NBA Opening Week Insights: Lakers New Era, Celtics 3-Point Revolution, and Draft Prospects to Watch

[00:00:11] It's Friday, you know what time it is. Front Runner Podcast Collective is back on the air. I am your humble host, gents, and we are to talk about the opening week, how it's going. We're going to start in LA. We're going to make our way to Boston. We're also going to talk about like Orlando and a couple other teams. It's kind of a quick overview, snapshot of what we watched so far.

[00:00:41] And then also we're going to talk about the unfortunate situation in New Orleans. And we're going to talk about a little bit about the draft. Just a tad, just a little bit. But before we get there, X, join us on X at Front Runner PC and also at Rhea underscore font FRPC. It's a good follow. Keep you a great

[00:01:11] conversation. I'm interested in what's going on with the podcast, what have you. I'm sure there are some interesting little tidbits here and there from myself, the host, Vince, and also the producers as well. The other thing is follow us on YouTube at Front Runner Podcast Collective. Make sure that you're subscribing. Make sure you turn on those notifications and make sure that you're hanging out on the community page as well.

[00:01:40] Hope to see you there. So we hope to see you there. So we go ahead and get into your comments and be able to enter with you on a different level.

[00:01:50] Then the last thing is. Be a friend, tell a friend about podcast. Make sure that you are getting the word out Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Keep it locked here with Front Runner Podcast Collective for all your NBA needs and all the funny items that come along with it.

[00:02:12] And without further ado, let's get into this new season. And let's also get into this like new beginning.

[00:02:23] This is so beautiful out there. There's a lot of hope, but there's a lot of promise. And we're going to start in L.A.

[00:02:31] And you go, well, Vince, why would you want to start in L.A.? Because you've been really hard on the Lakers all year.

[00:02:40] I did tell you. I like the J.J. higher. I did. Now, I wanted to see, was he going to be able to implement his philosophies and what his stamp of the team would be?

[00:02:56] I think we got our end right in the first game. And we're going to start there.

[00:03:02] So the Lakers entered a new era with J.J. Redick, who made Anthony Davis the clear focal point of the offense.

[00:03:12] This shift was on full display against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where Davis led the team with 36 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists.

[00:03:23] While he was showcasing his abilities to dominate in the number one role, he just literally took over the game.

[00:03:34] He had a presence about him. He was involved in a lot of the offense in the sense of being able to touch the basketball.

[00:03:45] Anytime that you can have an engaged Anthony Davis on the basketball court the way he was, you're going to have a lot of outstanding outcomes that come along with him.

[00:03:58] He got open shots for other people because of his, just his tenacity getting to the lane.

[00:04:04] And when he's getting fouled, it's a completely different animal.

[00:04:10] And that's what we saw in the first game. He punished Gobert as much as he possibly could.

[00:04:18] And you also saw a very, very engaged Rui Hachimura, which was, let's put it this way.

[00:04:28] It's one game. We're not strict, man. We're not sitting here saying, hey, J.J. Redick has solved the cure to cancer.

[00:04:36] We're not saying all that. What we are saying is that this team looks engaged.

[00:04:42] They do have full plays that they run on out of timeouts, out of round plays.

[00:04:52] You see them mixing up just the variants, just showing different looks, different times down the court.

[00:05:02] Now, if something was working so effectively, they didn't have a problem scamming that situation over and over until Minnesota made an adjustment.

[00:05:12] So all these things are plus-plus on the side of J.J. Redick and the effect that he's having on the Lakers.

[00:05:22] Now, the thing that I do want to talk about is that the Lakers have amped up three-point shooting.

[00:05:31] Under Redick's guidance, the attempting of 43s in their season opener to create better spacing around Davis.

[00:05:41] Redick commented for us that taking 43s in it, that's promising.

[00:05:47] It's about the quality of shots, though, not just the volume.

[00:05:51] So he's still looking for great shot, not good shot.

[00:05:56] Turn down a good shot to get a great shot.

[00:06:01] And I know that is something that he is laser-focused on.

[00:06:05] Also, what he's laser-focused on are Spain pick-and-rolls.

[00:06:11] You saw Davis in a lot of action.

[00:06:13] You saw the just—I love Austin Reeves was bringing up the ball.

[00:06:22] I love that Davis was out on the perimeter getting a handle of the ball, two, three dribbles, and then into the dribble handoff, passing it off to somebody in a different direction just to show the defense a different look.

[00:06:40] Because let's not get it twisted.

[00:06:43] LeBron James, Rui Hachamora, or Anthony Davis coming downhill is just a scary proposition for any defense that is slightly out of position.

[00:06:55] And that's all it takes.

[00:06:56] And if you look at the effectiveness of the movement of the offense, those little tweaks right there can make a real whole difference in what the Lakers could and could not mean this year.

[00:07:12] But again, it is one game.

[00:07:16] So good early season to check in to see how they're doing.

[00:07:21] Love the offense.

[00:07:23] Love how Austin was being used.

[00:07:27] Like that LeBron took a backseat.

[00:07:30] And we got to see Bronny.

[00:07:32] So Bronny came in for two minutes and 41 seconds.

[00:07:37] Shot the ball twice.

[00:07:39] Doing great.

[00:07:41] Played a little defense.

[00:07:44] Played with his dad.

[00:07:46] And then now he'll go on the road trip.

[00:07:49] And then once he comes back, it's pretty much a G League for him.

[00:07:56] A lot of people will be upset about, oh my God, he took a spot from somebody.

[00:08:02] There's two things that I want people to realize with this.

[00:08:06] With Anthony Davis being offensive anchor, you know what that's going to do?

[00:08:11] That's going to allow LeBron to rest a little bit more.

[00:08:15] You know what that's also going to do?

[00:08:17] That is also going to revive this man's career.

[00:08:21] Having Bronny on the team, this dude has played for like three more years.

[00:08:27] I'm telling you here first.

[00:08:29] LeBron James will make it to year 25.

[00:08:35] And it will be in a Laker uniform.

[00:08:38] And I think we need to go back to a quote that Bryce James said over the summer.

[00:08:46] I believe it was like on a TikTok video or something.

[00:08:49] Somebody asked him the question of, do you think your dad will be playing in the league when you're drafted?

[00:08:55] He said, nah, bro.

[00:08:57] My dad is old now.

[00:08:59] You think he's going to be playing in like three more years?

[00:09:03] That little comment right there.

[00:09:06] Because LeBron hears everything.

[00:09:08] I'm guaranteeing you, LeBron heard that and said, I have a new goal.

[00:09:14] I have a new mountain to climb.

[00:09:18] It's not enough that I get Bronny in the league, be indoctrinated, and find his way and find whatever his little niche is in the league and get him secured.

[00:09:30] No.

[00:09:31] Now, I must see Bryce in the NBA.

[00:09:41] And if he's going to shake up this role where Austin Reeves is going to be able to bring up the ball most of the time and be able to allow him to quit first, have impactful situations in the game.

[00:09:56] Well, also while where you see Anthony Davis taking a pronounced role in the offense.

[00:10:03] Yeah, you can extend this dude's career by three years.

[00:10:08] He was averaging 25 points a game last year.

[00:10:12] Why do we not think that LeBron James couldn't average like 20 points a game in year 23, 24, or 25?

[00:10:24] I have no limits on this dude.

[00:10:27] I won't put any more on him.

[00:10:30] We should just be astonished every time we see him.

[00:10:36] And that's it.

[00:10:38] And shout out to Bronny in the sense of giving his dad an, I don't know, energy boost or whatever to keep him going.

[00:10:49] Because I just think the shenanigans between those two, because if you haven't seen it on social media before the first game, right?

[00:11:00] Got to get to the, you know, get your workout in, get all these things in, right?

[00:11:05] So LeBron is putting cereal in his son's car.

[00:11:09] This is a cereal, just pouring it in his car.

[00:11:12] So Bronny comes out to the car, opens the car, bunches of cereal come out.

[00:11:19] And there's LeBron in the phantom, rolls the window down, says, hey, Rook, don't be late.

[00:11:26] And Bronny looks out and I'm like, aren't you too old for that?

[00:11:29] Like what this, what we're doing here?

[00:11:32] Come on, we're doing it like this?

[00:11:34] So guess what?

[00:11:37] Bronny might be LeBron's Rook.

[00:11:40] And this is just going to be content all year.

[00:11:45] All year.

[00:11:46] And we got another content king coming up for you later in the podcast.

[00:11:51] So keep it locked here.

[00:11:53] The next thing that I want to get to with the opening, we're going to talk a little bit about Boston Celtics.

[00:12:01] Now, not a huge fan, but respect the brand, respect the franchise, respect what they do.

[00:12:13] And they raised their 18th banner.

[00:12:16] And then they went out and they played the Knicks and they absolutely destroyed them.

[00:12:23] Tatum shot Luke's dicks.

[00:12:26] And they went on a three-point shooting barrage that I think would have made Steph jealous.

[00:12:34] Who else?

[00:12:36] Clay jealous.

[00:12:38] Who's another one?

[00:12:40] Ray Allen would have been jealous.

[00:12:42] Reggie Miller.

[00:12:42] Stephanie definitely would have been jealous.

[00:12:54] Reggie Miller.

[00:13:15] I think we are good in Boston.

[00:13:18] I think we understand what the intentionality is.

[00:13:21] We understand that Brown and Tatum are good to go.

[00:13:26] I don't think you see a lot of cavalier attitude, lazy shit attitude about, oh, we want one.

[00:13:33] So now we're made men.

[00:13:35] No.

[00:13:36] They had the exact opposite thought process than Andrew Wiggins.

[00:13:45] Now, harking back with me a couple years, right?

[00:13:48] 2022.

[00:13:50] The Warriors sneak out a championship.

[00:13:55] Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins are sitting in the corner talking about, we don't get them.

[00:14:04] We want, hey, we want to do this.

[00:14:07] We want to do that.

[00:14:08] We're made men.

[00:14:09] All this, right?

[00:14:10] These are all comments and quotes that are going around these two dudes.

[00:14:17] Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown are going, yeah, we got a lot to prove.

[00:14:25] We still got a lot going on here.

[00:14:29] We're not satisfied.

[00:14:31] We need to be playing like dogs.

[00:14:34] We have a renewed confidence going into this season.

[00:14:38] We know who we are.

[00:14:40] We have plenty of continuity, and there should be no reason that we do not go out here and try to get another.

[00:14:53] Now, they beat the brakes off the Knicks, so you would think, okay, that was kind of like a state game, right?

[00:15:00] That was something just for the Knicks.

[00:15:02] No, no, no, no, no.

[00:15:03] No, no.

[00:15:04] This is for everybody.

[00:15:06] These assholes are not just for certain individuals.

[00:15:13] Everybody can get these.

[00:15:16] Exhibit B, the Washington Wizards.

[00:15:20] Now, listen, the Wizards are not good, and they're not trying to be good.

[00:15:25] I understand that.

[00:15:27] So, to think for one second that there would be a real competitive game going on here, I'm sure I'm probably asking for a lot.

[00:15:37] But this was the game last year Boston would have picking up.

[00:15:44] This is a game last year that Boston would have taken their foot off the accelerator.

[00:15:51] Now, Missoula's focus on shot creation is clear with Tatum Frequency frequently orchestrating the offense with driving kick plays.

[00:16:01] If you look at the offense, the first two games, it has been a bunch of driving kicks.

[00:16:06] It has been aggressively attack the paint with intentionality and then kick the ball out to the three-point shooters.

[00:16:16] Now, not only did they shoot 61 threes in that game, they shot in the first two games, 106 threes total.

[00:16:30] The mandate is clear.

[00:16:32] 45 threes are bust.

[00:16:34] That is the number they got to against Washington.

[00:16:37] They shot 38% from three, and you do the math.

[00:16:42] They won by 20.

[00:16:43] So, it does look like the Boston Celtics do not have a NBA championship hangover.

[00:16:54] And Boston's pace and three-point emphasis look well-suited to take on each top teams, especially with Tatum and Brown leading the way.

[00:17:09] Because these dudes seem super pissed off about whatever happened with the U.S. national team or whatever.

[00:17:22] Now, maybe they won't say they're in public.

[00:17:25] Maybe they also feel like they're being disrespected as a duo.

[00:17:31] Because we talk about, like, the most feared duos.

[00:17:36] For some reason, their name doesn't come up.

[00:17:39] Now, I have my thoughts on Tatum.

[00:17:43] And I told you in playoffs last year that I'm going to lose the Mala mentality mantra thing.

[00:17:51] And I believed it at the time.

[00:17:57] If he's going to continue to play like this, I don't know what's pushing him.

[00:18:02] I don't know if it's Jalen Brown and his tenacity that is pushing Jason Tatum.

[00:18:08] But those two together are ferocious.

[00:18:12] And we might be seeing the best of them right now.

[00:18:17] So, the team that won the championship last year, we might be seeing the best of scary prepositioning for everyone in the East.

[00:18:36] But keeping it in the East, we have a lot going on in the East.

[00:18:43] We have storylines galore.

[00:18:45] And I want to bring our attention to the state of Florida.

[00:18:49] And the reason why I want to go there is because the Orlando Magic's dominance of the Miami Heat did not go unnoticed by this podcast.

[00:19:02] Now, it also went beyond the scoreboard.

[00:19:05] They demonstrated their defensive strength by holding Jimmy Butler to only three points the entire game.

[00:19:13] He shot one for eight from the field in 26 minutes.

[00:19:19] This game got away for them early.

[00:19:22] Now, it was a tough start to Butler's, if you want to call it his contract extension tour that he's going on.

[00:19:32] But we'll see how as the season plays out.

[00:19:35] Now, I will say this about the Miami-Orlando matchup.

[00:19:41] Miami likes to bully people.

[00:19:44] Unfortunately, what happens when the bully runs into a bigger bully?

[00:19:49] Because guess what Orlando likes to do?

[00:19:53] They like to bully.

[00:19:55] And they're better at it.

[00:19:57] Especially when you have Apollo Bencaro, who can score 33 points.

[00:20:03] And he's 6'10", and he's 245.

[00:20:08] Then you add on Franz Wagner, who we said would be a key early on in the season as far as what he was going to be.

[00:20:19] Did he fix his shot?

[00:20:21] Was he going to shoot it less?

[00:20:23] How was he going to fix his efficiency issues that he was having?

[00:20:28] First game, we, you know, we hold it down.

[00:20:33] 23 points.

[00:20:35] He shot it well from three-point land.

[00:20:37] They shot 50% together as a combo from three.

[00:20:42] Because our guy popped four for eight.

[00:20:46] And then Franz was three of six.

[00:20:49] So, it's a beautiful thing when you shoot seven of 14 from your two production guys.

[00:20:56] Now, Jalen Sainz had an all-win because he was in foul trouble.

[00:21:02] But don't you worry.

[00:21:05] Anthony Black, who is another guy that we talked about on this podcast.

[00:21:10] And we wanted to see some maturity.

[00:21:12] And when I say that, that sounds like I'm taking a shot at him.

[00:21:18] It's not.

[00:21:19] Maturity in his game.

[00:21:22] We wanted to see if he had a little more command of the offense.

[00:21:26] And it looked like he did.

[00:21:28] And he was still causing the same chaos.

[00:21:32] Because he's 6'6", 6'7".

[00:21:35] Long arm.

[00:21:36] And I love his hair.

[00:21:38] Because he reminds me of Carlito.

[00:21:42] From the judging of day.

[00:21:44] On WWE.

[00:21:46] Now.

[00:21:48] Played well.

[00:21:49] He scored 10 points.

[00:21:50] Had six assists.

[00:21:52] Like I said.

[00:21:53] Had to show complete command of the offense.

[00:21:56] And they also needed him.

[00:21:58] Again, Jalen Sainz ended up in foul trouble.

[00:22:01] But the two stars, Franz Wagner and Paulo Guantaro.

[00:22:06] Just put.

[00:22:07] Opened up a whole can of ass.

[00:22:10] For their Miami Heat.

[00:22:12] And they just destroyed them.

[00:22:14] Now.

[00:22:14] Here is where the real stat will tell you.

[00:22:21] The Orlando Magic.

[00:22:24] As far as rebounding is concerned.

[00:22:27] They beat Miami 57-41 on the boards.

[00:22:34] Not only did they kill them on the boards in totality.

[00:22:38] They doubled up on the offensive boards.

[00:22:43] They had 18 offensive rebounds to 9 for Miami.

[00:22:48] Now that's a stat that.

[00:22:50] Skolstra will absolutely like lose sleep over.

[00:22:55] Now.

[00:22:57] I don't know what he's going to do when he sees the tape.

[00:23:00] And he sees that.

[00:23:01] All the guys are like 3-4 inches bigger.

[00:23:05] Than his guys.

[00:23:07] And how that's going to.

[00:23:09] Work out.

[00:23:10] But.

[00:23:14] Orlando might be a little bit better than what we thought.

[00:23:19] Just a little bit.

[00:23:22] But I will say this.

[00:23:23] Is that.

[00:23:24] Again.

[00:23:25] What happens when the bully runs into a bigger bully.

[00:23:29] And that's literally what was illustrated that night.

[00:23:33] Is that Orlando was just.

[00:23:36] Physicality was more impactful.

[00:23:39] And you're going to need to.

[00:23:41] Bring your big boy pants.

[00:23:43] When you play the Orlando Magic.

[00:23:46] Now.

[00:23:48] Couple other things to talk about.

[00:23:51] That we really need to get to.

[00:23:55] OKC.

[00:23:56] Played.

[00:23:58] The Denver Nuggets.

[00:24:00] In a game where you're saying.

[00:24:02] Well.

[00:24:03] This should be really.

[00:24:04] Must see.

[00:24:05] Right.

[00:24:05] We got OKC.

[00:24:07] Young team.

[00:24:08] Coming off.

[00:24:09] Their first real.

[00:24:11] Like long 80 playoff run.

[00:24:13] How they going to react to it.

[00:24:15] Now that you are the hunted.

[00:24:17] Not the hunter.

[00:24:19] All of these things.

[00:24:20] Guess what.

[00:24:22] The Thunder went into Denver.

[00:24:24] And stunned.

[00:24:26] Them.

[00:24:27] And just blitzed them.

[00:24:29] Led by Shea Gilgis.

[00:24:30] Alexander scoring.

[00:24:32] And Chet Holmgren's.

[00:24:33] Defensive versatility.

[00:24:35] Denver.

[00:24:36] Struggle.

[00:24:37] With their spacing.

[00:24:38] Especially with lineups.

[00:24:40] Featuring Russell Westbrook.

[00:24:41] Peyton Watson.

[00:24:43] Julian Strother.

[00:24:44] And Jamal Murray.

[00:24:45] We talked about.

[00:24:47] In the Western Conference preview.

[00:24:49] That Jamal Murray.

[00:24:51] Could not get off.

[00:24:52] To his.

[00:24:53] Usual.

[00:24:55] I start off slow.

[00:24:57] You'll start.

[00:24:58] The real Jamal Murray.

[00:25:00] Around Christmas time.

[00:25:02] And then once we got into.

[00:25:03] The new year.

[00:25:04] Jamal Murray.

[00:25:05] Was fully formed.

[00:25:07] And ready to go.

[00:25:08] It was imperative.

[00:25:10] That Jamal Murray.

[00:25:11] Got off to a hot start.

[00:25:13] This year.

[00:25:14] Because.

[00:25:15] That they were relying.

[00:25:16] On.

[00:25:16] So much of the young guys.

[00:25:18] That they've drafted.

[00:25:19] Over the last couple years.

[00:25:22] And.

[00:25:22] Even though that.

[00:25:23] Julian Strother.

[00:25:25] Played okay.

[00:25:27] Peyton Watson.

[00:25:28] Didn't really give him.

[00:25:29] Too much of anything.

[00:25:31] Now Christian Brown.

[00:25:32] Did show up.

[00:25:33] He scored 17 points.

[00:25:35] But.

[00:25:37] Okay see.

[00:25:38] Pack.

[00:25:39] They were not.

[00:25:41] Really.

[00:25:42] Just honoring.

[00:25:43] The three point line.

[00:25:45] When it came to the Denver Nuggets.

[00:25:46] Whatsoever.

[00:25:48] Because they didn't have.

[00:25:49] Anybody scary.

[00:25:51] Other than.

[00:25:52] Michael Porter Jr.

[00:25:55] Now.

[00:25:56] SGA shot.

[00:25:57] An impressive.

[00:25:58] 57 percent.

[00:25:59] Point.

[00:26:00] Ted.

[00:26:00] Contested.

[00:26:01] Attempt.

[00:26:02] Breaking through.

[00:26:03] Denver's defense.

[00:26:04] While.

[00:26:04] Home green.

[00:26:06] Did his.

[00:26:07] Best.

[00:26:08] Jokic.

[00:26:08] Impersonation.

[00:26:10] Home green.

[00:26:10] Had 25 points.

[00:26:12] He had.

[00:26:13] 14 rebounds.

[00:26:15] He also had.

[00:26:16] Five assists.

[00:26:17] He had.

[00:26:18] Four blocks.

[00:26:19] He had.

[00:26:20] Two steals.

[00:26:23] Check.

[00:26:24] Gear three.

[00:26:25] But really.

[00:26:26] Year two.

[00:26:27] Rookie year.

[00:26:28] Missed the whole year.

[00:26:29] Right.

[00:26:29] Last year.

[00:26:31] Would have won.

[00:26:32] Rookie of the year.

[00:26:33] But we had.

[00:26:33] Victor win.

[00:26:34] Bayama win it.

[00:26:36] This year.

[00:26:39] Told you.

[00:26:40] Oklahoma City.

[00:26:41] We picked you to be the number one seed.

[00:26:44] And.

[00:26:45] It's coming to fruition.

[00:26:47] They looked incredible.

[00:26:49] They looked.

[00:26:50] Faster.

[00:26:51] They look.

[00:26:52] King.

[00:26:53] They got to loose balls.

[00:26:55] They.

[00:26:56] They had.

[00:26:58] Hands in the.

[00:26:59] Passing lanes.

[00:27:00] The whole game.

[00:27:02] It just seemed.

[00:27:05] They were the better team.

[00:27:08] And.

[00:27:10] That's a scary proposition.

[00:27:13] If you think about it.

[00:27:14] When it comes to the different nuggets.

[00:27:16] Because we.

[00:27:17] Continue.

[00:27:18] Perennially.

[00:27:19] Put them.

[00:27:20] As.

[00:27:20] A contender.

[00:27:22] In the NBA.

[00:27:23] Title.

[00:27:24] Contention.

[00:27:25] The problem is.

[00:27:27] This year.

[00:27:28] Is that.

[00:27:29] Jamal Murray.

[00:27:30] Is not Jamal Murray yet.

[00:27:33] And.

[00:27:35] Unless.

[00:27:36] Jokic.

[00:27:37] Willing to go.

[00:27:38] Outside his comfort zone.

[00:27:40] And.

[00:27:41] Basically.

[00:27:41] Carry the team.

[00:27:43] Which usually.

[00:27:44] He is a.

[00:27:45] Deferrer.

[00:27:46] Of the.

[00:27:47] Basketball.

[00:27:47] He wants to pass.

[00:27:49] He wants to have like.

[00:27:51] Incredible.

[00:27:51] Efficiency.

[00:27:53] He wants to shoot like.

[00:27:55] 15 times.

[00:27:56] Hit 10 of them.

[00:27:58] You know.

[00:27:58] That little.

[00:27:59] And then.

[00:28:00] Play.

[00:28:00] Beautiful.

[00:28:01] Basketball.

[00:28:03] This might be the one time.

[00:28:05] That Jokic.

[00:28:06] Has to.

[00:28:06] Let go.

[00:28:08] Of his.

[00:28:09] European.

[00:28:10] Upgreen.

[00:28:13] And.

[00:28:13] Embrace.

[00:28:15] The.

[00:28:17] Star driven.

[00:28:20] You know.

[00:28:21] Look at me.

[00:28:22] It's my time.

[00:28:24] I got to get all these shots.

[00:28:28] American style.

[00:28:29] Of basketball.

[00:28:30] Because that's the.

[00:28:31] Only way his team.

[00:28:33] Is going to be.

[00:28:35] Truly.

[00:28:35] Competitive.

[00:28:37] Unless there's a trade made.

[00:28:39] Where they can add.

[00:28:41] Another like.

[00:28:42] Impactful guy.

[00:28:45] A complete.

[00:28:47] Class difference.

[00:28:48] Last night.

[00:28:49] Or yeah.

[00:28:50] The other night.

[00:28:51] Between.

[00:28:52] OKC.

[00:28:53] In Denver.

[00:28:54] And it was.

[00:28:55] Star.

[00:29:00] Now.

[00:29:01] There was lack of spacing.

[00:29:02] That's going to be something.

[00:29:03] They're going to have to address.

[00:29:04] Michael Malone.

[00:29:05] It's going to have to come up.

[00:29:06] With lineups.

[00:29:07] That work.

[00:29:08] We will see.

[00:29:09] We.

[00:29:10] You know.

[00:29:10] We've been telling this story.

[00:29:12] The whole summer.

[00:29:12] Well.

[00:29:13] The kind of power struggle.

[00:29:15] Between Michael Malone.

[00:29:16] And Calvin Bulls.

[00:29:18] And.

[00:29:19] Obviously.

[00:29:19] Just kind of one.

[00:29:20] Because.

[00:29:21] The vets.

[00:29:22] Are not there anymore.

[00:29:24] Now.

[00:29:24] Russell.

[00:29:25] Westgrub.

[00:29:26] Did get a lot of playing time.

[00:29:27] He looked.

[00:29:29] He looked like.

[00:29:30] You know.

[00:29:31] You're going to have.

[00:29:32] Good games with Russ.

[00:29:33] You're going to have.

[00:29:33] Bad games with Russ.

[00:29:34] He was 2 of 10.

[00:29:36] This was kind of a bad game.

[00:29:38] He did have.

[00:29:38] A really nice.

[00:29:39] Block.

[00:29:40] Coming from behind.

[00:29:42] Not giving up on the play.

[00:29:44] So.

[00:29:45] I'm not going to kill Russ.

[00:29:47] On one game.

[00:29:48] But.

[00:29:48] The spacing is an issue.

[00:29:50] But it's not just.

[00:29:52] Russ's fault.

[00:29:52] You know.

[00:29:53] Those guys are going to have to.

[00:29:54] Knock down threes.

[00:29:56] People are going to.

[00:29:57] They're going to have to.

[00:29:58] Command respect.

[00:29:59] At that three point line.

[00:30:01] And right now.

[00:30:03] Debra doesn't have enough guys.

[00:30:05] That teams respect.

[00:30:07] At that three point line.

[00:30:10] Now.

[00:30:11] We're going to move on.

[00:30:13] To.

[00:30:14] Honestly.

[00:30:16] My favorite player.

[00:30:17] In the NBA.

[00:30:18] Right now.

[00:30:19] Anthony Evans.

[00:30:19] Edwards.

[00:30:20] He is.

[00:30:22] Absolutely.

[00:30:23] Must see.

[00:30:24] It is not just.

[00:30:25] Excuse me.

[00:30:26] It really isn't.

[00:30:27] The basketball.

[00:30:28] Is.

[00:30:29] A huge part of it.

[00:30:31] But.

[00:30:33] There's.

[00:30:34] No denying.

[00:30:35] Anthony Edwards.

[00:30:36] Is the realest.

[00:30:37] Duel.

[00:30:38] In the NBA.

[00:30:40] I'm.

[00:30:42] Okay.

[00:30:43] Oh.

[00:30:43] He.

[00:30:44] He's played two games so far.

[00:30:46] You played.

[00:30:47] Opening night.

[00:30:51] He scored 27 points.

[00:30:52] He shot.

[00:30:53] Five or 13.

[00:30:54] From beyond the arc.

[00:30:56] Uh.

[00:30:56] He really kept him.

[00:30:57] In it.

[00:30:58] He also.

[00:30:59] Provided.

[00:31:00] All the energy.

[00:31:01] That that team.

[00:31:03] Lacked.

[00:31:04] It looked.

[00:31:06] It looked like.

[00:31:06] Julius Randall.

[00:31:07] Was.

[00:31:09] Being held hostage.

[00:31:11] Personally.

[00:31:12] Now.

[00:31:13] We'll get to him.

[00:31:14] In the Sacramento game.

[00:31:15] Because.

[00:31:15] It was a completely.

[00:31:17] Different story.

[00:31:18] But.

[00:31:19] I want to go back.

[00:31:20] To the Laker game.

[00:31:21] And kind of.

[00:31:22] Key in.

[00:31:23] On Anthony Edwards.

[00:31:24] Because.

[00:31:25] It was a TNT broadcast.

[00:31:27] Shout out to.

[00:31:29] Ernie Johnson.

[00:31:30] Charles Barkley.

[00:31:32] Shaquille O'Neal.

[00:31:33] And Kenny DeGette Smith.

[00:31:35] For holding it down.

[00:31:36] And giving us.

[00:31:37] A ton of laughs.

[00:31:39] That night.

[00:31:40] In.

[00:31:40] This whole year.

[00:31:41] We are looking forward.

[00:31:43] To it.

[00:31:44] Now.

[00:31:45] They had.

[00:31:46] Edwards.

[00:31:47] Mic'd up.

[00:31:49] And.

[00:31:50] It was.

[00:31:51] Comedy.

[00:31:53] He was.

[00:31:55] First of all.

[00:31:57] The team.

[00:31:58] Honestly.

[00:31:59] Wasn't in with.

[00:31:59] Like a ton of energy.

[00:32:01] He was.

[00:32:02] Telling them.

[00:32:03] Clapping.

[00:32:03] And saying.

[00:32:03] Let's go.

[00:32:04] He kind of.

[00:32:05] Reminded me.

[00:32:07] Of.

[00:32:07] A linebacker coach.

[00:32:08] That worked.

[00:32:09] In the SEC.

[00:32:10] You know.

[00:32:11] Just like.

[00:32:11] We're getting killed out there.

[00:32:13] You need to play with more fire.

[00:32:15] Blah.

[00:32:15] Blah.

[00:32:15] Blah.

[00:32:16] He's just doing.

[00:32:16] It's like.

[00:32:17] Let's go.

[00:32:20] There was a point.

[00:32:21] Where.

[00:32:21] He admonished himself.

[00:32:23] He was like.

[00:32:24] I need to take that open three.

[00:32:27] No.

[00:32:28] And I need to knock that down.

[00:32:29] From my guys.

[00:32:30] Like he's talking to himself.

[00:32:32] Out there.

[00:32:33] Which is great.

[00:32:34] And then.

[00:32:35] There was a time.

[00:32:36] Where he looked over.

[00:32:37] To the bench.

[00:32:38] And he hit a three.

[00:32:40] He told you.

[00:32:41] He's like.

[00:32:41] You like that.

[00:32:42] You like what you saw right there.

[00:32:44] You see that right.

[00:32:48] Now.

[00:32:49] There were some more chirping.

[00:32:50] Down the road.

[00:32:51] Or whatever.

[00:32:52] But I think he also.

[00:32:54] Jared Vanderbilt.

[00:32:56] Must have said something.

[00:32:57] On the bench.

[00:32:58] And I can't say.

[00:32:59] What.

[00:33:00] Anthony said.

[00:33:01] But.

[00:33:02] I'll paraphrase.

[00:33:02] He was like.

[00:33:03] You haven't played in like.

[00:33:04] Two years.

[00:33:05] Right.

[00:33:07] So.

[00:33:07] Anthony Edwards.

[00:33:08] Was given.

[00:33:09] To everybody.

[00:33:10] Plus.

[00:33:11] He was giving us the points.

[00:33:12] Now.

[00:33:13] It didn't go successful.

[00:33:14] That night.

[00:33:15] Obviously.

[00:33:16] We talked about the Lakers win.

[00:33:17] And what they did.

[00:33:19] But.

[00:33:22] He went up to Sacramento.

[00:33:24] And said.

[00:33:25] They were playing.

[00:33:27] Like.

[00:33:27] Another game.

[00:33:28] Where.

[00:33:29] It looked like.

[00:33:30] The game was in the balance.

[00:33:33] And.

[00:33:34] Now.

[00:33:34] You know.

[00:33:35] What Sacramento has.

[00:33:36] Up there.

[00:33:37] Right.

[00:33:37] Sacramento has DeRozan now.

[00:33:40] Who's one of the.

[00:33:41] Clutch players.

[00:33:43] Like.

[00:33:43] I think he won the award.

[00:33:44] Last year.

[00:33:45] The.

[00:33:47] The.

[00:33:47] Clutch player of the year.

[00:33:49] Like.

[00:33:49] Two years ago.

[00:33:51] De'Aaron Fox.

[00:33:53] Hell.

[00:33:54] DeMonte.

[00:33:55] Sabonis.

[00:33:55] Was shooting threes.

[00:33:57] He had three or four.

[00:33:59] I mean.

[00:33:59] It was crazy.

[00:34:00] Up in Sacramento.

[00:34:02] The vibe was crazy.

[00:34:05] You had the fans.

[00:34:06] Just going.

[00:34:07] No.

[00:34:07] And there's.

[00:34:09] Anthony.

[00:34:11] Just staring it down.

[00:34:12] Now.

[00:34:13] Was it efficient?

[00:34:14] No.

[00:34:15] But when his team.

[00:34:17] Needed him.

[00:34:18] And also.

[00:34:20] Julius Randall.

[00:34:22] Put in.

[00:34:23] 33.

[00:34:23] As well.

[00:34:24] But.

[00:34:24] When his team.

[00:34:25] Needed him.

[00:34:26] Anthony Edwards.

[00:34:27] Produced.

[00:34:28] And he hit a cold three.

[00:34:31] He hit a cold three.

[00:34:33] They won.

[00:34:34] 117.

[00:34:35] 115.

[00:34:35] 15.

[00:34:36] So.

[00:34:37] They came to Cali.

[00:34:39] They split.

[00:34:39] In Cali.

[00:34:40] What I.

[00:34:41] Anthony Edwards.

[00:34:43] Is just a.

[00:34:44] A jewel.

[00:34:45] And I think.

[00:34:46] That the.

[00:34:47] NBA.

[00:34:47] Should do something.

[00:34:48] Where.

[00:34:49] They offer.

[00:34:52] Offer.

[00:34:52] Like.

[00:34:54] Maybe for.

[00:34:55] You know.

[00:34:55] Subscription.

[00:34:56] Or whatever.

[00:34:57] A couple times a week.

[00:34:59] Right.

[00:34:59] You have your favorite guys.

[00:35:01] Mic'd up.

[00:35:02] And you get to hear.

[00:35:03] Just the whole situation.

[00:35:05] On the court.

[00:35:06] And they can send it to you.

[00:35:08] In podcast form.

[00:35:09] Or whatever.

[00:35:09] The case may be.

[00:35:10] It's behind a paywall.

[00:35:12] I'm just helping out.

[00:35:13] The NBA.

[00:35:14] I know you guys.

[00:35:15] Need more revenue streams.

[00:35:17] I know.

[00:35:19] That the amount of money.

[00:35:20] That you got.

[00:35:21] From the TV revenue.

[00:35:22] Wasn't.

[00:35:23] Right.

[00:35:24] You need more.

[00:35:26] Here's another way.

[00:35:28] For you guys.

[00:35:29] To make money.

[00:35:30] Man.

[00:35:31] Live streaming.

[00:35:32] Or.

[00:35:33] Getting.

[00:35:34] After the game.

[00:35:36] Just.

[00:35:36] The live.

[00:35:37] Untun version.

[00:35:39] Of those conversations.

[00:35:40] That Anthony Edwards.

[00:35:41] Are having on the court.

[00:35:42] Yes.

[00:35:42] I will pay for that.

[00:35:44] Yes.

[00:35:45] I will pay for that.

[00:35:46] For sure.

[00:35:46] I will.

[00:35:48] And a lot of NBA.

[00:35:50] Fans would.

[00:35:51] There you go.

[00:35:52] NBA.

[00:35:53] I give you a lot of love.

[00:35:55] Now.

[00:35:56] The one thing I will say.

[00:35:57] About.

[00:35:58] Minnesota.

[00:35:58] The.

[00:36:00] It's going to take some time.

[00:36:02] Just like with a lot of these other teams.

[00:36:04] It's going to take some time.

[00:36:05] The.

[00:36:06] The spacing is going to be janky.

[00:36:09] There's nothing we can say about that.

[00:36:12] Julius Randall.

[00:36:13] Is a historic.

[00:36:14] Not.

[00:36:14] A great.

[00:36:15] Three-point shooter.

[00:36:16] He's really streaky.

[00:36:18] He can.

[00:36:18] Get on.

[00:36:19] Streaks where.

[00:36:20] It goes in.

[00:36:22] And.

[00:36:23] He can shoot.

[00:36:26] Something like.

[00:36:27] 17.

[00:36:28] A 40.

[00:36:28] Fucking.

[00:36:29] Like a three-inch stretch.

[00:36:30] Or something like that.

[00:36:31] But.

[00:36:31] It's not.

[00:36:32] Going to be.

[00:36:34] Ever.

[00:36:35] Consistent.

[00:36:36] So.

[00:36:37] They're going to have to work around that.

[00:36:39] Now.

[00:36:39] The great thing about Julius Randall.

[00:36:42] Is he made a mention of it too.

[00:36:44] And I thought it was funny.

[00:36:46] That he made a mention of it.

[00:36:47] He was like.

[00:36:48] You know you guys.

[00:36:49] I'm a good passer.

[00:36:50] Right?

[00:36:52] Like.

[00:36:53] I know how to pass the ball.

[00:36:56] Remember.

[00:36:57] The team that was around Julius.

[00:36:59] In New York.

[00:37:00] Before Brunson got there.

[00:37:01] Was a completely different team.

[00:37:04] He didn't get to play with all the toys.

[00:37:06] That.

[00:37:07] That Jay Lee.

[00:37:08] Is getting to play with now.

[00:37:10] It was.

[00:37:11] Put upon him.

[00:37:12] To go ahead.

[00:37:13] And producing.

[00:37:14] The 26.

[00:37:15] 27 points.

[00:37:17] So.

[00:37:17] I think.

[00:37:18] You're going to see.

[00:37:19] A different style.

[00:37:21] From Julius Randall.

[00:37:22] He's.

[00:37:22] Obviously.

[00:37:23] Motivated.

[00:37:24] Because he's in a contract year.

[00:37:27] Now.

[00:37:27] I don't know.

[00:37:28] If he'll necessarily.

[00:37:29] Still be.

[00:37:30] In Minnesota.

[00:37:31] When it all said and done.

[00:37:32] By the end of this year.

[00:37:33] But.

[00:37:34] I will say this.

[00:37:36] Is that.

[00:37:36] I do have.

[00:37:37] A lot of faith.

[00:37:38] In Chris Finch.

[00:37:39] Figuring out this offense.

[00:37:41] He was also.

[00:37:43] With.

[00:37:43] Julius Randall.

[00:37:44] Down.

[00:37:45] In New Orleans.

[00:37:46] So.

[00:37:47] I think.

[00:37:48] If.

[00:37:48] Anybody knows.

[00:37:50] How to get.

[00:37:51] The best out of Julius Randall.

[00:37:52] It's going to be.

[00:37:53] Minnesota.

[00:37:54] Head guy.

[00:37:56] Chris Finch.

[00:37:57] And I think.

[00:37:58] Anthony Edwards.

[00:37:59] As a.

[00:37:59] Fiery leader.

[00:38:01] Will also.

[00:38:02] Keep.

[00:38:03] Julius.

[00:38:03] Engaged.

[00:38:04] The whole time.

[00:38:05] Because if he was looking for.

[00:38:07] Rudy go there.

[00:38:08] For inspiration.

[00:38:09] That's.

[00:38:09] That's definitely not going.

[00:38:12] And again.

[00:38:14] I will.

[00:38:14] I don't need to.

[00:38:15] Ask this question.

[00:38:16] Because.

[00:38:17] I think.

[00:38:17] It just is.

[00:38:20] But Rudy go there.

[00:38:22] Is the most hated man.

[00:38:25] In the NBA.

[00:38:27] I've never seen.

[00:38:28] People just.

[00:38:29] Lying.

[00:38:31] To want to dunk.

[00:38:32] On this dude.

[00:38:34] But.

[00:38:35] Anthony Davis.

[00:38:36] Took it.

[00:38:36] Personal.

[00:38:38] He took it.

[00:38:39] So personal.

[00:38:41] That Rudy go there.

[00:38:42] Was garden.

[00:38:44] And you know.

[00:38:45] You saw some of.

[00:38:46] Darren Fox.

[00:38:48] Keegan Murray.

[00:38:49] Got some.

[00:38:50] Last night.

[00:38:51] Against Rudy.

[00:38:53] Or whatever.

[00:38:54] So.

[00:38:54] I don't know what it is.

[00:38:56] I don't know if it's his face.

[00:38:58] I don't know if it's.

[00:38:59] He.

[00:38:59] He's French.

[00:39:00] I don't know.

[00:39:01] He's a blue.

[00:39:02] I don't know what it is.

[00:39:05] But.

[00:39:06] NBA players.

[00:39:08] Do not like.

[00:39:09] Rudy go there.

[00:39:10] And they look for.

[00:39:12] Any chance.

[00:39:13] To try to embarrass him.

[00:39:16] In any.

[00:39:18] In game.

[00:39:19] Opportunity.

[00:39:20] That they.

[00:39:21] Just say.

[00:39:24] You're throwing that out.

[00:39:26] Watch the games.

[00:39:27] Fine.

[00:39:27] You know.

[00:39:28] Just.

[00:39:29] Watch it.

[00:39:33] Now.

[00:39:34] The next thing that we're going to talk about.

[00:39:36] Is we're going to talk about.

[00:39:38] NBA draft.

[00:39:39] That is coming up.

[00:39:41] And.

[00:39:44] I have been.

[00:39:45] Watching some of the.

[00:39:48] Clips.

[00:39:49] And some of the tape.

[00:39:50] That I've been.

[00:39:50] Getting my hands on.

[00:39:52] Cooper flag.

[00:39:53] Is what they say he is dude.

[00:39:56] I don't know if he caught.

[00:39:57] Any of it.

[00:39:59] Like.

[00:39:59] His.

[00:40:00] Their little exhibition game.

[00:40:01] They had.

[00:40:03] Or just some of the clips.

[00:40:04] Like in practice.

[00:40:07] He's a physical talent.

[00:40:10] He has.

[00:40:11] A lot of athleticism.

[00:40:13] You know.

[00:40:14] I think.

[00:40:15] It's going to surprise.

[00:40:17] Other people.

[00:40:17] But people.

[00:40:18] We've been watching him for like.

[00:40:19] Three years.

[00:40:19] We know.

[00:40:21] His.

[00:40:22] Human for defense.

[00:40:24] Is so.

[00:40:24] Beyond.

[00:40:25] Where he should be.

[00:40:28] Like.

[00:40:29] He.

[00:40:29] Anticipates.

[00:40:30] People.

[00:40:31] Spots.

[00:40:33] Better than.

[00:40:34] I've ever seen.

[00:40:35] Somebody.

[00:40:36] Under 22.

[00:40:37] Years of age.

[00:40:38] Do it.

[00:40:40] And then.

[00:40:41] His offensive game.

[00:40:43] Is not as primitive.

[00:40:44] As I thought it was.

[00:40:45] There's a nice jump shot.

[00:40:47] The three point shot.

[00:40:48] Looks really good.

[00:40:49] I haven't seen it.

[00:40:50] With a ton of volume yet.

[00:40:52] But.

[00:40:52] The shot looks.

[00:40:53] Really good.

[00:40:54] There's a good form to it.

[00:40:56] He can handle the ball.

[00:40:58] I wouldn't see.

[00:40:59] He's the greatest.

[00:41:00] Handler.

[00:41:01] Of the ball.

[00:41:02] But.

[00:41:02] You can definitely.

[00:41:03] Use him.

[00:41:04] In the second side.

[00:41:05] If you just.

[00:41:06] Put him.

[00:41:07] At the nail.

[00:41:07] He can find people.

[00:41:09] He can locate.

[00:41:10] He.

[00:41:11] There's so much to like.

[00:41:12] About this.

[00:41:15] Now.

[00:41:16] The season's gonna start.

[00:41:17] In November.

[00:41:18] And.

[00:41:19] There'll be a ton.

[00:41:20] Of us.

[00:41:22] People.

[00:41:22] Who.

[00:41:23] Who.

[00:41:23] Talk about draft.

[00:41:24] All the time.

[00:41:25] And they'll.

[00:41:26] Nick.

[00:41:27] Right.

[00:41:27] You'll find things.

[00:41:28] That's what your whole job is.

[00:41:30] To find things.

[00:41:31] I will tell you.

[00:41:33] Yeah.

[00:41:34] Probably.

[00:41:34] Find some stuff.

[00:41:35] But.

[00:41:36] This kid.

[00:41:37] Is one of those kids.

[00:41:39] That.

[00:41:40] I think is gonna.

[00:41:41] Get it.

[00:41:41] He's gonna get it.

[00:41:42] Fairly early.

[00:41:44] And we're gonna see some real cool things.

[00:41:47] Out of him.

[00:41:47] Out of Duke.

[00:41:48] Out of Duke.

[00:41:49] And.

[00:41:50] We can't wait.

[00:41:51] Just kind of really get a lot.

[00:41:52] Of more.

[00:41:53] Tape on him.

[00:41:54] When the season.

[00:41:55] And the bullets are flying.

[00:41:57] Lock.

[00:41:58] Can't wait.

[00:41:59] Another guy.

[00:42:00] That I want to talk about.

[00:42:01] Is Ace Bailey.

[00:42:02] Now.

[00:42:03] Ace Bailey.

[00:42:04] Played.

[00:42:04] In a preseason game.

[00:42:06] Against St.

[00:42:07] John's.

[00:42:08] And.

[00:42:09] He.

[00:42:10] He.

[00:42:12] He looked.

[00:42:12] Awesome.

[00:42:15] He handled it.

[00:42:17] His dribble.

[00:42:18] Was tight.

[00:42:19] For somebody.

[00:42:20] 6'10".

[00:42:22] He shot the ball.

[00:42:26] Like a five year.

[00:42:27] In the NBA.

[00:42:29] He has a nice little.

[00:42:30] Mid-range situation.

[00:42:31] He definitely has the.

[00:42:33] Athleticism.

[00:42:34] To get to the rim.

[00:42:35] There's three point.

[00:42:36] Shooting potential.

[00:42:38] With him.

[00:42:38] The shot.

[00:42:39] The stroke looks good.

[00:42:41] There's a lot to like.

[00:42:43] About Ace Bailey.

[00:42:44] He's also.

[00:42:44] Really good.

[00:42:45] Room protector.

[00:42:46] I think that.

[00:42:48] There.

[00:42:49] Are some.

[00:42:50] Instinctual things.

[00:42:51] That maybe.

[00:42:51] Be kind of.

[00:42:52] Tightened up.

[00:42:53] Or whatever.

[00:42:54] Or some.

[00:42:55] Principal things.

[00:42:55] That maybe.

[00:42:56] Once he gets those.

[00:42:57] Locked in.

[00:42:58] He'll be better.

[00:42:59] On that.

[00:43:00] But.

[00:43:01] He's just sheer.

[00:43:02] Athleticism.

[00:43:04] The way he gets after it.

[00:43:05] It's.

[00:43:06] It's really fun to watch.

[00:43:08] And.

[00:43:09] He.

[00:43:10] And.

[00:43:11] Dylan Harper.

[00:43:12] Of Rutgers.

[00:43:13] Is.

[00:43:13] Going to be.

[00:43:14] Must see.

[00:43:15] When it comes to.

[00:43:16] Mid-tick.

[00:43:17] Big ten.

[00:43:17] In.

[00:43:18] Alors.

[00:43:18] Who's.

[00:43:21] And.

[00:43:43] Are they going to get down.

[00:43:50] We will get to him.

[00:43:51] We will have a lot of DJ Edgecombe coverage here on this podcast.

[00:43:57] I like DJ Edgecombe.

[00:44:00] But Noli Traority is a different cat.

[00:44:04] Okay, he's a different cat in a lot of ways.

[00:44:08] One, he does not shy away from the spotlight whatsoever.

[00:44:15] The bigger the challenge, the more ready he is.

[00:44:20] He is not afraid to tell teammates what he thinks they should be doing at 18 years of age to 26 and 27 year old men.

[00:44:36] And then just when you think, like, oh, I heard a scout say passing the vision, he's two steps ahead.

[00:44:47] I just want to see the offensive game come to life.

[00:44:53] I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on.

[00:44:55] No, the offensive game is there.

[00:44:57] He's just trying to get people involved.

[00:45:00] Well, Traority showed up recently and said, hey, you know what?

[00:45:06] In this Adidas next level generation tournament.

[00:45:11] It's time.

[00:45:13] It's time for Nolan to get Nolan's.

[00:45:16] He did with 45 points.

[00:45:21] He's very competitive.

[00:45:23] He's very astute at the game.

[00:45:26] He's kind of slight because he's young.

[00:45:30] But this kid has a tenacity of like a maniacalness to him about his game that I really love.

[00:45:41] And it's just going to get better.

[00:45:44] And the unfortunate part is that he's going to be over France all year.

[00:45:48] He's he's playing for basketball of France.

[00:45:52] It's a EuroLeague team.

[00:45:54] We will be watching like clips.

[00:45:56] I don't know if they'll have the same type of coverage that they did with Victor Wynba-Yama.

[00:46:02] When we had a bunch of EuroLeague games and we saw Victor.

[00:46:07] But no one Traority.

[00:46:09] If you can get YouTube clips, if you can get game footage on him, it is a must watch.

[00:46:16] So I recommend it highly.

[00:46:19] Highly.

[00:46:22] And then the last guy that we're going to talk about is a teammate of Cooper Flag.

[00:46:27] And this is a.

[00:46:29] Kamin of Duke.

[00:46:31] Now Kamin came over from the NBA Academy in Africa.

[00:46:38] He's known for his athleticism, defensive prowess, which he's displayed at Duke already.

[00:46:45] This is what an analyst said.

[00:46:47] These players bring a mix of scoring, athleticism, defensive skill.

[00:46:51] Making 2025 class one of the ones that we need to follow closely with the progression once they get into the league.

[00:47:01] Now.

[00:47:03] What makes my like very special is that he moves his seat.

[00:47:09] He is not a.

[00:47:11] Oh, I can just do drop coverage type of guy.

[00:47:15] No, I can.

[00:47:17] I can.

[00:47:18] I can switch out to a wing on brief occurrences.

[00:47:22] If I get stepped on a guard or what have you, I can probably handle that until we can make the switch.

[00:47:31] His rim protection is what makes him very special because his wingspan is seven foot eight.

[00:47:39] And he's very quick off his feet.

[00:47:42] He's also very aggressive when it comes to wanting to block shots.

[00:47:51] Now, does it get him in a little bit of foul trouble from the games that I did see before he came over?

[00:47:59] It did a little.

[00:48:01] It was.

[00:48:02] Who am I trying to think?

[00:48:05] Who was a kid a couple years ago?

[00:48:07] Just got in just crazy.

[00:48:09] All.

[00:48:13] He wasn't Jaron Jackson Jr.

[00:48:15] You know, he wasn't that type of guy.

[00:48:17] We're out, out, out, out.

[00:48:19] Or Jackson Hayes of the Lakers.

[00:48:21] Like Jackson Hayes seems to be a magnet towards fouls.

[00:48:25] Malik is not that.

[00:48:27] He is super aggressive.

[00:48:28] So we need to tell him not to try to jump over people as much as he does.

[00:48:33] Those type of things.

[00:48:35] But he's going to grab rebounds.

[00:48:37] He can set a pick.

[00:48:39] He can roll to the rim very hard.

[00:48:43] If you put him in the darker spot and you lose him, that's two points.

[00:48:48] That's what's going to happen.

[00:48:49] And what you hope is that under the system in Duke is that he just absorbs the principles.

[00:48:57] He gets more comfortable.

[00:49:00] And he's old to kind of erase the defense and get himself, you know, into that late lottery type of situation.

[00:49:10] He has that potential.

[00:49:12] Now, do I think he'll be the quintessential big?

[00:49:17] Is he going to be like Joel Embiid?

[00:49:19] No.

[00:49:20] But could he have a effective career being like Clint Capella?

[00:49:25] Yeah, absolutely.

[00:49:28] Maybe Clint Capella with a little more athleticism?

[00:49:32] Who knows?

[00:49:34] But he's one to watch.

[00:49:37] And I think also working off all the array of talent that Duke has.

[00:49:42] Because Duke covers overflow.

[00:49:47] It's in abundance.

[00:49:49] They're going to be tough to play against.

[00:49:52] But he could be the key to what they could do and how far they could go in the actual tournament.

[00:50:00] Now, the rest of them can help them throughout the regular year.

[00:50:04] But if you want to do something in a tournament, having that deterrent thrill is a vital piece.

[00:50:12] And it can kind of hone it where he's not wild anymore.

[00:50:17] Then you really got some.

[00:50:19] So, we'll look to see about body control.

[00:50:24] Aggressiveness.

[00:50:25] But maybe vertical.

[00:50:26] And just going straight up.

[00:50:29] Vertical.

[00:50:29] You know, getting those principles down.

[00:50:32] And just continuing to see him move his feet.

[00:50:36] And also see him move his feet against better competition.

[00:50:40] It's always good to see.

[00:50:42] So, it just gives us like, oh, okay.

[00:50:44] We can check that box.

[00:50:45] Make sure this is right.

[00:50:47] And then go on from here.

[00:50:49] But if we start to see people kind of go around.

[00:50:51] Then we start to see, okay.

[00:50:53] All right.

[00:50:54] Now, he's stepped up in talent.

[00:50:57] Maybe the gifts aren't as clean as we thought they were.

[00:51:00] So, those are the things that we're checking out early on.

[00:51:04] As we start getting closer and closer to the college basketball season.

[00:51:09] And also overseas.

[00:51:10] But can't wait to check out Duke.

[00:51:13] They're going to be on TV a lot.

[00:51:15] Cougar flag is amazing.

[00:51:17] And the rest of the dudes that they got.

[00:51:19] I don't want to shortchange them.

[00:51:20] Because I think four Dukies in the top 25 right now.

[00:51:30] They're stacked.

[00:51:31] They're ready to go.

[00:51:32] And it should be a good season.

[00:51:34] Now, with all that being said.

[00:51:36] We're going to get up.

[00:51:36] We're out of here.

[00:51:37] It is Friday.

[00:51:38] There are games coming on.

[00:51:39] Like right now.

[00:51:40] That I want to see.

[00:51:42] So, I'm about to blow this popsicle stand.

[00:51:44] I'd like to thank my producers.

[00:51:46] Funch and Soraya.

[00:51:48] For the job they've done.

[00:51:50] I would also.

[00:51:52] Like to thank you guys.

[00:51:54] The audience.

[00:51:54] Because we do this for you.

[00:51:56] Monday.

[00:51:56] Wednesday.

[00:51:58] Wednesday.

[00:51:59] You know where to get all the NBA fix that you need.

[00:52:05] Right?

[00:52:05] Frontrunner Podcast Collective.

[00:52:08] And with that being said.

[00:52:10] The best part of you is you.

[00:52:12] Make sure that the people that surround you are just doing everything in their power to illuminate your light.

[00:52:20] And then as your light illuminates.

[00:52:23] Go out and do some good with it.

[00:52:26] Make sure, you know, you're recognizing the people that you need to recognize.

[00:52:30] And also recognize those who may be lost.

[00:52:36] And then with that, we'll see you back on this feed on Monday.

[00:52:40] Deuce.

[00:52:40] The end.

[00:52:41] The end.