. Just don't give a about anything.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Don't give.

[Luke Walton]

Except the Knicks, but, man, you were about three bills at some point.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You get a 56.

[Luke Walton]

Your glow up now. Five six. What are you, buck 80 in that picture? Wait, now, right now? 160. 160. 160.

[Jerry Ferrara]

That picture. I'm like 208.

[Luke Walton]

No double chin, like, you know, jawline.

[Jerry Ferrara]

But most importantly, Maddie ice. I'm rocking an Allen Houston jersey in 2008.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, but those. But those were good Knicks teams, though. That was.

[Jerry Ferrara]

It was the last time. The last time they made the. The conference finals was the Spreewell Allen Houston beating the Knicks, the Heat in game five. Patrick Ewing got hurt. Marcus Camby balled out. That was like the last time we ever tasted this.

[Luke Walton]

Marcus Camby. Do you think that when that picture was put out on X, do you think Cam Scatter Boo knew who Turtle was from Entourage?

[Jerry Ferrara]

So I actually don't.

[Luke Walton]

There it is. Look at the side by side. That shit's got to go up, by the way. Is that real Heights I scattered. Can't be more than five.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I tell you what, I'm five six. So does that look like five, six, verse five. I'm short.

[Luke Walton]

I should realize how short you are.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I've been short my whole life, so it's not.

[Luke Walton]

Well, you were short and wide back in the day. Now you're just short.

[Jerry Ferrara]

By the way, though, you would. You wouldn't have wanted me guarding you, even though you were athletic.

[Luke Walton]

We just turn around and just shoot right this.

[Jerry Ferrara]

That's fair, but I'm just saying, five, six, two bills. With that little bowling ball, your head.

[Luke Walton]

Will be right in my belly button.

[Jerry Ferrara]

That's what I'm saying. I'm going like into your hips and knees, bro. I'm a problem for you. Yeah, not just scale. We just got word. That picture is not.

[Luke Walton]

That's not to scare, but no, I.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Don'T think Cam Scatter Boo knows. He's like. He's a young dude.

[Luke Walton]

Some people, he's a dog, man.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Stumble onto entourage. Maybe they never will.

[Matt Leinart]

But.

[Luke Walton]

But all I will say, he for sure Google. He for sure Googled you.

[Jerry Ferrara]

My number one guest that I now want on this podcast after Luke Walton. Luke Walton's a huge one. I. And I'm Reaching out to members of the Giants. I'm trying hard. I need you to pull all your NFL connections here. I want Cam Scaboo on this show.

[Luke Walton]

I just got Swag King.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Such a Giants player. When I talk about the Giants players, I mean, like, throwback to the Eli teams and back in the day. That's such a Giants player. I'm so excited for Cam. And I will say Cam, let me say Turtle was on to some things in Entourage, all right? He was the first to kind of go sneaker culture on TV. Video game tournament before was popular. Back in 08, he literally started Hot girl Uber. That was a thing. He started a car company. It was basically hot girls driving Ubers. It was Hot girl Uber. And lastly, Turtle was the genius behind celebrity endorsed Tequila. He did it first. Vince was the lightning rod.

[Luke Walton]

So, Cam, I mean, you're a fucking trendsetter, bro.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Let's go.

[Luke Walton]

You're a trendsetter. Oh, that's good, man.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Well, it leads us to all. I mean, there's not a whole lot going on in the NFL right now, but I think it sets us up for what we want to talk about with our Wendy's flavor of the week. Okay, it's time for flavor of the week, presented by Wendy's. Find your new favorite frosty fusion flavors today with choices like Oreo Brownie Caramel Crunch and pop Tarts Strawberry. So our flavor of the week, I think we talked about it in the pre show meeting, and this is big news from huge. Do you want to take it?

[Luke Walton]

Yeah. So this week, basically, the NFL is allowing current players to basically give them eligibility to compete in the 2028 Olympics on the flag football team. I don't know if there's tryouts. I don't know how the teams are going to be picked, but they are allowed to play in the Olympics, which I think is rad when you look at sports. First of all, like, I think every. If you're an athlete and even probably you too, Jerry, like, like, to. To win a medal or to represent your country is like the greatest thing in the world, right? Football has never had that opportunity because you just can't play tackle football in Olympics and also just wouldn't be fair. Like, just. You just can't do it. And you're seeing more and more Olympic sports, like, happen. Like, like, obviously flag football. Women's gonna play flag football in 2028 to see our best athletes in the world compete in flat. I love flag football. I started in flag football. We have a bunch of flag football Leagues in Orange County. Like I coach my kid in flag football. I love the sport. How like it is. It's freaking insane.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Well, it's like. It's like it's a guaranteed gold medal. Right? Like, who's gonna listen?

[Luke Walton]

Well, we got to do a little research because we're already really good. Like we got really good players. And it is a different game than especially quarterback. Receivers are running routes and all that. And you're making guys miss like that. That's. That's that. That tracks. Remember, can we get the name of the quarterback for the U.S. i think Doucet is his last name. He's a dog. But like Daryl Hoosh, Doucette Darrell. Who Doucet. Have you seen highlights of this kid?

[Jerry Ferrara]

He's unbelievable.

[Luke Walton]

He's unbelievable. And. But, but my point is, is like, is there going to be a quarterback competition between him and whoever.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Jaden Daniels. Who. That would have been my NFL pick. Jaden Daniels with the accuracy would have been my flag football. Who?

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, who? So who. If you could build five. So you get five on offense, five on defense. If you want to do defense, you can. But who are your five? You get a quarterback, two receivers, a center and a running back.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I mean it's it. Travis Hunter was created for this now NFL football as well. And again, I guess you have to really. I wonder how the franchises are going to be about this. Like, do you want your star athlete, you know, your star player in 2020.

[Luke Walton]

You're also missing training camp.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You probably will miss some camp, right? Or at least.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, but they would do it. Yeah. The timing.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Travis Hunter certainly seemed like. Because he solves both. You know, you got to have DBs too obviously to cover. So Travis Hunter, I think would be my number one pick.

[Luke Walton]

Really?

[Jerry Ferrara]

I. Well, because I'm just looking at the dude could will go if he's going to go both ways in the NFL. All right, well, I. For me it's Jaden Daniels because I feel like, yes, you need to have mobile legs, but I don't know if you do you quite need the Lamar Jackson mobility and flag. I mean, I know it doesn't hurt, but I gotta.

[Luke Walton]

I mean, I know I. I know there's like a pass rush, so you need to have the ability.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I like the. I like the Jaden Daniels accuracy for something like flag football.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah.

[Luke Walton]

And this is three years from now. Two. Three years from now. So I think Lamar still. Still in his prime. Tyler Murray could be an interesting one for sure. Jaden Daniels, someone obviously that can just.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I Would mix up, like, on the receiving side, I would mix up, like, obviously, like, a Tyreek Hill would be incredible. But I think you want some of the big body. Like, you know, like Brock from the Raiders. Like, I think you want up.

[Luke Walton]

See, Brock Bowers would be by center, right, because they're run routes.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah, I think you want some big. But I'm trying. I was trying to think, like, who also is just a huge receiver. Like, and every time I think about it, I keep coming back to the tight end.

[Luke Walton]

A.J. brown is big. D.K. metcalf.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I mean, Jamar.

[Luke Walton]

Jamar's. But Jamar's not big.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I just, like, that's what I mean. If we start doing this, I. Who the hell on earth is gonna.

[Luke Walton]

How fun is it gonna be? Like, there's gonna be, like, is it so, like, in USA Basketball, there's. There's tryouts. Most of the team is picked. Right. Like, you know, Steph is going to be on the team. You know, LeBron's going to be on the team like, some of those guys. But you do have to make it for, like, those last.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I think Justin Jefferson said, like, his dream was to win a gold medal.

[Luke Walton]

So, like, are they going to have tr. Like, are you going to have tryouts and you have, like, the top eight receivers in the NFL all trying out to make. Some guys aren't going to play, but.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Dude, I'm going to do a dream team. Are we going flag football dream team. That's essentially what we could. We could have the first ever NFL.

[Luke Walton]

Dream team, dude, outside of pickleball. I mean, flag football is just absolutely booming now.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Also, like, I was thinking about this too. You gotta start having the conversation about, like, a sauce gardener or a Stingley. Like, you have to be able to cover. You don't really need. Yeah, you just. You need all those fast DBs.

[Luke Walton]

You just need fast, quick, titchy DBs that can just. And you need a linebacker.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Do you, though, Like. But like, because you're watching quarterback, you want, by the way, really looking for speed and agility. You could throw power.

[Luke Walton]

You could. You could throw like a Travis Hunter at middle linebacker. Right? Just.

[Jerry Ferrara]

This is gonna be so fun.

[Luke Walton]

I know it's gonna. The strategy is going to be crazy because obviously they do flag football for the Pro bowl now because no one really cares about the Pro bowl, so they've tried everything to fix that. Now they do the pro. The flag football game, which is actually. It's actually kind of fun to watch. I mean, like, they're competing a Lot, you know, harder than they are with tackle because they don't want to get hurt.

[Jerry Ferrara]

But is there any part of it, though, that's like if you're a sauce gardener or Travis Hunter and they. They want you to be on and you're. But you're like, you know, you gotta remember these guys, these men and women are playing flag football all year round. And it is a different game.

[Luke Walton]

It's a different game.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You want to be exposed on the Olympic stage potentially with a dude from that you never heard of, from Brazil, who absolutely played like 10 years of soccer and is now an elite flag football player.

[Luke Walton]

I would love to know. I would love to know, like, who's good in flag football. I'm just looking up flag football world rankings.

[Jerry Ferrara]

We'll come back, we'll get. You know what? Let's social. Let's. Let's do our draft of players.

[Luke Walton]

Oh, Here we go. USA is 1, Austria. Austria 2, Mexico, 3, Germany 4. This is Men's 20, 24 if AF Flag Football World rankings.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Austria.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, wouldn't.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Don't know if I would have picked Austria.

[Luke Walton]

Well, I don't know. Just. Just based on points.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Very excited for that. Oh, yeah, man.

[Luke Walton]

That's gonna be fire.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Big shout outs. Wendy's again. And I think it's time now. Let's get to your boy. Let's get to Luke Wall and also one of the best voices maybe of all time. Just bass in the man's voice. Just as a. A voice of gold. Let's go, Luke. Walt. If you love Wendy's classic Frosty flavors, we have some big news for you. There are all new Frosty Swirl and Frosty Fusion flavors. So it's the same creamy treat you've always loved. Now with the flavor refresh.

[Luke Walton]

So what are these new flavors? Well, thanks for asking. There are a lot, so I'm just going to list them. Okay, we've got the Frosty Swirls strawberry brownie batter and caramel. Then we've got the blended Frosty fusions Caramel crunch Oreo brownie with swirled thick brownie batter sauce and crunchy Oreo cookie pieces and pop Tart strawberry with a sweet strawberry sauce and chunks of crazy good pop tarts pieces. Not to mention that, yes, you can still get your classic vanilla.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Try them all to find your favorite. Are you going to be a strawberry swirl girl? A caramel. I said caramel Crazed fanatic brownie batter, Buff pop tart strawberry fanatic Oreo brownie stand. Anyway, whatever flavor you're craving, odds are we've got a Frosty for it.

[Luke Walton]

So clock in for sweet treat time with Wendy's. All new Frosty flavors. A refresh on a classic. It's got to be Wendy's.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Okay, you all know what speed dating is, right? Well, if you're the owner of a growing business, what if there was a feature that's like speed dating, only for hiring, you know? In other words, you can meet several interested qualified candidates at once, all at a designated time, so you don't have to wait around and try and get it into a window. Well, good news there is. It's zip intro from ZipRecruiter. You could post your job today and start talking to qualified candidates tomorrow. And right now, you could try Zip Intro for [e-mail] throwbacks.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, and zip Intro gives you the power, Jerry, to quickly assess excellent candidates for your job via back to back video calls. That's back to back video calls. You simply pick a time. Zimpitro does all the work of finding and scheduling qualified candidates for you. Then you can choose who you want to talk to and meet with great people as soon as the next day. It's that easy.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Basically, that's how Matt got me to be a co host. He used Zip Intro to find me. So only from ZipRecruiter, rated number one hiring site based on G2. Try Zip Intro for free again at ziprecruiter.com/throwbacks again ziprecruiter.com/trybacks Zip Intro. We post jobs today, talk to qualified candidates tomorrow.

[Luke Walton]

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[Jerry Ferrara]

All right, Luke, thanks for joining us. I know you don't do a lot of these. Maddie really had a call in, like the ultimate favor.

[Luke Walton]

I basically said, I'll love you forever if you do this for 30 minutes. And he goes, fine.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah, I want to put that in there too. If I happen to have a third kid, which I'm probably not, but if it's a boy, we'll put Luke on The table as a name just for doing this podcast.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, that's. That's awfully nice of you. I appreciate it. And like Matt's family, so if Matt texts and asked me to do something, I'm gonna do it.

[Luke Walton]

Oh, you're so. Dude, you know what I was thinking about? You be so proud of me because I am currently dominating our local rec league. And we just talked about this before and I want to. I want to talk to you about our experience about 12 years ago, which would might have been the greatest rec league ever assembled. But dude, I'm playing Monday nights at Bay Club. 35 and older. I got roped into this. The stat. They, you know, they take stats, right? So like you get to get your stats online, which I think is the best part about it. Do you want to know what your boy is averaging right now? I'm a walking double double, dude. I'm 15 and a half and 11 and a half boards, four assists a game. Well, by the way, that's like a Luke Walt in the Arizona stat line.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, no, that's a good one. But I knew the double double wasn't coming with assist because I played with you and you're. But to your credit, you're a scorer, Matt.

[Luke Walton]

Like, bro, I'm a black hole outside the three point line. The only time, the only time I play with Jerry, he. I took Jerry. Jerry came and we were doing some shows together in la and I took him to the Bay Club and we were playing with Cole, who's.

[Jerry Ferrara]

He told me it was all old men and it was not. It was.

[Luke Walton]

Our team was like me, Cole, Cole's boys who play a Costa who are like six, five. And Jerry, poor Jerry, the only shot he gotti airball.

[Jerry Ferrara]

In fairness to me, Luke, these dudes are playing with like a clock. I never played like organized pickup with like a clock, like a running clock. So I saw the clock ticking down, I hoisted up a three. But yeah, Matt, actually there's a clip out there. You guys got a ring together basically, right? You won a championship in rec league.

[Matt Leinart]

No, we have a ring. It was. It was one of the greatest years of my life right after I retired from playing in the NBA.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Tell us about this. So you're a year removed from the NBA and you're not quite done yet.

[Matt Leinart]

Still have the itch to play. So we get a great idea to put a league together. But not only are we playing in a rec league, like Matt and I are at Equinox working out seven times a week. We're Playing beach volleyball four times a week, part time coaching with the, with the Lakers G league team and also recruiting players that aren't getting minutes to come play on our rec team, which was unsuccessful in that free agent signing. But it was literally like it was an awesome year. And yet we won, we won a hard fought title together.

[Luke Walton]

Dude, I, I, I told Jerry, I said, I said we retired the same year and we would go, I literally said, I said, dude, we would go to Equinox five days a week. Just get. Luke would always say, let's get meaty today. Let's get meaty. We go, we train. We would go to the, remember the little restaurant right next door? We walk over there or we get a smoothie or we go to Houston's for lunch. But the best part, do you remember what you made me do with you? We used to go get foot massages.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, that's right. That's right.

[Luke Walton]

Was it your boy Danny or is it this guy? Danny used to work at the back.

[Matt Leinart]

Of a nail salon and he did reflexology and it hurts so bad, but he was so good at it.

[Jerry Ferrara]

How many were you? Were there a lot of former NBA guys? Because if I'm rolling up and like, all right, let's see who we got week one and liner and Walton come walking out my guys, let's just go home. Let's go get some food. This is stupid. We're not playing in there.

[Matt Leinart]

No, there was, there was no other.

[Luke Walton]

Remember the Drew League guy that you beat in the finals? That kid was good.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, he was good. He was talking too much trash though for a rec league game. But yeah, but he was pretty good. And not only that, like we had a bunch of six, nine beach volleyball players. So we looked like if you walked in the gym, like you thought you were going to lose by 40. But what we also learned was beach volleyball does not carry over to so soft.

[Luke Walton]

Well, it's, it's, we're going to talk about six man at the end. But it was, I remember like, Jerry, Jerry, you got, you've seen this with me. Like, athletes are like just hyper competitive and everything. So like we were there and we were putting together this team and like these volleyball players are great athletes, but they're great athletes on the sand. Which by the way, I'm a terrible athlete on the sand, so I respect them. But you, but it doesn't. Like, remember John, like I mentioned Johnny Hacket, we got guys, six, nine who like literally have two right hands. I'm like, bro, we would get pissed I'd be like, dude, you're not. You're not playing, dude. Like, you're sitting on the bench. Like, we need. We need dogs out there.

[Matt Leinart]

Johnny got mad and stopped showing up the games.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, we heard Johnny's feelings for sure. And before we got. We got to talk about the current NBA. But the last thing is, I was. We were watching this clip, and there's a clip on YouTube if anybody wants to go watch it.

[Jerry Ferrara]

It's an awesome clip.

[Luke Walton]

Just type in both. Just type in both our names. Rec league. And it's a 4 and a half minute clip. Clip of Luke diving on the ground, just absolutely dominating this dude, like, hitting threes. I remember saying, like, bro, you don't hit. You didn't hit threes in the NBA, but you were hitting, like, nine threes a game in this, dude.

[Matt Leinart]

That wasn't my role on the team. You want to make it. We had Kobe and Pal. My role was to give them the ball. I was totally okay with that.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So I wanted to ask you something, too, because I really think I know the answer, but. So when you were coaching with the Cavs. I am now in Cleveland. That's where my wife was born and raised. Went to a lot of Cavs games. And I think it was the Celtics year when you guys played the Celtics in the playoffs. Round two, I guess it was. They sat me first row, right behind your cat. The Cavs bench, which is the worst seat for a short person ever. Like, I got Tristan Thompson sitting right in front of me. I feel like, though there was a few times you coming after a timeout, you looked at me and you gave me a head nod.

[Luke Walton]

You.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Do you have any recollection of me being at a Cavs game? It's okay if you have no idea that I was there or who I even was at that point.

[Luke Walton]

He doesn't know who you are now, Jerry.

[Matt Leinart]

That's a lie. Because when I played for the Lakers, you guys used to do some filming at our. Yes. Yes.

[Jerry Ferrara]

All the time.

[Matt Leinart]

And that was our show. Like, I remember, like, Jordan Farmer and I'd get together and watch it every. Every time a new episode came out. So, yes, I remember you being there. I was. I was juiced to see you.

[Jerry Ferrara]

That was a real head nod. Okay. Me and my. I'm like, br. I think I tell my wife. I'm like, I think Luke just gave me a head. He wasn't looking at you. He wasn't. He wasn't looking at you. So. All right, good to know.

[Luke Walton]

Well, dude, you current I mean, I. I love watching you, man. I remember. I remember when we had that year, and then a couple years, I was like, why are you still coaching, man? Come hang at the South Bay. But you're continuing to do it now. You're with the Pistons, and you guys had a hell of a year. You know, fell short to the Knicks, but, you know, just, like, trajectory of this team. Like, how fun was this team to coach and. And, you know, how do you guys continue to get better going into next year?

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, it was beautiful. And that's the fun part. And you talked about it as an athlete, how competitive you are, which is why I've stuck with coaching, because you get to still compete at that highest level. And, you know, one of the beautiful things about sports is when a team really comes together. And that's what we had here in Detroit this year. Obviously, we, you know, coming in here for the first year wasn't a lot of high expectations with the season they had the year prior. And we had a group of guys that just bought in and wanted to. To get past what they went through the previous year. And it was honestly one of the most fun coaching years I've had. And I've been on a, you know, a lot of fun, fun teams that. That have had a lot of success. But it was awesome to be part of this ride this year and, you know, next year. Obviously, you get better by building on what you went through. And the hope is. And, you know, Matt, I don't know how high of a level you played in Jerry, but, like, you lose when you lose in, like, a playoff series or a, you know, a championship round, like, it motivates you so much because you just want to get back there and get past where you were. So the hope is the guys feel that. They felt how exciting NBA playoff basketball is for a lot of them. It was their first time ever being there playing in those type of games. And then, you know, we just build on what we started this year.

[Luke Walton]

You. I mean, you coached. I think you coached Steph, you coached LeBron in LA, how it was fun to see Kate Cunningham. You know, me, I'm a basketball fan. I like to see these young stars. And I feel like there's all this talk about that that older generation is kind of coming down to end Steph lebron, kd and then this younger generation.

[Jerry Ferrara]

And.

[Luke Walton]

And you didn't even throw Brunson in there. You know, Jalen's been outstanding, but, like, Cade Cunningham was a star this year. Like, do you see some of that, like, is this a kid that you're like, okay, we could build around this kid. Players are going to want to come play with Cade because he's, he continues, it's like, you know, like, like Shay, right? He continues to elevate his game.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, he's. He is the real deal, and you can 100% build an organization around him. And one of the best things that, you know, you just never know until you're with the guys every day is his leadership ability for his age is just, it's, it's unbelievable. I mean, he, he cares not only about winning and the, you know, doing the right thing, but he cares about his teammates. He has no problem calling people out if, you know, people are complaining or bitching or whatnot. And then he gives players love when they need love. And for him to have the emotional awareness and the, the care factor of that at his age is like, it's just awesome. You don't see it very often in this league, and it's, it's exciting to know that, you know, we got him with us.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So, look, I'm, I'm a huge Knicks fan. I'm obviously sweating out this whole Pacer series, but I've been me and all the million Knicks group chats that I'm in, we keep talking about that Detroit series, and I, I wonder as a, as a player and even as a coach if this is even a thing. So obviously everyone in media was like, ah, the Knicks don't want to see the Pistons. And then in the back of my mind, I'm like, yeah, you're kind of right. That's going to be tough. But I'm like, I should be able to handle it. Every one of those games could have swung the other way there. Everyone, especially, like, campaign comes out in game one and goes berserk. I don't think he scored that many points since he played. And obviously a sore Thompson. Like, I feel like that almost prepared the Knicks going into, like, the Celtics. He's like, if you could score on a sore Thompson, you could score on anyone. And is there something to like, you know, the Cavs kind of played, you know, the Heat, who kind of didn't seem like they wanted to be there as a pretty. Like, is there something to just, hey, getting ready for playoff basketball Game one, Round one.

[Matt Leinart]

It was on from Joe for sure. Yeah. And there's levels to it. If you're, you know, if you're a championship team and you've done it before, you can have an easier first round and still Mentally be ready for that second round. But to your point. Yeah, like the series we had with the Knicks, like, you were razor sharp going into that next series, just like we would have been if we could have found a way to win some of those late games, as opposed to where you kind of have a cakewalk in the first round, and then all of a sudden you're hit with an intensity that you haven't seen yet. So as far as that is for sure, I think our series with the Knicks really kind of helped them get to where they needed to go, because, I mean, they, like you said, every game was coming down to the end. So, you know, you're, You're, You're. You're as sharp as you can be coming out of that series.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Well, I think that, yeah, that's the thing, too. When they say, I, I never really knew. When they say, oh, this is great experience for a young team because the young team still wants to win, right? Like, it's not like, oh, hey, we. We play them tough. That being said, your team is so young that I really do think that that series, like, there is no doubt going into the playoffs next year that the Pistons are going to know exactly where they need to be mentally, emotionally, physically.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, and you're right. Like, we're. We were heartbroken here. You know, we. We wanted to win. Like, at the time, you don't care that you got the experience. You know, in hindsight, big picture, like, the experience is everything, and it's awesome. And now, like, when you're coaching, we always talk about, like, coaching is like parenting. It's like, you tell your kids what to do, you tell them what to do, what's going to come, and then you get there and, you know, you make mistakes, but then you're like, oh, yeah, so they do know what they're talking about. And hopefully then you go into the next year and it's like, this is why boxing out is so important. This is why following a game plan is so important. Because when you get to the playoffs, it's every possession that ends up, you know, winning and losing a series. And you have to train your mind to be at that level. And until you get to that level, people can tell you all day long, but you just don't understand it. But I think our guys understand it now.

[Luke Walton]

What are, what are the chances you're watching. Do you watch the playoffs now? Are you just. You do. You do.

[Matt Leinart]

You can't help it to it. Yeah, every game. And, and the best now is my 10 year old son Lawson is so hooked on basketball. He's. He lays on me and he's huge. So I'm like, dude, get off of me.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, he's gonna. The Guy's gonna be 6:10, dude.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah. He's talking about the calls the refs are making. He's, you know, is this a fail? Is that it's. It's a lot of fun. But that's like.

[Luke Walton]

I mean, Jerry's. Jerry's. Jerry's boy is the same. Like he's turning them into Knicks fan. It's. It's like. And Jerry. Luke knows. I mean, Luke's known Cole forever, but it's like Cole's 18 now and it's just. It's just so fun to kind of. You mold them and you've been around. Like, obviously, you know, your kids are gonna love basketball bond. But that's awesome, dude. And he's pro around the arena all the time. Right. With the guys and stuff. Is he good? Has he got a little. Does he got game?

[Matt Leinart]

So he's always. Soccer has always been his thing. And then over, like soccer. Yeah. Which I love. Soccer is a beautiful game. I love it. I don't know anything about it. So I can just sit there.

[Luke Walton]

He's gonna be too tall for soccer.

[Matt Leinart]

Cut, cut, box out like so when he plays soccer, I just sit there and enjoy it. But over like the last year and a half, he's really fallen in love with basketball. So he's out.

[Luke Walton]

That's fun, dude.

[Matt Leinart]

Driveway. Every day it's raining out. He's like, dad, come rebound for me. And I'm like, I don't want to go. Like, I did this when I was a kid. I don't want to go.

[Luke Walton]

You can't say no, man.

[Matt Leinart]

We go out there and I got my sweatshirt on and somehow it's almost June and it's 45 degrees and raining out here still. But he wants to shoot all day long. So he's. To answer your question, he's getting pretty good.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Does he kind of do? I have a 17 year old nephew who. He's a big Knicks fan, but I feel like that generation and younger, obviously he's gonna root for the Pistons and wherever you're coaching. But does he root for teams or is it more? I feel like the younger generation, it's about like a player. They'll lock on to a player and kind of follow that player around.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah. So he's a die hard Pistons fan right now, but like his birthday is this Sunday and he wants an sga Jersey. He wants me to take him to Oklahoma City for a game.

[Jerry Ferrara]

It's beautiful this time of year. Right?

[Matt Leinart]

Exactly. So. But you're right. Yeah. He loves sga. He loves Cade. He loves Ant man, and then he just tells me all about them all day long. I'm like, yeah, that's the best.

[Luke Walton]

I wanted. I want to switch. I've never. I've heard. I've heard Richard, rj, Richard Jefferson, who's one of your best friends, talk about college, and we have something in common because we both lost in the national championship game, and I've never asked you specifically what happened. So we're going to go from Pistons in a great year to what the hell happened last year, losing to Duke in the national championship game. By the way, you guys were, what, number one team, right?

[Matt Leinart]

Yes.

[Luke Walton]

Were you the number one seed?

[Matt Leinart]

I think so. That.

[Luke Walton]

That game was loaded with guys?

[Matt Leinart]

I mean, yeah. Like, I'd like to, you know, blame the refs or whatnot. That Duke was. I mean, they were really good. Our team. Our team was really.

[Luke Walton]

Your team was stacked, too.

[Matt Leinart]

I mean, we. Yeah, between the two of us, there was, like, 10 NBA players in that national title game. But Dunleavy got hot late. According to Gilbert, it was Richard's fault. According to Richard, it was Gilbert's fault.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Sounds right.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah.

[Luke Walton]

I was gonna say those two are very similar.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah. I mean, it was. It was heartbreaking. I never watched.

[Luke Walton]

So I'm gathering you don't really want to talk about it.

[Matt Leinart]

I don't at all. I don't.

[Luke Walton]

That's what happens when people ask me about Texas and Vince Young. I'm like, guys, dude, shut the upper, please. Like, we. Like, he was Superman.

[Matt Leinart]

And here's the thing. Like, I couldn't stand Duke, and now everybody, everyone I've met from Duke is, like, just an awesome person. Like, they're just good people. And it. It still kills me that I like all these guys now, but, yeah, I don't really want to talk about that.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Well, can I ask you this? Was it. Did you. Is it true you and. Did you and Richard host Gilbert on his visit? Is that. Did I read that or that. That must have been fun, because, yeah, he wasn't, like a big, nobody, giant prospect. Right. He was coming out of the Valley.

[Matt Leinart]

It was like, us in Kansas State were the only teams really on him, and we didn't know who he was. And our starting guard the year before was a freshman with us, Reuben Douglas.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yep.

[Matt Leinart]

And Gilbert came in and pretty much said, yeah, I'll start here. Next year. Because I dominated Reuben in high school for three straight years. And it said this in front of Reuben. So we, you know, it's like, Ruben's right there. Yeah. And sure enough, by the start of the next year, like, Reuben transferred before the season even started because Gilbert was just dominating practice every day going into the season.

[Jerry Ferrara]

That's just one of the biggest mysteries to me because obviously, like, even like seeing highlights of you in that rec league game, like, it's like so clear. Like, okay, that guy is by far like at a 15 different levels. And everybody here, like, how does a player like that who turns into an NBA star go so overlooked? Like, even Kyrie. I remember watching this thing about Kyrie where obviously went to Duke, but he like walked into a camp. No one, he's like ninth grade. No one knew who Kyrie was. I don't know if it was an exposure thing and he just destroyed people. I just always wonder how, like, how isn't someone like Gilbert more recruited? And how does he turn into such a star? Even in college, it seems like such a big miss. Except for Arizona. Who knew?

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, I. I don't know how to answer that because, like, again, back then it wasn't social media or Right. Those days. But like, there's still scouting and magazines and we'd go to the, you know, the. The bookstore every Tuesday when the magazines would come out and check out who the highest ranked players were. And whoever was doing that completely blew on the. The Gilbert one because he was like, he didn't come in and then get all. Get much, like, get better right away. Like, he came in and was awesome. Like, this kid could. Could.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

And I mean, he could score so easily. He was so athletic. He was a little immature, but he was. He was a lot of fun. A lot of fun to be around.

[Luke Walton]

What's your like? All right. I just laugh when I think of rj. We trying to get RJ on the pod. He's like, yeah, yeah, I got you, I got you. I'm like, bro, I don't hear from him for two weeks. Weeks. Typical.

[Matt Leinart]

But last time RJ called me, he talked for 12 straight minutes. And then finally I felt like I was talking to my dad again. I'm like, dude, you called just to talk. And then you're like, I gotta go by like. Like, just leave me a voicemail next time.

[Luke Walton]

Did you run into him this year at all? Did he call any. Did he call the. He called the playoffs.

[Matt Leinart]

He called game one of our Knick series.

[Luke Walton]

That's pretty Cool, man.

[Matt Leinart]

What?

[Luke Walton]

What's up?

[Matt Leinart]

He didn't even tell us he was coming. He. He literally texted JB Bickerstaff, our head coach, texted his wife, who also went to Arizona with us. She was a soccer star at Arizona, and my wife, who played volleyball at Arizona and told them he was doing the game and that he'd be in town. And JB comes back from his pregame media, he's like, oh, Rich is doing the game. He's here.

[Luke Walton]

He didn't even text you?

[Matt Leinart]

He didn't even text us he was coming.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Did you. Did you know. So I'm also curious about, you know, coaching and when a former player, there's so many foreign players I've talked to, and I even asked like, would you ever coach? That's like a hard no for them, which I, you know. But for you, did you always know that that's something you wanted to do? Like, when did it come to you? Like, I just love the game so much. I want to coach.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah. Again, going back to that first year of retirement, I kind of separated my life in three. Like, retired life, which was hanging out with Matt every day, going to the gym, playing beach volleyball.

[Luke Walton]

That was a good life, buddy.

[Matt Leinart]

Part time coaching with the Lakers G league team and then part time TV with the Lakers station. So just to kind of see where I wanted to go. And after a year of that, it was clear to me that coaching was kind of where my passion was. And still so much fun to be out there with guys, competing, talking trash, trying to win together. And then Steve Kerr got the job that next year. So I called Steve and I was like, any chance I can get on staff? He's like, I just gave all my money to Alvin Gentry and Ron Adams, but if you're interested, we can talk. And I said, absolutely. And Steve offered me the job. And I've been coaching ever since.

[Luke Walton]

I say, just when you look at your path, like from the G or from LA to Sacramento to Los Angeles to Cleveland, like when you kind of look back to where you're now, is there something. Not like, what would you do different, but like something that you've really taken on this path to this point, that's like, maybe you get a head job again. I don't even know if you'd ever want to even try and be a head coach again, but is there something that you kind of look back and say, like, man, if I could do this over, I would. Or this is what I learned. And you played for Phil, who's one of the Best ever.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, for sure. There's a lot that I've learned on this journey. You know, when I first got that Laker job, I'd only been coaching for. For two years up there with Golden State. And there's just. There's a lot of different things since then that I've. That I understand in different situations that I've been in that clearly have. It's like anything, even when you're a player hopefully continuing to grow and understand the game more. And it's the same with coaching. So, yeah, there's a. To answer your question, Matt, there's a lot I would do different and there's a lot I've learned since then.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah, I mean, you have such a unique thing because I'm even. I was even thinking back to that 15, 16 warriors team when you started off 39 and 4 and so much in the playoffs right now is like, oh, well, The Celtics missed 53s and they're just gonna shoot better. Or even the other night, you know, Minnesota missed 53s and everyone talks about those Warrior teams of they shot the three and that's why they won. But I start going down that roster, I'm like, we need to have a Sean Livingston conversation. The dude who never missed from the mid range, that team still had Andrew Boguet. Like, it was like there was so much more than a. Even though the warriors to me were the first good shooting team to really rely on it, there was so much more to those teams. That must have been a great ride with that warriors team.

[Matt Leinart]

It was so fun. And what everyone loved, the offense and the threes that Steph and Clay would shoot. But what really made that team special was the defense that we played along with it. And if you go back and look at the numbers both years, you know, it was a top five defense. Draymond, Bogut, Livingston, Barbo. We had just so many good Iggy.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Right? Iguodala was on that.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, you guys had a stack team.

[Matt Leinart]

I mean, it was. And, and to your point, like none of those guys were, you know, three point shooters like that. And. But they were so, they were just so smart and they were so selfless and all about the team that, that, I mean, that's the only way you can win championships is when you have those type of. Of players and role players and togetherness and you compete on both ends of the court. And I think you see a lot of that kind of with that OKC team right now. Right? Like they can. They, they. They play so many different guys, different Series dip from game to game, and whoever's playing is just all in. They can play small ball, they can play double, big lineups, and it's a lot of fun to watch. And then they have, you know, in my opinion, the MVP of the league out there to, to finish games off for him if it's close. So they're, they're a lot of fun to watch right now.

[Luke Walton]

I feel like this is a common thread on this show because we get a lot of former athletes who have kids who are grown up and obviously your dad, you know, Bill was great and, And I just went through this with Cole, like the time when I realized, like, damn, I'm passing the torch, like, he's just way better than me was there. That was like four or five years ago. Because you know me, Luki, I'm a little slow, flat footed lateral movement. I can't take them on the core. I used to go. The body was there. I. I think it's just fascinating because I've read stories where, you know, you and your brothers. When I think, like what, like Larry Bird would come over and shoot at the house, which I love to hear about that. But like, at what age did you like, tell Pops, like, all right, man, like, like when you were beating them one on one, was there a specific time?

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, I mean, he couldn't really. By the time we got big.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, he was.

[Matt Leinart]

Or like he just couldn't walk anymore, anymore. So, yeah, he would just pull up his chair and sit there and. And like talk trash to us from the sideline. But there wasn't really that mo. I never had that moment with him just because his body was.

[Luke Walton]

So you had it with your brothers though, I'm assuming.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, yeah, and I. And their friends. That's really what motivated me to. Was like I had two older brothers and I just wanted to hang with them all the time and they wouldn't let me play. So I was like, whatever, I'm gonna get really good at this. And then I started busting all their friends asses. And eventually they're like, all right, we got Luke on our team and we would just literally play all day in the backyard. And I remember how good of a feeling that was. So I can imagine Cole's feeling pretty good right now that he knows he.

[Luke Walton]

Can dominate you, Matt, by the way, he would, he. If he saw you right now, he'd be like, luke can't guard me. He's too old. Like, he. I was like, I was like, bro, I. I just had the conversation with him yesterday about. There's this dude on a rec league who's like 6 5, he's 40, but he's.

[Jerry Ferrara]

He's.

[Luke Walton]

He's physical, dude. And I'm like, cole, you're not. I like. I'm like, buddy, you're not gonna score. He looked at me, Luke. He just goes. He goes, dad, are you serious? I go. I go, yeah. And he was dead serious. He thinks he's better than everybody when he walks in the gym, which I kind of love.

[Matt Leinart]

You gotta love that. That's how you felt when you were his age, Matt.

[Luke Walton]

I mean, that's how I still feel sometimes, but. But then I realize when I'm out there, I'm like, shit. My calf, dude. I pulled the Nate, dude. I've been. I pulled each one of my calves the last time I played. Not down to the point where I was out, but you weren't out for.

[Matt Leinart]

Two years with a calf strength, by the way.

[Luke Walton]

Still mind boggling. What the happened to him? Like, bro, what did you do? Luke's. Luke's best friend. One of our good buddies literally pulled a calf, Jerry, but like, tore it. This dude didn't play sports for like two and a half years. Like, what are you doing, dude?

[Jerry Ferrara]

I'm going to say I don't blame him. I'm going to say this is at like 30.

[Luke Walton]

Like, we were.

[Matt Leinart]

We were a professional athlete too. Anytime. It's still today, Matt, anytime someone gets a calf injury, I sent him a text. I'm like, you think he's done forever? At least two and a half years. Luke, what.

[Luke Walton]

What do you. What do you remember about Larry Bird coming to the house? Do you remember any specific stories?

[Matt Leinart]

It was awesome because Larry was like, we were all basketball fanatics. And obviously, like, my son now loves the Pistons, loves Kate Cunningham. Like, that's how we felt about Larry. So when he showed up to the San Diego house in the summer and we. He'd come in the backyard and play. We have a great gym in San Diego called Muny Gym right down the street. And like, people would lose their mind. It would be my dad, Larry, three of us out there playing. And Larry would talk so much. And like, it was just like, I can't remember how old I was at the time, probably eight or nine. But we'd play two, two on two in the back, and Larry would like, score nine straight on Bill, talking trash. And then whatever one of us got to be on his team. He'd let, like, just keep shooting until they hit the game winner. And then the rest of the day, he would just call one of us game winner and talk trash. It was, it was so much fun.

[Luke Walton]

They say he's like one of the. Maybe the best trash talker of all time. Like top five.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah. The clips they have of like old players talking about some of the stuff he would say and do was just. Yeah, it was, it was pretty awesome.

[Luke Walton]

Just the.

[Matt Leinart]

That high release do about it.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So before we let you go, we're gonna get you out of here. Does Matt ever see the sand when you guys play beach volleyball? Or is the first time in Matty Ice's career that he has to watch the. The big boys do it?

[Luke Walton]

Oh, I know.

[Jerry Ferrara]

What is Matt like on? What's your role? I want to hear more about this sixth man thing, which sounds insane in Manhattan beach, by the way.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, Matt Mass a winner. So what we do is we. We let Matt serve when it's a big point. And Matt gives a great, great speeches during the timeouts. And occasionally, if we're playing a lesser team, we'll put them up there on the outside and set them.

[Luke Walton]

Or no, no, I get a little butter. You remember me setting last year?

[Matt Leinart]

That's right.

[Luke Walton]

Here's the thing, Jerry. This is the thing about Luke and I, and this is, this is why I love Luke, because I see him now maybe once, twice a year, and my boy. But when we play in this tournament and we got. We got a squad now, these guys are so competitive, these guys, these volleyball dudes. And they would tell you, but they're awesome athlete, man. They are like, I, I'm always mesmerized watching these guys jump in the same. But there is a little, like, you gotta have a little toughness and grit in these things if you want to win. And me and Luke, every time we're down and we've been beat now by a nasty team in the finals, like two years in a row. But me and Luke always will be on the side. We're like, man, we're not tough enough, dude. We got. And Luke's like. And Luke's always like, maddie, they don't want it. They don't know what champions are. Like. We all, we always have these side conversations that I've done, but I'm my role, Jerry. I know my role, dude. Trust me. By the way, Luke's a big part of the squad. Luke, middle block. Like, he brings intensity, fire energy, all that. I'm bringing fire on the sideline. I do give a little speech. I'm usually pretty hungover all weekend, but it's like, I'm gonna have to come watch this. You gotta come. Sounds like a kids bring the wife.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah, I'm coming out for that. I'm coming out to Manhattan Beach.

[Matt Leinart]

My wife played.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, Bri plays.

[Matt Leinart]

Played volleyball at Arizona and she's still like, do we have to plan our summer around six, man? Like, she's so over volleyball, like she doesn't want to play anymore. And I'm like, we can do whatever you want, but I will be in Manhattan beach for six man weekend.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So that's can't miss for you.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, my team needs me and I need my team. So like it's. There's no discussion about it. We will be there for six man weekend.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I just got chills, guys. I'm coming for this.

[Luke Walton]

Jerry, you should. Honestly, I'll cover it.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I'll be the sideline reporter, bro.

[Luke Walton]

Oh, you'd be great. You're. You're a die hard sports fan. You would, you would, you would appreciate this. And watching these guys play, like, it's, it's pretty, it's pretty ridiculous. Like the athleticism, we just need to bring a little more heart and soul. That's it. And that's, that's what we try to do every year.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah. And me and you, Matt, I can tell you one thing, we're bringing heart and soul, brother.

[Luke Walton]

Oh, that's what I'm saying, bro.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah.

[Luke Walton]

I'll punch somebody in the face out there if I have to. Let's go.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Oh, dude, look, can't thank you enough, man. That was awesome. I will see you this summer at the sixth, man for sure. And yeah, keep doing your thing with the Pistons, man. That was scary as all hell. You put the fear of God into me, man.

[Luke Walton]

Real, real quick. Do you have a. I mean, I don't know, as a current coach, can you like, do you have a prediction like who do you think's gonna win or who's the toughest team?

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, I think, I think okc. I just think they're so deep. I know they're young and they haven't, they haven't been there yet, but none of these teams that are left have been there. Yeah. So I just feel like with what they can do and as long as they stay healthy, obviously I, I just see them being too much for the, for, for the, for the other teams. But I think both these series are going to be awesome. Like a lot of fun to watch and just looking forward to it.

[Luke Walton]

God, if the Knicks win the championship, I'm gonna be sick. Oh, you're not gonna hear enough.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You're gonna have to quit the show. You're gonna have to quit. The throwbacks might be over.

[Luke Walton]

Although I. I'm a Knicks fan. I. I'm. I become a Knicks fan.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, I mean, the Knicks are so. I mean, what they do is so impressive. Yeah, they're fun, J.

[Luke Walton]

They're fun.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, my. He is. He's a dog, man. He is. He is so special.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Tom Thibodeau trying to kill load management one playoff win at a time. Seven guys we train for this. Trying to end the whole load management as a thing. So I feel like I need to call you guys, Maverick and Iceman at this point. I feel like Luke is more Maverick. Matt.

[Luke Walton]

All right, I'll be. I'll be ice to. To Mav all day, man. It's my guy. Well, miss you, buddy. Thanks for coming on, man. I know. I know you're busy. Give my best to the. To. To breeding the kids, too.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, I will. And you do the same. And I'll see you in. In SoCal after summer league.

[Luke Walton]

I'll see you. I'll see you soon, dude.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Driving without a seatbelt could cost you everything. But despite that, there are still drivers on the road who just won't buckle up.

[Luke Walton]

Some of those drivers will be pulled over and given expensive tickets by law enforcement. Some of the drivers not wearing their seatbelts will be involved in crashes. Some will survive, but some won't. Wearing your seatbelt could be the difference between making it home to your loved ones and not making it at all.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Every day when you get in your vehicle and decide whether to buckle up, remember that it's the single most effective way to protect your life in the event of a crash. Make it home safely to the people you care about.

[Luke Walton]

Don't risk it.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Click it.

[Luke Walton]

Or ticket paid for by nhtsa.

[Jerry Ferrara]

All right, everyone, listen up. If you're ready to take on the off road, there is only one ride built for it. The 2025 Nissan Armada.

[Luke Walton]

Jerry, this car is an absolute beast. Whether I'm going to the mountains on a ski trip or whether I'm going to the lake, the towing capacity holds up to 8, 500 pounds, but probably more importantly, all the sports gear, the kids, all the stuff that I can fit in my car, there's nothing out of reach with a Nissan Armada.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah, and some of that sports stuff will weigh 8, 500 pounds by the time you're done with it for me. You know, my wife loves the beach, so we're always kind of throwing the boys in the back of the car with a lot of beach stuff. But my little secret with the Armada too is I love it for the golf trips. I. I like to drive. So get my buddies in there, throw a few different clubs in the back, bunch of shoes. That's where I really like my off roading. My off roading is also going to the golf course, to the parking lot, and then just opening up that trunk and getting ready for a great day. So the other thing is it's also got twin turbo V6 engine. So it is good for basically all these things we just said and whatever you throw at it.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, the power, the performance, and just overall rugged toughness. It's like being behind the wheel of your own offensive line. Jerry.

[Jerry Ferrara]

It's the closest I'll ever get to being behind an offensive line. But either way, I'm telling you, this is the one. Get ready to adventure bigger in the all new Nissan Armada.

[Luke Walton]

Let's go.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Let's go. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Knowing you could be saving money for the things you really want is a great feeling. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state. All right, it's now time for Strapped in, presented by nhtsa. NHTSA reminds you to always wear your seatbelt. Make it home safely to the people you care about. Don't risk it. Click it or ticket. All right. Each week we kind of talk about. We focused a lot on you because, like, you know, strapping in for something, it lends itself better to athletics. So I'm going to bring into the. The acting world for a second.

[Luke Walton]

Yes.

[Jerry Ferrara]

And actors do indeed have to strap in for scenes from time to time. There's been stunts involving cars where I've driven a Ferrari around a racetrack where you got to get a little training. There's been stuff where you have to have fight scenes and you want to make sure everybody's okay. But really, I'm gonna talk about for a second this. This is. This puts fear into every actor's heart. For sure. Is if you know weeks in advance that you're having a love scene, it just. And it's number one.

[Luke Walton]

How much anxiety does that give you?

[Jerry Ferrara]

First of all, fortunately for me, that it was similar to an athlete like I. Actors have attributes. That is not one that I get called on. Like, if they're saying, like, hey, we need a corner three shooter, it's different. So. But the few that I've had, number one, it's always not uncomfortable, but, you know, you're. You're sort of always being respectful of the other person you're doing the scene with, but there's also 80 people around you. But number two, you know, film lives on forever. You gotta. You gotta get. You want to kind of. I've seen a lot of people do some. Some crash diets, talk about actors hitting the gym.

[Luke Walton]

Oh, dude.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I feel like I'm always reminded they don't eat.

[Luke Walton]

They don't eat for, like, seven straight days.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I feel like Kevin Connolly, who played E, had a scene like that in the Entourage movie. And obviously we had hundreds of cameos in the Entourage movie, so he was on that, like, hey, not, you know, really eating light and working out like, crazy. Kind of dehydrated. I feel like it was. Liam Neeson, when he was doing his cameo, walked into the hair and makeup trailer and just took one look at a dehydrated, fatigued Conley drinking lemon water and was like, oh, you have one of those scenes, don't you?

[Luke Walton]

After, like, 300 sit ups. What's. What's. What's outside that? What's more pressure? Playing in a national championship game or doing a shirtless love scene in the movie? I would say a shirtless love scene in the movie.

[Jerry Ferrara]

There's nowhere to hide, Matt.

[Luke Walton]

And it lives on forever.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Forever. So what do you.

[Luke Walton]

Let me ask you a question without going into detail right here again. We're straight. We're strapped in with this. So we're strapped in. Like, what. What are you. Like, what are you wearing in that? Under, like, under, like, there's underwear right there. There's rul. There's rules to this.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Oh, there is a intimacy coordinator, Someone who is there to make sure both parties are comfortable.

[Luke Walton]

How awkward is that?

[Jerry Ferrara]

There's things that are obviously separating you. Yes. No, it is. It is. There's a lot happening, at least in my experiences. It's always been professional and almost like, all right, now we act out. It's so professional. We have to still make this believable. So let's, like, try to pretend we're enjoying this and not totally uncomfortable. So. But yeah, man, it's. But it's more so the time leading up to those scenes where you're just.

[Luke Walton]

When you know you have to shoot that. That day, the night before. Talk about no sleep. You're like, dude, tomorrow. Really?

[Jerry Ferrara]

Like, so funny. So I always laugh about with the people who are good at those scenes, right?

[Luke Walton]

They're ripped. They're ripped.

[Jerry Ferrara]

And like, I make this joke with Brie all the time too. Like, if I take my shirt off, dude, I grab it by the collar, pull over my head. Those people we're talking about do the double arm.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah.

[Jerry Ferrara]

And it's like an unveiling. I've never taken my shirt off like that once in my life. It's always like, how do I do this? As quick as possible.

[Luke Walton]

You stretch. That was like me in gym class in fourth grade, dude. Just, I'd like put it, take it off real quick.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So I bet you you did not see that for our strapped in this week, but shout outs to Nitza again. Don't risk it. Click it. Or a ticket. I'm glad we got that all out there.

[Luke Walton]

You're, you're get. You're giving me anxiety Just, just listening to that, just getting a visual.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Fortunately for me, I only did that like three or four times. Even like Power when I was working on Power. Everyone has one of those scenes in Power.

[Luke Walton]

It's like, what were those scenes? I want to go, I want to go watch it.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I literally. No, I taught. I told Courtney Kemp, the showrunner creator. I'm like, when I started working on show my Courtney, don't put me in one of those scenes.

[Luke Walton]

No.

[Jerry Ferrara]

What were your two love scenes? What were your two love scenes in Entourage? I had.

[Luke Walton]

Was it an entourage?

[Jerry Ferrara]

I had two or three.

[Luke Walton]

It wasn't Ronda Rouse.

[Jerry Ferrara]

No, it wasn't Ron. It was Donya Ramirez was like the horrifying. Let me buy horrifying. It's like it was like shirt off, full on simulation. Didn't enjoy that. I'm gonna go back this other girl, Jonna Jana Kramer.

[Luke Walton]

Oh, yeah.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Was what was one. And then I had a few with movies and stuff like that. But I'm glad we don't ever have to talk about this again. You know what? Let's. Let's shift the focus on to you. Let's do a little all time adventures driven by Nissan. Take adventures to new heights in the all new 2025 Nissan Armada. Go to nissanusa.com armada to learn more. This is where we highlight an adventure. We try to keep this career driven. So I wanted to know from you, I know we're not quite locked into baseball the way we were during the playoffs, but you know, we just had Yankees met subway series. Yankees took two out of three. All this Juan Soto stuff which I do feel is being fabricated as many things by the media. Like he flies private by himself. I think that's already been debunked as not true. Not hustling out of the batter's box. That's kind of true.

[Luke Walton]

But he's now a lot of people that do that.

[Jerry Ferrara]

He's getting the Diva, took the money, left the Yankees. All this stuff, which I would have did the same exact thing probably. But have you in your career, both back in college into the pros, ever had to deal with a player that was having these, we'll call them diva like traits Hardcore.

[Luke Walton]

No, I, honestly, I, I gosh, I mean there, there were. I mean there's probably like, like, I mean, look like me and Reggie were treated differently at USC my senior year because of just adding up to that. Like we had like literally security guards for us that would walk from. That's actually a great story. I can get on that note that we'd have security because there's so many fans on campus that wanted our autograph like on a. Like, how do you go to school September. So like that probably is a little Diva esque. But it wasn't like it was just to get from, from the media wanted.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You guys to be.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, it was just, it was just like, like autograph people, like, you know, the ebay people, all that. But I, I would, I, I thought, I thought about this and it's actually quite opposite. And I want to tell the story because he could have been this way and he just wasn't. It was. I played with Edron James and for those who don't remember Edron James, the great Miami Hurricane, great Indianapolis Colt in the hall of Fame, which is so awesome. Played for the Colts with those Peyton Manning teams for like eight or nine years. My rookie year, he got, he was a big free agent pickup for us. Signed into like a four year deal and it was kind of the tail end of his career. But he was incredibly impactful for me. You know, I didn't, I know it didn't work out for me there, but just seeing him and seeing what a Hall of Fame player and how he worked and all those things, he was the opposite. And, and what I mean by that is when he signed there, he stayed at the Ritz Carlton up in Scottsdale or Phoenix. That's where he lived. He didn't buy a house, he just kind of did his own thing. But the cool thing about Edge was he rented a house right by the facility for like a playhouse for all the Guys to go over and hang. Like, like, not even, like a crash pad. Like, here's. Here's pool tables, here's this, here's that. Just, like, to build the bond and the camaraderie. Camaraderie house, like, most in Tempe. Like, like, five minutes away from the facility. Go there. It's always open. Or here's a key. And dudes would go and just go and hang. And this was my first year in the league. So, like, wow, I'm coming from usc. Like, I'm coming from a very. Like, like, we were in the spotlight. So, like, I was. I was just shocked because I still like. Like, I'm like, damn, dude. I'm about to play with Edwin James. Like, this is dope. I'm about to play with Larry Fitzgerald. This is. This is sick. I just thought I saw it from a Hall of Fame player, and I saw that with Andre Johnson in Houston. Larry, I played a lot of hall of Famers, man, and, like, I saw the opposite, which I'm pretty lucky, so. Never really played with someone like that. At least that had that kind of narrative around him and that perception. It was actually quite opposite. I'd love to get EJ on.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I would love.

[Luke Walton]

Because he's an incredible dude. Incredible stories. And he, like, he was always, like, he was. He was always the smartest dude I knew. Like, he saved his money. He was a bit. He's always a business thinker. He's like, I'm not spending my money, like. And so, like, he just. He was awesome, man. So. But yeah, like, he was. He was team first guy, even at that point in his career.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So, like, the sort of thing where. All right, we just had a, you know, crazy practice. Walk through whatever. You could literally just cruise over to that house if you don't feel like going home just yet and order some.

[Luke Walton]

Call me. He called me.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Some people put on a game or whatever's on, play video games. It was a kick it house.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, it's just a kick it house. He was. He called. He just.

[Jerry Ferrara]

That's Entourage, baby.

[Luke Walton]

All he. Yeah, all he did ever was call me quarterback. That's all he did. If I text him right now, he'd be like, quarterback. That's all he said.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Well, he has the same thing that Walton has. Like, you don't really see. See, I don't see Edge on every podcast or every YouTube show.

[Luke Walton]

I reach out. Edge is. Edge is one of the. The great dudes, man. Like, one of the great.

[Jerry Ferrara]

He's not still in Arizona I wonder where he.

[Luke Walton]

Nah, he's in. He's in Miami. He's got a lot of kids. I know his oldest is a running back or football. Like he's playing college now. Maybe he's a baller, but just an all around good dude. And like one thing too that I noticed when I was younger in the league and I'd go to Miami, the Hurricanes, they run that city, dude. Yeah, they run that city. Who's the. The one. The one guy that runs that city is. Who's a big lineman? McKinney, I think. Brian.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Luke Walton]

They were like, you need anything? You hit up him. I was like, what does that mean? He's like, you need anything? You hit it. Like he was like the mayor. Like they just ran the town kind of like. I mean, I guess similar to like us at usc, but we were kids. Like these are grown like adults. Like you just needed anything in Miami. Like you hit up anyone that went to the you at that time.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Honestly, if some of my like dream college football matchups, it would probably be one of those Miami teams versus you and Reggie. Like that would probably. I think that.

[Luke Walton]

Well, dude, the Miami Oath, one team.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Oh, one. Yeah.

[Luke Walton]

Is. I mean on paper those name. I mean it's ridiculous. It's absolutely. You can go down the list on both sides of the ball. Probably 10 to 15 dudes and like more than half were either Pro Bowlers or will be in the hall of Fame. Like it's. That's how crazy that is. Edge was an. Edge was earlier. Do you remember Edge? My first memory of Edron and I wonder if you. You might not have been as big in college football at the time they played. They played UCLA, UCL.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I do remember this.

[Luke Walton]

Kate McNown. Yeah, I think, I think it was in the bowl game. Or is it the end? It was a big ass game and Edge ran. I don't know the numbers, but he.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Had a crazy stat line.

[Luke Walton]

He ran for like 250 or 300 against UCLA. UCLA was nice. That was like JJ Stokes. K. McNown might have been Desean Foster. No, I think or it was on the who it was. But yeah, Edge was by the way.

[Jerry Ferrara]

In Green Bay at the draft when we were there. The coolest jersey I saw the whole time was a Colts Edger and James jersey jersey. Someone was rocking the. I saw the number. I'm like, come on, no way. And I turned around and said James. I'm like, that's a fire jersey. That was all time Adventures driven by Nissan again. Go to nissanusa.comarmada let's do some mailbag. I got two for us today and then we'll get everybody out of here. In honor of the cam Scatter Boo. Viral photo, Trevor. Oh, yeah. Trevor writes what would the current rotation of jerseys for Turtle be in.

[Luke Walton]

Great question, Trevor.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Really good one. Easy answer. Brunson Cat for sure.

[Luke Walton]

That's you're going cat jersey.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I think so. I think. I think Brunson I. I have. I also have here heart and I think Turtle would rock like a Miles McBride. He didn't always go for the big flashy.

[Luke Walton]

That's what I'm saying. I think. I think you're going. I think you're going Jackson dart and you're going. Oh, you're for sure going scatter.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Going scatter. But that's. That's number. That's probably number. It's Brunson one one a Scatter Boo.

[Luke Walton]

What's your favorite throwback Giants jersey? Like if you could like like an LT or LT is fire.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I think like a Bavaro one is super fire. I love Dave Meot as a kid. Number 30 give me Dave me. That's who I always was in the park. Big Dave. I loved like Rodney Hampton those teams and like a little later than that dude. I Even though he got hurt and then Kevin Boss stepped in and unlocked like a whole other part of the offense. Jeremy Shocky was a fire was good. I think also Turtle would probably. I mean judge would be the easy. He'd be rocking Volpe. If it was a Yankee, he'd be rocking Vulpy would be the Italian thing. His throwback would probably be like a Mattingly or if he did like a Knicks throwback, it'd probably be Mason or Oakley. And then I was thinking like what's a good. What non New York jersey would Turtle. Right. I think Turtle would rock like a white chocolate Jason Williams King's jersey jersey. Something like that. I feel like as a non.

[Luke Walton]

Yeah. Turtle had a little white chocolate vibe to him.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah, I think he would rock. That's a good call. Good question from there and then I thought this one was pretty cool. From the social media team, a Michael Jordan jersey from the 93 season sold for 2.6 million pales in comparison. The most expensive piece of Jordan memorabilia all time is from the 98 finals 10.1 million. So removing money from the equation, if it's not an investment piece, what would be a cool piece of Jordan memorabilia you would like to have taking money out.

[Luke Walton]

I mean this is easy for me, and it's not even close to his. Probably most expensive. It's his clear rookie card because I've come very, very close to buying it. Very close by.

[Jerry Ferrara]

That's like a gold bar.

[Luke Walton]

Well, I mean, there's only so many tens. The tens are fortunate. Yeah. I don't know if they're a million, but they're high. But, like, I was gonna buy a graded five and a six. A six.

[Jerry Ferrara]

What was a six going for?

[Luke Walton]

It was going for. I think you could get it for, like, seven or eight grand.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Seven or eight.

[Luke Walton]

But I was getting it for five.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Oh, you're winning on that all day. Or.

[Luke Walton]

Or it was. I was getting it for. For lower because actually, I was going through our friend Josh Richmond, and I. I ran it. I. I ran it by the wife, and she said, what the are you doing?

[Jerry Ferrara]

We have children, Matt. You cannot buy a car.

[Luke Walton]

I said, you're gonna buy a Michael Jordan. She didn't know Graded Michael Jordan card for it as an investment. Well, you're never gonna sell it, because my whole thing is, like, it's an investment, but, like, I'm not reselling.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You don't ever sell that investment.

[Luke Walton]

It's anyway that the 88 FLIR card is. Is just iconic. I collect cards. I'm sure there's shoes. There's other things out there, but that would be my piece.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So for me, I. I tried to think off the beaten path. I would love to have that gold chain he used to rock. And I think his rookie year or second year, it's almost like a choker. It did not dangle at all. It was, like, real tight around his neck, which was, like, the coolest thing I think I ever saw a basketball player do with the scripted Chicago on the jersey. Give me that gold chain. I would rock that also. I think it'd be really cool if you had the actual flu game sneakers. I have the rep. You know, I have a pair of Jordan flu games. But to actually have the game, the sneakers he wore or even the jersey he wore in the flu game, like, I. You know, I could already see me having the jersey. Be like, don't touch it because there's germs on it. You might get the flu if you touch that jersey, because that's the flu game.

[Luke Walton]

I am. I am fortunate to have taking a tequila shot. MJ in his flesh. In flesh.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I and Oakley remembered it.

[Luke Walton]

One of the best stories. I'll go. I'll go to my grave with that story. My grandkids remember Michael. Yeah, Grandpa Had a nice shot at the Hollywood Club.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Not many people could nurse the wounds of losing a game like you did at that time with, like, the guys who consoled you, Jordan and. Okay, Oakley.

[Luke Walton]

And the best part was they called me over. That was like the coolest part was like, Oakley came over and said, MJ wants to take a shot, wants to meet you. Come over. And I was like. I was. I was like, when I brought that.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Up to Oakley, I was wondering, like, is he gonna remember?

[Luke Walton]

Yeah, I wonder.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Time ago. And I brought it up to him. He was like, oh, he was so. He was so mad and upset. We probably brought him right over. Yeah, he remembered it right away and he was like, we. I think they lost some money on that, too. Yeah, I think they were big on. On the Trojans for that one. So. Good mail, bad questions. Great show today.

[Luke Walton]

I'll be. We'll see you courtside.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I'll see you on the guard tomorrow night, right?

[Luke Walton]

Friday night.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Friday, yeah. Tomorrow we'll. And again, we don't know. We'll either be trying to go up two zero or try to knot it up at one.

[Luke Walton]

It don't. It don't matter if you're down one or up one. You are. Your feet are touching wood. There ain't nothing there no better place in sports than.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I'll tell you what, too. It doesn't matter what happens tonight in game one. You gotta win game two because you're either going to need to go one one or you know what? Go up two zero. Hold home court advantage. Step on their next.

[Luke Walton]

By the way, I just.

[Jerry Ferrara]

7Th Avenue. If they win, by the way, 7th Avenue. And I'm going to party with everybody.

[Luke Walton]

By the way, I just thought of this, bro. Timothy Chalamet. You're going to be right next to shallow.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Oh, he. I mean, can we get him on the. Has risen so high up the Knick ranks. And you know who's doing a great job before we close the show? Our guy. And we have to get him on, too, in the second. Pete Traeger. Okay. Who's now all over espn.

[Luke Walton]

We're gonna get him on training camp for sure.

[Jerry Ferrara]

He was on get up the other day shouting out Nick's content creators on Twitter, who I know because I follow everything. But these are guys who literally have their. Their entire business is like the Knicks. Right?

[Luke Walton]

Well, they're blowing up because.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Blowing up like you thought I would. You got the good work for the Knicks.

[Luke Walton]

You got to talk to Chalamet. You got to talk to Chalamet. He's gonna be. He's gonna love you, bro. Listen, let's go so far. By the way, if you're. If you're. If your nephew backs out, just hit me up.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Would you fly it if I was like, matt, my nephew can't go this ticket. You can't.

[Luke Walton]

I'm on. I'm on vacation this weekend. So, no, I can't.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I feel like I'll be.

[Luke Walton]

I'll be the seat. I feel I'll be sipping margaritas in Mexico this weekend.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Golf balls while you're there. Thank you, everybody, for listening like. And subscribe. Subscribe. And all that good stuff. We'll catch you next week. Let's go. Thank you, Luke Walton.