NBA Preseason Breakdowns: Jayson Tatum’s Reformed Jumper, Peyton Pritchard's Splash, and Michael Porter Jr.'s Secret Weapon

[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, Vince, and today we have a new podcast for you. It is Fast Break Freestyle Fridays. We're going to be coming off the dome with a bunch of topics. It's not going to have rhyme or reason, but we can bounce around the draft, different teams, what have you.

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[00:02:45] So we're going to start today. In a place that is magical. We had preseason basketball folks. And it was staged in Abu Dhabi. Where the Boston Celtics, the defending reigning NBA champions.

[00:03:06] Played the Denver Nuggets in a preseason game. And I had a couple notes about the actual game itself. The first thing that I took.

[00:03:15] From this game is. Jason Tatum's broken jumper. Looks like it has been fixed. It looks like it's been retooled. If you notice by.

[00:03:28] The end of the finals and also in the Olympics. He had a hitch. In his jump shot.

[00:03:36] If you look at the preseason game. He went straight up and down. You didn't see him fade away a lot. He went straight up and down.

[00:03:45] And it looked like he was going towards the basket. His momentum was going towards the basket. Giving the ball more energy.

[00:03:52] I think this is a positive step. For Jason Tatum. And his shooting.

[00:03:57] And they're going to need it. Obviously with Christoph Porzingis being out for.

[00:04:01] At least the foreseeable future.

[00:04:04] But that was a good little situation right there.

[00:04:08] It was good to see.

[00:04:10] Celtics GM Brad Stevens on Tatum.

[00:04:13] He's constantly working on his game.

[00:04:16] I have no doubt.

[00:04:17] This season could be his best year.

[00:04:19] Jason Tatum.

[00:04:20] We were hard on him last year.

[00:04:22] We said that he probably should.

[00:04:25] Distance himself away from Kobe.

[00:04:29] And the.

[00:04:30] Mondwood mentality.

[00:04:34] This right here is true.

[00:04:36] Mondwood mentality.

[00:04:36] This is.

[00:04:37] Looking at your doubters and saying.

[00:04:40] Bump you.

[00:04:41] I don't care what you're talking about right now.

[00:04:44] I'm one of the best players in the game.

[00:04:46] And I'm going to prove it to you.

[00:04:47] I'm going to put in the sweat equity.

[00:04:49] To go ahead and improve my jumper.

[00:04:51] And I'm going to prove my naysayers wrong.

[00:04:55] Now if Jason Tatum.

[00:04:57] Consistently shoots the three.

[00:04:58] At a better clip than he did last year.

[00:05:00] Obviously the Celtics are one of the odds on favorite.

[00:05:03] To win the NBA title again.

[00:05:06] But a improved shooting.

[00:05:09] Jason Tatum.

[00:05:10] Will go a long way.

[00:05:12] In making that situation a reality.

[00:05:16] The other thing that I want to get to.

[00:05:19] Is for all you sickos out there.

[00:05:22] Yes.

[00:05:22] This was a 9 a.m. start.

[00:05:25] In Los Angeles California.

[00:05:28] And yes.

[00:05:29] I was watching preseason basketball.

[00:05:32] And yes.

[00:05:33] I was enjoying every last second.

[00:05:37] Peyton Pritchard.

[00:05:38] For the Boston Celtics.

[00:05:40] This dude.

[00:05:41] His green light is way green.

[00:05:44] Okay.

[00:05:46] Peyton Pritchard looked like Steph Curry out there.

[00:05:49] He took eight three point shots.

[00:05:52] In the first half.

[00:05:53] He hit four.

[00:05:54] He finished the game.

[00:05:56] With 12 three point attempts.

[00:06:00] He made six of them.

[00:06:02] So Peyton Pritchard's green light.

[00:06:06] Obviously it's preseason.

[00:06:08] We always got to pump the brakes on whatever.

[00:06:11] But I wonder if this is an indication of.

[00:06:14] That Peyton Pritchard is now like the sixth man.

[00:06:17] You know that.

[00:06:18] Hey Al.

[00:06:19] We just don't really want you to.

[00:06:21] Spread the court a little bit.

[00:06:23] We're not going to ask a lot.

[00:06:25] As far as point production from you.

[00:06:27] Just give you.

[00:06:28] Give us the size.

[00:06:29] Give us the defensive presence.

[00:06:31] We got this young cat.

[00:06:33] Peyton Pritchard.

[00:06:34] Who wants to get buckets.

[00:06:36] And I wonder if that's going to be the fundamental shift.

[00:06:39] With the bench this year.

[00:06:41] On the Celtics.

[00:06:43] Here's the thing.

[00:06:45] We know they're locked in financially.

[00:06:47] The team is.

[00:06:48] With the contracts of Jason Tatum.

[00:06:50] With the contracts of Jalen Brown as well.

[00:06:54] So the margin.

[00:06:57] Improvements.

[00:06:57] Are going to be critical for this team.

[00:07:00] To continue to be on the level that they are.

[00:07:03] And the great thing about that.

[00:07:05] Is when you have Jason Tatum.

[00:07:06] And you have Jalen Brown.

[00:07:08] Who are.

[00:07:09] What?

[00:07:10] 27 and 26.

[00:07:11] Respectively.

[00:07:13] You got a long window.

[00:07:14] With those two.

[00:07:16] So kudos to Brad Stevens.

[00:07:18] In his roster construction.

[00:07:20] And how he.

[00:07:21] Filtered in the veterans.

[00:07:24] To solidify.

[00:07:25] That team.

[00:07:26] As his two young stars.

[00:07:28] Continue to grow.

[00:07:29] And learn how to win.

[00:07:31] And also.

[00:07:32] Allowing the development.

[00:07:34] To continue.

[00:07:35] To progress.

[00:07:36] All the way through.

[00:07:38] Even through some of the lean.

[00:07:39] I wouldn't say lean years.

[00:07:40] Because.

[00:07:41] They've been constantly.

[00:07:42] In the Eastern Conference Finals.

[00:07:44] But.

[00:07:44] In the years where it didn't.

[00:07:46] End up.

[00:07:47] Where you thought it was going to be.

[00:07:49] Kudos to Brad Stevens.

[00:07:51] Of.

[00:07:51] Keeping the continuity.

[00:07:53] Adding.

[00:07:55] Minor.

[00:07:55] Higher.

[00:07:56] To.

[00:07:58] Insulated.

[00:08:00] Incubated.

[00:08:00] To a point.

[00:08:01] Where it produced.

[00:08:02] An NBA championship.

[00:08:04] Last year.

[00:08:04] Now, Pritchard's shooting splits from last year, he shot 41% from the field and he shot 36.6% from three.

[00:08:14] Again, if he's going to be another volume three-point shooter for the Celtics and his green light is as green as it was in the preseason,

[00:08:25] this is a guy that you are going to have to watch out for as soon as he steps onto the court in any given Celtic game.

[00:08:33] The third point I want to get you to this game, it was actually the one that really kind of brought me a little pause.

[00:08:41] Michael Porter Jr. in the first quarter, he scored 10 points and most of them were on Luke Cornett.

[00:08:49] Now, I don't think Luke Cornett is a good matchup for Michael Porter Jr.

[00:08:53] I do understand that of the guys that were on the court, this was probably the most favorable matchup for him.

[00:09:00] Michael Porter Jr. cooked him.

[00:09:03] I saw a lot of Cornett losing Michael Porter Jr.

[00:09:08] Michael Porter Jr. sliding behind him for backdoor cut, easy bucket.

[00:09:14] I saw a lot of that.

[00:09:16] Also, I saw Michael Porter Jr. look a little bit bigger than he did the last couple years.

[00:09:24] And I wonder if with a couple seasons removed from back surgery, he can get into his proper physical regimen that he would do in the offseason.

[00:09:39] And I wonder what kind of results these physical attributes that we see on him, how this will render for the season.

[00:09:48] But he looked great.

[00:09:50] He was moving well without the basketball, which is also a critical piece to what the Denver Nuggets do on a night-to-night basis.

[00:09:59] But it was good to see MPJ out there showing why Denver's secret weapon could be unleashed this year.

[00:10:08] And I think they're going to need him, to tell you the truth.

[00:10:12] Because his ability to exploit matchup issues, being 6'10", 6'11", being able to shoot the three at a 40% clip.

[00:10:23] If you put a plotting center on him, even though he might not be the craziest athlete on the face of the planet, he's still way quicker than a center.

[00:10:33] And a lot of centers do not like to be out by that three-point line, unless your name is like Victor Wimbayama.

[00:10:41] The last thing I want to get to is this, is that when I saw it, I was like, oh my God.

[00:10:48] Russell Westbrook's first shot for Denver was a top-of-the-break three-point shot that went in.

[00:10:54] Now, there were some shots after that that did not go in.

[00:10:58] But Russ scored 12 points.

[00:11:02] He had, what, he had eight assists.

[00:11:04] He had four rebounds in 19 minutes.

[00:11:08] And he played really well for them.

[00:11:10] I wonder, I still want to see it with Jokic.

[00:11:12] I want to see how he plays with Jokic and with more time and more continuity between those two.

[00:11:19] I really want to see what that looks like.

[00:11:21] Now, Michael Malone said, Russ brings energy that is infectious.

[00:11:26] And we are excited to see how he fits into our system.

[00:11:33] Now, I will tell you this.

[00:11:35] I was critical of Russell Westbrook going to Denver, not because of him.

[00:11:41] It was just when you lost KCP in a year.

[00:11:45] Now, we've talked about it way too many times.

[00:11:47] But with the losses of the veterans, I can also understand by bringing in Russell Westbrook.

[00:11:53] Because here's the thing.

[00:11:54] He's still an incredible athlete.

[00:11:57] Like, dude still is very physically fit, very high motor, a lot of energy.

[00:12:04] We saw some of that energy be used on defense last year from nine seconds periods, actually, to tell you the truth.

[00:12:13] If they can hone that and get Russ to, because Russ is starting to buy into what his role is now.

[00:12:25] Maybe Jokic and the differential treatment that he would get with Jamal Murray and things of that nature being different type of superstars.

[00:12:36] Maybe this is a role that Russell Westbrook can flourish in.

[00:12:41] But we will see.

[00:12:42] And also, how much shooting do you put around Russ when he's on the court?

[00:12:50] Okay.

[00:12:53] The one thing that we had all talked about throughout the offseason about the Denver Nuggets were the young guys.

[00:13:01] Now, Strother, Julian Strother, who was a first-round pick in the last couple years, he contributed with 11 points.

[00:13:08] And there was an actual Zeke Najee sighting today.

[00:13:13] Now, you'll tell me, Vince, of course there was a Najee sighting today.

[00:13:20] It was the first preseason game.

[00:13:22] Nobody cares about these except for you.

[00:13:27] I understand all that.

[00:13:28] But it was good to see Zeke in the game.

[00:13:31] He gave them 10 points, 6 rebounds, and he provided a defensive presence, which...

[00:13:38] What have they been talking about the last couple years behind Jokic?

[00:13:41] It's somebody who can come in and be able to just at least stay level in those non-Jokic minutes.

[00:13:50] And to see Zeke out there and being energetic, being able to deny at the rim and things of that nature, that was, to me, hopeful.

[00:14:01] Now, whether Michael Malone ever plays him is another subject to talk about, but it was good to see.

[00:14:09] And also very critical that the combination of Christian Brown, Julian Strother, and Peyton Watson,

[00:14:19] at least two of those three guys have to hit this year.

[00:14:22] They have to hit for this team to be really competitive in the West.

[00:14:27] Now, we're going to get to our next topic, which is something that kind of...

[00:14:32] It didn't shock me because a lot of people were talking about it around the draft,

[00:14:36] but Mike Chiari, a Bleacher Report, he wrote a piece on the Golden State Warriors passing on Bronny James during the draft

[00:14:47] out of respect to LeBron James' wishes to play alongside his son.

[00:14:51] Bronny ended up with the Lakers at number 55.

[00:14:54] It could have been...

[00:14:55] It could have created one of the most intriguing what-if scenarios in recent NBA history.

[00:15:01] The possibility of LeBron joining forces with Steph Curry was real, but the Warriors respected the family connection.

[00:15:10] Now, this is a quote from Ramona Shelgorn.

[00:15:13] The Warriors were mindful of LeBron's wishes.

[00:15:16] It was a sign of respect for a living legend.

[00:15:21] Now, here's the thing.

[00:15:23] We heard things from Rich Paul around that time.

[00:15:26] We heard that other teams were interested in Bronny James.

[00:15:32] Sometimes the Raptors, I believe San Antonio.

[00:15:37] There was a couple rumors there.

[00:15:39] I don't know how valid those rumors are.

[00:15:43] But at the end of the day, there's two things with this.

[00:15:46] And we see this in a lot of sports.

[00:15:48] We see this in football.

[00:15:49] We see it in baseball a lot.

[00:15:52] Now, we can talk about what Bronny James' credentials are.

[00:15:59] But I think a lot of people...

[00:16:01] I think Zach Lowe has said this.

[00:16:03] I think Bill Simmons has said this.

[00:16:05] I believe that...

[00:16:07] Who else said this?

[00:16:09] I want to give credit where credit is due.

[00:16:11] I know Yovon Buha has said this.

[00:16:15] And Trevor Lane has said this.

[00:16:17] And Laker fans,

[00:16:19] I know you guys think that I crush you all the time.

[00:16:25] But I don't.

[00:16:26] I am a fan like you.

[00:16:28] The only things is that I cannot take off the analytic hat.

[00:16:32] To tell you that the Lakers are going to be awesome.

[00:16:35] But this particular story...

[00:16:40] You're talking about LeBron James, right?

[00:16:43] Now, we can argue about where he is on the hierarchy of greatest of all time.

[00:16:50] If you're a Jordan dude, congratulations.

[00:16:54] If you're a LeBron guy, congratulations.

[00:16:57] If you're an old school guy and you like Kareem or Bill Russell or whatever the case may be.

[00:17:03] I know the arguments of the milk drivers and all that other stuff that I hear from the young people.

[00:17:08] I don't want to hear it.

[00:17:10] It doesn't matter.

[00:17:11] He's on a short list of people.

[00:17:13] So, with the 55th overall pick...

[00:17:17] And mind you, I tell you again...

[00:17:19] It's the 55th overall pick.

[00:17:22] This is not the NFL...

[00:17:24] This is not the NFL draft.

[00:17:26] The 55th overall pick in the NFL draft is super important.

[00:17:31] Because they have 7 rounds of it.

[00:17:35] They also have 53 slots to fill.

[00:17:39] In basketball, we have 15.

[00:17:43] Normally, what do we talk about around the playoff times?

[00:17:47] We like...

[00:17:47] We play 8.

[00:17:50] Then we go down to 7.

[00:17:52] And then we trust 6.

[00:17:53] We know that Bronny James is nowhere near a rotation guy right now.

[00:18:01] But here's the rub.

[00:18:03] And this is where the haters or the supporters of Bronny James or LeBron James...

[00:18:10] Here's the deal.

[00:18:13] He's got the D in one of the best basketball players we've ever seen.

[00:18:20] Yes, we have not seen all the skills and whatever the case may be.

[00:18:24] But we also...

[00:18:25] Let's take into account the health situation that he had at USC.

[00:18:30] Odd year.

[00:18:32] Ed and Phil wasn't great at USC.

[00:18:36] As a coach.

[00:18:37] I didn't like that fit from the beginning.

[00:18:40] Good recruiter.

[00:18:42] A lot of flash and dash.

[00:18:43] Reminded me of a younger like Lane Kiffin back in the day.

[00:18:48] USC fans know about Lane Kiffin back in the day.

[00:18:53] But...

[00:18:55] He didn't have the greatest freshman season.

[00:18:58] He was...

[00:19:00] Trying to battle back from a heart condition.

[00:19:04] It was weird.

[00:19:06] Now we're at a point where he gets drafted.

[00:19:09] It's the...

[00:19:09] Again...

[00:19:11] We're 4 or 5 picks away from the end of the draft.

[00:19:14] Usually the 55th overall pick doesn't make a difference whatsoever.

[00:19:19] Anyway.

[00:19:21] So there's a lot of consternation...

[00:19:24] For something that could be a real cool story.

[00:19:27] And if you want to throw shade on LeBron...

[00:19:30] Because he's got way too much power in the NBA.

[00:19:34] Jordan had that power too.

[00:19:39] Magic had that power too.

[00:19:43] So...

[00:19:44] Before you crush somebody...

[00:19:47] And then...

[00:19:48] Shit on this kid...

[00:19:50] For...

[00:19:51] Having a dad that was awesome at basketball.

[00:19:54] And you think he's...

[00:19:56] Riding his coattails.

[00:19:58] Whatever.

[00:19:58] It doesn't matter.

[00:20:00] He's got the DNA...

[00:20:01] Of a freaking Hall of Famer.

[00:20:04] Low risk pick.

[00:20:07] Let's develop him for a couple years.

[00:20:10] And let's see...

[00:20:11] If any of...

[00:20:13] The LeBron James...

[00:20:16] Shine...

[00:20:17] Falls onto Browning...

[00:20:18] And see what we end up with.

[00:20:21] Because if the basketball IQ...

[00:20:24] Comes forth...

[00:20:26] If the savviness...

[00:20:28] If the savviness...

[00:20:28] Comes forth...

[00:20:29] And he becomes a pretty good defensive player...

[00:20:32] That can playmate...

[00:20:33] And whatever...

[00:20:35] You gonna tell me that's not a decent little solid rotation piece?

[00:20:39] Just saying.

[00:20:42] Now...

[00:20:43] The Lakers are playing tonight...

[00:20:44] Which I'm super excited...

[00:20:46] I'm so excited that the Lakers are playing...

[00:20:48] We will not see LeBron James tonight...

[00:20:50] He is...

[00:20:51] Going to...

[00:20:53] Play...

[00:20:54] On Sunday...

[00:20:56] So keep that in mind...

[00:20:58] He will not play tonight...

[00:21:01] But I'm gonna see a lot of Dalton Connect...

[00:21:03] And I'm gonna see a lot of Austin Reeves...

[00:21:06] So I can't wait to see it.

[00:21:07] And also...

[00:21:08] Shouts out to our guy...

[00:21:10] Jalen Hood Shifino...

[00:21:12] I'm hearing...

[00:21:13] Nothing...

[00:21:14] But rave reviews...

[00:21:16] About Jason Hood Shifino...

[00:21:19] Out of Lakers camp.

[00:21:22] Every day...

[00:21:23] It all be...

[00:21:24] It's only been a couple...

[00:21:25] But...

[00:21:26] There's been...

[00:21:27] Nothing but...

[00:21:29] Profusive praise...

[00:21:30] About that young man...

[00:21:31] So credit to him...

[00:21:33] He had a...

[00:21:34] Really...

[00:21:35] Injury-mars season last year...

[00:21:37] He's healthy this year...

[00:21:39] And the...

[00:21:41] The hope that I had for him...

[00:21:42] Coming out of college...

[00:21:43] Is still there...

[00:21:45] So...

[00:21:46] Man...

[00:21:46] Could you imagine a good...

[00:21:48] Healthy...

[00:21:49] Jalen Hood Shifino...

[00:21:50] Adding to the mix...

[00:21:51] To the Lakers...

[00:21:53] And again...

[00:21:54] It depends on who you are...

[00:21:56] If you're a Laker fan...

[00:21:57] And you're talking about...

[00:21:58] Like championships...

[00:21:59] And all that...

[00:22:00] I can understand that...

[00:22:01] And you can stay...

[00:22:02] On your side of the fence...

[00:22:03] And you can talk to Trevor Lane...

[00:22:05] And you can talk to the...

[00:22:06] Kameniski brothers...

[00:22:07] Because they're talking about...

[00:22:09] Championship or bust...

[00:22:11] Over here...

[00:22:13] I'm looking at...

[00:22:14] Development...

[00:22:15] I'm looking at...

[00:22:15] Can Austin Reeves...

[00:22:18] Be the primary ball handler...

[00:22:20] Or how much of the ball handler...

[00:22:21] Is he going to be with...

[00:22:22] D'Angelo Russell?

[00:22:23] Can Max Christie...

[00:22:25] A shoot consistently...

[00:22:27] From the corner threes...

[00:22:29] And provide...

[00:22:30] The point of the tag defense...

[00:22:32] That was promised to us...

[00:22:34] Jalen Hood Shifino...

[00:22:36] Bouncing back from a rookie year...

[00:22:38] That was...

[00:22:39] From hell...

[00:22:40] No playing time...

[00:22:42] Injured all the whole time...

[00:22:44] Everything like that...

[00:22:45] And then we got Dalton Kinnett...

[00:22:47] They're...

[00:22:47] Quietly...

[00:22:48] Again...

[00:22:49] Quietly...

[00:22:49] Quietly...

[00:22:50] The Lakers...

[00:22:52] Are building up a young...

[00:22:53] Core...

[00:22:54] Of players...

[00:22:55] That I'm very interested in...

[00:22:57] And I can't wait to see...

[00:22:58] How it all shakes out tonight...

[00:23:00] And we get to see them...

[00:23:02] Basically...

[00:23:03] In their...

[00:23:04] Debut...

[00:23:05] So I'm really excited to see it...

[00:23:08] Now...

[00:23:09] I will...

[00:23:09] As part of the Lakers stuff...

[00:23:11] That I want to get to today...

[00:23:13] Eric Pincus has been very busy...

[00:23:15] On Bleacher Report...

[00:23:17] And he had a trade...

[00:23:19] He threw out a trade out there...

[00:23:21] And he said...

[00:23:21] Actually he said...

[00:23:22] He's reporting this...

[00:23:23] He says...

[00:23:24] The Lakers are reported...

[00:23:26] Eyeing a three-team deal...

[00:23:27] That could land them...

[00:23:28] Malcolm Brogdon...

[00:23:30] Jonas Valachunas...

[00:23:32] With...

[00:23:33] D'Angelo Russell...

[00:23:34] Gabe Vincent...

[00:23:35] Christian Wood...

[00:23:37] Jalen Hood...

[00:23:37] Shifino...

[00:23:38] Potentially on the move...

[00:23:43] Brogdon's defensive versatility...

[00:23:45] And Valachunas...

[00:23:46] Being 6'11", 265 pounds...

[00:23:49] Could address...

[00:23:50] The key areas of concerns...

[00:23:52] For the Lakers...

[00:23:53] The Lakers are always in win-now mode...

[00:23:56] Which gives the credence to the...

[00:23:58] Trevor Lane and the Kamenisky brothers...

[00:24:01] Which is true...

[00:24:02] That's the rhetoric that comes out of El Segundo...

[00:24:05] Every single day...

[00:24:07] 100%...

[00:24:08] So the Lakers are always in win-now mode...

[00:24:10] But getting Brogdon and Valachunas...

[00:24:12] Would solidify their defense...

[00:24:14] And their bench depth...

[00:24:16] This is from Eric Pincus...

[00:24:18] This is his thoughts...

[00:24:20] Here's the thing...

[00:24:21] Do I think the Lakers will make a trade...

[00:24:23] And by the way...

[00:24:24] None of this can happen...

[00:24:25] Before December 15th...

[00:24:28] Yonis signed a free agent deal...

[00:24:30] He can't be traded...

[00:24:31] Until December 15th...

[00:24:34] The other thing...

[00:24:36] That I want to talk about is this...

[00:24:38] Do I think the Lakers will make a trade...

[00:24:42] Probably...

[00:24:44] But...

[00:24:45] The thing that I want to continue to preach to Laker fans...

[00:24:49] Is patience...

[00:24:52] Patience...

[00:24:53] There's going to come a day...

[00:24:54] Where there's...

[00:24:55] No LeBron James...

[00:24:58] And we need to know...

[00:25:00] If Fino can play...

[00:25:01] We need to know...

[00:25:02] If Max Christie...

[00:25:03] Is a viable piece...

[00:25:05] For the future Laker teams...

[00:25:08] We also need to know...

[00:25:09] If Dalton Kinnett...

[00:25:10] Can guard anybody...

[00:25:12] So he doesn't get played off the floor...

[00:25:16] There are...

[00:25:17] There's a lot of things...

[00:25:19] A lot of moving pieces...

[00:25:21] That...

[00:25:21] I would like to know...

[00:25:23] Before we just start trading off people...

[00:25:25] Now...

[00:25:26] I know...

[00:25:27] Again...

[00:25:29] For those...

[00:25:31] Who listen to...

[00:25:33] Rob Kalinka...

[00:25:34] And what have you...

[00:25:36] In the offseason...

[00:25:36] Talking about...

[00:25:37] Are we trying to make...

[00:25:38] We have championship aspirations...

[00:25:40] And things of this nature...

[00:25:42] Here is what I will tell you...

[00:25:45] He said something really interesting...

[00:25:48] In his last press conference...

[00:25:51] He said...

[00:25:52] It's about...

[00:25:53] Putting...

[00:25:54] Good days together...

[00:25:56] Racking them up...

[00:25:58] It's about...

[00:26:00] Philosophy...

[00:26:00] And it's about culture...

[00:26:04] Building a continuity...

[00:26:06] These are words...

[00:26:08] That he used...

[00:26:09] In that press conference...

[00:26:11] That doesn't necessarily...

[00:26:15] Scream...

[00:26:15] Wholesale changes...

[00:26:17] Now...

[00:26:18] Obviously...

[00:26:18] If something falls...

[00:26:19] Out of the sky...

[00:26:20] To the Lakers...

[00:26:21] Are the Lakers gonna jump on that?

[00:26:22] Yes...

[00:26:23] But I think...

[00:26:25] A slow...

[00:26:26] Steady...

[00:26:29] Determined...

[00:26:30] Rebuild...

[00:26:32] Win as many games...

[00:26:34] You can...

[00:26:35] Go to the playoffs...

[00:26:36] Or go to the...

[00:26:37] Playing tournament...

[00:26:39] Get bounced...

[00:26:40] Not get bounced...

[00:26:41] Whatever...

[00:26:44] I understand that...

[00:26:45] The 2025 pick...

[00:26:46] Is already gone...

[00:26:47] Is already gone to...

[00:26:48] Atlanta...

[00:26:50] By...

[00:26:50] New Orleans...

[00:26:51] I already know it's gone...

[00:26:53] But this is the cards...

[00:26:55] That we're dealt...

[00:26:56] Now...

[00:26:56] LeBron...

[00:26:56] Can turn back...

[00:26:57] The hands of time...

[00:26:59] Again...

[00:27:00] And also...

[00:27:01] Adhere to...

[00:27:02] What the principles...

[00:27:03] And the philosophy...

[00:27:04] Is in this new...

[00:27:05] Offense...

[00:27:05] That they are running...

[00:27:06] With J.J. Redick...

[00:27:08] Because he wants to shoot...

[00:27:09] More threes...

[00:27:12] Then the Lakers have a chance...

[00:27:13] Plus also...

[00:27:14] Again...

[00:27:15] I go back...

[00:27:16] To the rule changes...

[00:27:17] Are we gonna play...

[00:27:19] How we did...

[00:27:20] At the start of last year...

[00:27:21] Are we gonna play...

[00:27:23] Similar to the way...

[00:27:25] We played...

[00:27:26] Towards the end of last year...

[00:27:28] Because...

[00:27:28] If we played towards...

[00:27:30] The way we did...

[00:27:31] Towards the end of last year...

[00:27:33] The Lakers gotta get a shot...

[00:27:37] Because they're a physical...

[00:27:38] Basketball team...

[00:27:40] If we're playing...

[00:27:43] Video...

[00:27:43] If we're playing...

[00:27:44] Sega Genesis basketball...

[00:27:47] Like we were doing...

[00:27:48] Early in the season last year...

[00:27:50] Like October...

[00:27:50] November...

[00:27:51] When like...

[00:27:52] The scoring was at such...

[00:27:54] Historic numbers...

[00:27:55] Nobody knew what to do with it...

[00:27:58] Then the Lakers are in deep trouble...

[00:28:02] I just...

[00:28:03] These are things that...

[00:28:04] We get to talk about...

[00:28:05] And I love to do it...

[00:28:09] Now...

[00:28:09] Here is something that I...

[00:28:13] When I heard this...

[00:28:14] It really struck me...

[00:28:16] It was one of the last things...

[00:28:17] We put into this podcast...

[00:28:20] Jonathan Gavoni...

[00:28:21] ESPN...

[00:28:22] Said...

[00:28:22] He called this draft class...

[00:28:23] The 2025 draft class...

[00:28:25] The strongest...

[00:28:27] Draft class...

[00:28:28] He has ever tracked...

[00:28:29] Over 20 years...

[00:28:31] 20 years in the business...

[00:28:33] He's saying...

[00:28:34] Top to bottom...

[00:28:35] This is the strongest class...

[00:28:37] That he's seen...

[00:28:38] So keep in mind...

[00:28:39] We had some good ones...

[00:28:40] We've had some Zion ones...

[00:28:42] And some...

[00:28:43] Some other ones...

[00:28:44] Or whatever...

[00:28:44] The Wimby one...

[00:28:45] A lot of people like that one...

[00:28:47] We like Wimby...

[00:28:49] But...

[00:28:50] He's saying...

[00:28:50] Top to bottom...

[00:28:51] This is one of the strongest class...

[00:28:53] To me...

[00:28:54] That's a pretty big statement there...

[00:28:56] But it is...

[00:28:57] It is loaded...

[00:28:59] And it's loaded at the top too...

[00:29:00] A couple guys that I want to hit on...

[00:29:02] That we probably haven't talked about...

[00:29:05] As much...

[00:29:06] As we start to continue...

[00:29:08] To get you ramped up...

[00:29:10] Because in November...

[00:29:12] These guys are we playing basketball...

[00:29:14] And you'll get to see them...

[00:29:15] So...

[00:29:16] The first guy that I want to talk about today...

[00:29:18] Is Tyler Harris...

[00:29:20] Now Tyler Harris...

[00:29:21] Is a 6 foot 8 wing...

[00:29:23] Or forward...

[00:29:24] He's from Washington...

[00:29:26] Harris has shown flashes...

[00:29:28] Of self-creation...

[00:29:29] And ball handling ability...

[00:29:31] In transition...

[00:29:32] But needs to work on his...

[00:29:33] Pull up game...

[00:29:34] And his passing...

[00:29:35] His stats last year...

[00:29:36] He shot 35.8%...

[00:29:39] From 3...

[00:29:40] From 3...

[00:29:41] On 53 attempts...

[00:29:43] Tyler's body control...

[00:29:44] And floater game...

[00:29:45] Gives him...

[00:29:47] The potential to become...

[00:29:48] A dynamic scorer...

[00:29:50] But his perimeter skills...

[00:29:52] Need work...

[00:29:53] And that is from...

[00:29:54] Jonathan Gavoni...

[00:29:55] Who we lock in with...

[00:29:56] And we tight...

[00:29:57] We love that dude...

[00:30:01] Here's what I'll tell you right now...

[00:30:03] On...

[00:30:04] On Harris...

[00:30:05] He has the potential...

[00:30:06] To sneak into that lottery...

[00:30:08] Like 10 to 14...

[00:30:10] 9 to 14...

[00:30:11] Somewhere in there...

[00:30:12] He has really good size...

[00:30:14] If the shooting...

[00:30:15] Can come around...

[00:30:16] Obviously that's always the thing...

[00:30:18] With the wing...

[00:30:19] Is can the shooting come around...

[00:30:21] The other thing too is...

[00:30:22] Is that...

[00:30:23] Be interested on defense...

[00:30:25] My guy...

[00:30:26] Be interested on defense...

[00:30:28] You're 6'8...

[00:30:29] You're pretty athletic...

[00:30:30] As far as discern...

[00:30:31] You have a decent little wingspan...

[00:30:33] It'd be nice if you would...

[00:30:36] Put some of that effort...

[00:30:37] Onto the defensive end...

[00:30:39] The tape so far...

[00:30:41] Has not shown...

[00:30:42] That...

[00:30:43] Dynamic of your game...

[00:30:47] The next guy...

[00:30:48] That I want to get to...

[00:30:50] Is...

[00:30:52] And we're not gonna...

[00:30:53] We're not gonna butcher his name...

[00:30:54] Which is great...

[00:30:55] Noah Asengue...

[00:30:56] Noah Asengue...

[00:30:58] Is a 6'10 French forward...

[00:31:00] He's already turned heads...

[00:31:02] At the...

[00:31:02] The under 18 European championships...

[00:31:05] Showcasing his scoring ability...

[00:31:07] And his defensive potential...

[00:31:09] Here's another guy for France...

[00:31:10] Now we talked about...

[00:31:11] Nolan Triore...

[00:31:12] The other day...

[00:31:15] We also...

[00:31:15] I think highlighted him...

[00:31:17] On Monday's podcast...

[00:31:18] So...

[00:31:18] We've had a lot of French dudes...

[00:31:20] Come through...

[00:31:22] In the last couple years...

[00:31:23] Obviously...

[00:31:24] When we...

[00:31:25] We had our guy...

[00:31:27] Balag Koulibale...

[00:31:28] Don't ever forget about...

[00:31:30] Balag Koulibale...

[00:31:32] And then...

[00:31:33] We had...

[00:31:34] Zachary Rishashay...

[00:31:36] This year...

[00:31:38] Get drafted...

[00:31:39] Number 1 overall as well...

[00:31:40] And...

[00:31:41] And the French...

[00:31:42] Invasion continues...

[00:31:45] The French...

[00:31:46] Invasion...

[00:31:49] Continues...

[00:31:50] With Traore...

[00:31:51] And now also...

[00:31:52] With Asengue...

[00:31:53] So let's get into him a little bit...

[00:31:55] 17.6 points a game...

[00:31:57] Last year...

[00:31:58] 7.6 rebounds...

[00:32:00] A game...

[00:32:01] 2.4 assists...

[00:32:02] And he shot...

[00:32:03] 57.5% from the field...

[00:32:05] Asengue's length...

[00:32:08] And his athleticism...

[00:32:09] On defense...

[00:32:09] Are exciting...

[00:32:10] But his shooting...

[00:32:12] Needs...

[00:32:13] Some work...

[00:32:14] And that's from our guy...

[00:32:15] Jonathan Wasserman...

[00:32:18] The way I look at it...

[00:32:19] Asengue right now...

[00:32:20] I've seen...

[00:32:21] I've seen...

[00:32:22] Some video on him...

[00:32:24] Not as much as I will...

[00:32:26] But...

[00:32:27] The video I did see...

[00:32:28] Was high level competition...

[00:32:29] So this is kind of my thoughts on him...

[00:32:33] The defense alone...

[00:32:36] Plays...

[00:32:36] You gotta have something else...

[00:32:38] In the bag though...

[00:32:40] If he had...

[00:32:41] A little more...

[00:32:42] Offensive creativity...

[00:32:43] Just for himself...

[00:32:44] Not even for anybody else...

[00:32:47] I would be good with that...

[00:32:51] And if the shooting...

[00:32:53] Is going to be...

[00:32:55] Just dunks...

[00:32:59] Lower end lottery...

[00:33:01] We see if...

[00:33:02] Some of the...

[00:33:04] Athleticism...

[00:33:04] And we can see if we can get him...

[00:33:06] Like a two dribble package...

[00:33:08] And...

[00:33:09] A jump shot...

[00:33:11] But...

[00:33:12] If it all starts to round into shape...

[00:33:17] And...

[00:33:17] He is able to...

[00:33:20] Show...

[00:33:21] That he can...

[00:33:22] Because he can see over the defense...

[00:33:24] He does make decent passes...

[00:33:26] If he can show...

[00:33:28] More of that...

[00:33:29] On a consistent basis...

[00:33:31] Then we're looking at a guy that might...

[00:33:33] Scratch like...

[00:33:34] Top 7...

[00:33:35] Top 8...

[00:33:36] Just cause of the size and the length...

[00:33:38] Asengue has the size...

[00:33:40] And the defensive tools...

[00:33:41] To make him a top prospect...

[00:33:43] Again...

[00:33:43] What holds him back...

[00:33:44] In his offense...

[00:33:45] And that's something that I wanted to get to you with...

[00:33:48] When it comes to Xenwe...

[00:33:50] Another guy that we want to talk about...

[00:33:52] Is Kasperis...

[00:33:53] Yaka-Trunas...

[00:33:56] Kasperis is a 6'6 guard...

[00:33:58] From Lithuania...

[00:33:59] Who's heading to Illinois...

[00:34:02] Yaka-Trunas is known for his creativity...

[00:34:04] Playmaking...

[00:34:05] And shooting ability...

[00:34:06] Last year he shot...

[00:34:07] He was 19.4 points a game...

[00:34:10] 5.3 assists a game...

[00:34:13] He shot 31.9% from 3 last year...

[00:34:16] In the under 18 European Championships...

[00:34:21] Here's a quote from Gavoni...

[00:34:23] Yaka-Trunas...

[00:34:24] Lottery potential...

[00:34:26] Is due to his vision...

[00:34:27] And his shot making...

[00:34:29] Though...

[00:34:30] His athleticism...

[00:34:31] Still remains a question...

[00:34:36] Well...

[00:34:36] He's going to be playing in the Big Ten...

[00:34:38] So...

[00:34:39] He's going to be playing Purdue...

[00:34:40] He's going to be playing UCLA...

[00:34:42] Oregon...

[00:34:43] He is going to be playing...

[00:34:45] Some teams...

[00:34:47] He will be challenged...

[00:34:48] His athleticism...

[00:34:50] Will be challenged...

[00:34:51] No doubt...

[00:34:52] By the way...

[00:34:53] Rutgers is also...

[00:34:55] In the Big Ten...

[00:34:57] That is where...

[00:34:58] Dylan Harper...

[00:35:00] High lottery pick...

[00:35:01] We're talking like...

[00:35:02] Top...

[00:35:03] Top four...

[00:35:04] Also...

[00:35:05] Ace Bailey...

[00:35:06] Who could be...

[00:35:08] Challenging Cougar flag...

[00:35:09] For that number one...

[00:35:10] Overall selection...

[00:35:12] Also plays at Rutgers...

[00:35:14] So...

[00:35:15] Our guy Yaka-Trunas...

[00:35:17] Is going to have...

[00:35:17] A really good opportunity...

[00:35:19] To show that...

[00:35:20] He can move his feet...

[00:35:22] Laterally...

[00:35:24] The one thing...

[00:35:25] That you do see...

[00:35:26] On tape with him...

[00:35:27] Which is this...

[00:35:29] Kind of the same thing...

[00:35:30] You saw with...

[00:35:31] Luka Doncic...

[00:35:32] And I'm not comparing the two...

[00:35:33] This is not a comparison...

[00:35:37] But Yaka-Trunas...

[00:35:38] Plays at his own speed...

[00:35:40] And you can't speed him up...

[00:35:42] And you can't fluster him...

[00:35:44] Because if you...

[00:35:46] Try to rush him...

[00:35:47] He'll just pass...

[00:35:49] If you try to...

[00:35:51] Like...

[00:35:52] Crowd him...

[00:35:53] He knows how to use his body...

[00:35:56] He knows how to use his...

[00:35:57] Forearm...

[00:35:58] And that shoulder...

[00:36:00] Just enough...

[00:36:01] To get him...

[00:36:03] Get his defender...

[00:36:04] Off of him...

[00:36:04] And be able to make...

[00:36:06] Whatever the basketball play is next...

[00:36:10] So...

[00:36:10] Craftiness on the offensive side...

[00:36:13] We need to see lateral quickness...

[00:36:15] Or some sort of...

[00:36:16] Hey...

[00:36:16] I'm going to use my size...

[00:36:18] And my savvy...

[00:36:19] To cut off angles...

[00:36:20] And throw our people...

[00:36:22] Driving to the lane...

[00:36:24] So...

[00:36:25] Good luck...

[00:36:26] To our guy...

[00:36:27] Yaka-Trunas in Illinois...

[00:36:28] He's going to be coached well...

[00:36:30] The good thing about this is...

[00:36:32] And I want to make mention of this...

[00:36:36] Illinois' coach...

[00:36:37] Took in...

[00:36:38] What...

[00:36:39] Terrence Shannon Jr.

[00:36:40] And one of the...

[00:36:42] Big thing about Terrence Shannon Jr.

[00:36:44] Before he went to Illinois...

[00:36:47] Is that his defense...

[00:36:50] Was...

[00:36:51] When he wanted to...

[00:36:52] Yeah...

[00:36:53] He was...

[00:36:54] He was not known as a good defender...

[00:36:57] When he left there...

[00:36:59] He wasn't known as a good defender...

[00:37:01] But he was known as somebody who was solid...

[00:37:03] Like you didn't look at him and go...

[00:37:04] Oh my god...

[00:37:05] That is absolute barbecue chicken...

[00:37:07] On the next level...

[00:37:09] On the NBA level...

[00:37:10] Like somebody's going to eat him up...

[00:37:13] So if there's anybody who can teach...

[00:37:17] Position defense...

[00:37:18] Illinois' coach can do that...

[00:37:20] If he got something out of Terrence Shannon Jr.

[00:37:22] He can definitely get something out of Yaka-Trunas...

[00:37:26] The next guy I want to talk about...

[00:37:28] Is a guy by the name of...

[00:37:30] Zachary Perrine...

[00:37:33] This is another French big man...

[00:37:36] He impressed...

[00:37:37] He won his...

[00:37:39] MVP...

[00:37:39] At the...

[00:37:40] Under 20 European Championship...

[00:37:42] And is known...

[00:37:43] For his pick and pop style...

[00:37:48] Excuse me...

[00:37:50] Last year...

[00:37:51] He averaged 15.4 points a game...

[00:37:53] He averaged 7.7 rebounds a game...

[00:37:57] And 3.4 assists...

[00:38:02] Perrine's...

[00:38:03] Combination of size...

[00:38:04] Skill...

[00:38:05] Give him a high upside...

[00:38:06] As an NBA prospect...

[00:38:08] But questions remain...

[00:38:09] About his defense...

[00:38:11] He's not the fastest guy...

[00:38:13] On the face of the planet...

[00:38:14] Good skill...

[00:38:15] Definitely can see the court...

[00:38:17] A guy who can...

[00:38:19] Run an offense from...

[00:38:21] The nail...

[00:38:22] If you needed him to do...

[00:38:23] It will be...

[00:38:26] His...

[00:38:27] Lateral...

[00:38:28] Or just...

[00:38:28] He doesn't even really...

[00:38:31] Provide a lot of rim protection...

[00:38:33] So...

[00:38:34] This is a plotter...

[00:38:35] So this might be somebody...

[00:38:36] Who could back up in the NBA...

[00:38:37] I'm not sure about...

[00:38:39] Like...

[00:38:39] What the upside is...

[00:38:40] If he can get any defense...

[00:38:42] Out of his body...

[00:38:44] Any defense...

[00:38:45] Out of his body...

[00:38:47] Be a first rounder...

[00:38:49] For sure...

[00:38:52] But the defense will...

[00:38:54] Remain a question...

[00:38:55] Until he answers that question...

[00:38:57] It is what it is...

[00:38:58] The last guy...

[00:39:01] That we're going to talk about...

[00:39:03] Is when it comes to the...

[00:39:04] NBA draft guys...

[00:39:06] Is...

[00:39:07] Ben Serif...

[00:39:09] He's an...

[00:39:10] Israeli guard...

[00:39:12] He shined...

[00:39:13] At the under 18...

[00:39:15] European championships...

[00:39:16] Averaging...

[00:39:17] 28.1 points a game...

[00:39:19] And 5.3 assists a game...

[00:39:24] His ability...

[00:39:26] To score...

[00:39:27] The basketball...

[00:39:30] Is...

[00:39:31] Crazy...

[00:39:32] This dude can shoot it...

[00:39:34] He has...

[00:39:35] These little...

[00:39:36] In-out dribble moves...

[00:39:38] These like...

[00:39:38] Little punch dribble...

[00:39:39] And then...

[00:39:40] Snatch back...

[00:39:41] And...

[00:39:42] He's able...

[00:39:44] To make people...

[00:39:46] Look silly...

[00:39:49] I haven't seen a lot of them...

[00:39:51] I really haven't...

[00:39:52] But...

[00:39:53] His skill level...

[00:39:55] Is really impressive...

[00:39:56] If you get tape on him...

[00:40:00] He has...

[00:40:01] No...

[00:40:02] Worries...

[00:40:03] About confidence...

[00:40:05] Zero...

[00:40:06] Worries...

[00:40:07] At all...

[00:40:09] Or as the kids...

[00:40:11] Would like to say...

[00:40:12] He has...

[00:40:13] Zero F's...

[00:40:15] For anyone...

[00:40:17] But...

[00:40:18] He's a...

[00:40:19] His scoring ability...

[00:40:20] Has tantalized...

[00:40:23] NBA scouts...

[00:40:24] Over the...

[00:40:25] Over the summer...

[00:40:26] That's why...

[00:40:27] He's gotten a lot of buzz...

[00:40:28] He's not on the high...

[00:40:31] End...

[00:40:31] Of the radar...

[00:40:32] As far as like...

[00:40:33] NBA prospect...

[00:40:34] But...

[00:40:34] I wanted to bring his name...

[00:40:36] To you guys' attention...

[00:40:38] Because of the fact that...

[00:40:39] He put on an absolute show...

[00:40:41] In the under 18...

[00:40:42] Europeans...

[00:40:43] And...

[00:40:44] We're gonna see him...

[00:40:45] Play this year...

[00:40:46] And I...

[00:40:46] I can't wait...

[00:40:47] I wanna see...

[00:40:48] I wanna see it against...

[00:40:49] Better competition...

[00:40:50] I wanna see what it's all about...

[00:40:52] And I wanna see him...

[00:40:54] Play against grown men...

[00:40:55] And see him get knocked around...

[00:40:56] And see how he handles it...

[00:41:00] But...

[00:41:01] Against the talent...

[00:41:02] He played against...

[00:41:03] He was...

[00:41:04] Far...

[00:41:05] In a way better...

[00:41:06] It was like...

[00:41:09] Oh...

[00:41:10] Oh yeah...

[00:41:11] He's...

[00:41:12] Advanced...

[00:41:13] It's like when you look at...

[00:41:14] A little kid...

[00:41:15] And they're reading books...

[00:41:16] Oh...

[00:41:17] Hey man...

[00:41:17] What you reading right there?

[00:41:18] You go...

[00:41:19] Physics...

[00:41:20] Like you...

[00:41:20] Hey bro...

[00:41:21] You shouldn't be reading...

[00:41:22] A physics book at 8...

[00:41:23] Nah dog...

[00:41:24] I build rocket ships...

[00:41:25] I mean...

[00:41:25] Like...

[00:41:27] NASA...

[00:41:27] Like...

[00:41:28] I'm a retainer...

[00:41:29] Dude...

[00:41:30] You can't even...

[00:41:31] Okanoka...

[00:41:31] Pre-sung by yourself...

[00:41:35] Yeah...

[00:41:35] That's what this kid looks like...

[00:41:37] On the court...

[00:41:38] In the sense of...

[00:41:39] Just the...

[00:41:40] The ability...

[00:41:41] Now again...

[00:41:42] It was against...

[00:41:44] Lower level talent...

[00:41:45] I wanna see it against...

[00:41:46] Grown men...

[00:41:47] Once we see it against...

[00:41:49] Grown men...

[00:41:49] I'll make sure to go ahead...

[00:41:51] And...

[00:41:52] Input...

[00:41:53] This...

[00:41:54] Into the podcast...

[00:41:55] But right now...

[00:41:56] What the little...

[00:41:58] Glimpses I've seen...

[00:42:00] Really impressive...

[00:42:01] Offensive game...

[00:42:02] I have no idea if he can play a lick of defense...

[00:42:05] Zero...

[00:42:06] No clue...

[00:42:08] But these are some of the names that...

[00:42:10] You might hear...

[00:42:11] From the no ceilings guys...

[00:42:13] And you know how much...

[00:42:14] We like the no ceiling guys here...

[00:42:16] Tyler...

[00:42:17] And all the guys there...

[00:42:18] They do a really fantastic job...

[00:42:19] On the draft coverage...

[00:42:21] We just hope we can do...

[00:42:24] Just...

[00:42:24] Just a little bit of service...

[00:42:26] Just a monochrome of service...

[00:42:28] To what the no ceilings guys do...

[00:42:29] But...

[00:42:30] We're trying to bring it to you...

[00:42:31] We're trying to bring it to your attention...

[00:42:33] So you...

[00:42:33] You can get locked in...

[00:42:34] With us...

[00:42:35] Because this is the type of...

[00:42:36] In-depth analysis...

[00:42:38] You're going to get all year...

[00:42:39] On the NBA draft...

[00:42:41] So keep it locked here...

[00:42:42] With Frontrunner...

[00:42:44] Podcast Collective...

[00:42:46] Now...

[00:42:47] To end...

[00:42:48] The podcast today...

[00:42:50] The last thing that...

[00:42:51] We are going to discuss...

[00:42:53] Is...

[00:42:54] Two-fold...

[00:42:57] Rajon Rondo...

[00:42:58] Long-time...

[00:42:59] NBA player...

[00:43:01] Has played on a couple...

[00:43:02] Championship teams...

[00:43:03] What have you...

[00:43:04] Is now...

[00:43:05] An assistant coach...

[00:43:08] For the Milwaukee Bucks...

[00:43:10] There was a...

[00:43:12] Point in time...

[00:43:14] Where there was a thought...

[00:43:15] That Rajon Rondo...

[00:43:16] Might be...

[00:43:16] A Laker assistant coach...

[00:43:19] J.J. Reddick...

[00:43:20] Talked about...

[00:43:21] Rondo's acumen...

[00:43:24] And his memory...

[00:43:25] Being able to...

[00:43:27] Disseminate...

[00:43:27] Information...

[00:43:28] And know what's going on...

[00:43:30] At all times...

[00:43:31] On the court...

[00:43:34] I think it's...

[00:43:35] Very interesting...

[00:43:36] That Rondo...

[00:43:37] Ended up...

[00:43:37] In Milwaukee...

[00:43:38] Not because of Lakers...

[00:43:40] That actually...

[00:43:42] Might help...

[00:43:42] Milwaukee...

[00:43:43] And it might actually...

[00:43:44] Help...

[00:43:45] The two stars there...

[00:43:47] Damian Lillard...

[00:43:48] And Yontez...

[00:43:49] Antetokounmpo...

[00:43:50] Because here's the one thing...

[00:43:51] I can honestly...

[00:43:52] Say about...

[00:43:53] Rajon Rondo...

[00:43:55] I've had...

[00:43:56] Very...

[00:43:57] Little...

[00:43:58] Interactions...

[00:43:59] With...

[00:44:00] Rajon Rondo...

[00:44:01] I've had some...

[00:44:03] He is as straightforward...

[00:44:05] As it gets...

[00:44:05] He will tell you...

[00:44:06] Exactly what...

[00:44:07] What's on his mind...

[00:44:08] He does not...

[00:44:09] Mince words...

[00:44:10] He does not sugarcoat it...

[00:44:12] It is not for everybody...

[00:44:14] But the two stars...

[00:44:17] That are in Milwaukee...

[00:44:19] That will work for...

[00:44:21] Damian Lillard...

[00:44:23] And...

[00:44:23] Yontez...

[00:44:24] The Kumbu...

[00:44:25] If Rajon Rondo...

[00:44:27] Says hey...

[00:44:28] You two need to do...

[00:44:29] More pick and roll...

[00:44:30] I think...

[00:44:31] Those words...

[00:44:32] Conveyed by...

[00:44:33] Rajon Rondo...

[00:44:35] Will carry more weight...

[00:44:37] Than...

[00:44:37] If Doc Rivers...

[00:44:39] Or any...

[00:44:40] Other assistant coach...

[00:44:41] Or...

[00:44:42] Any analytic person...

[00:44:46] Would be able to...

[00:44:48] Convey that message...

[00:44:49] To those two...

[00:44:50] Two stars...

[00:44:51] Because they're...

[00:44:53] Highly successful...

[00:44:55] They've been...

[00:44:56] Highly successful...

[00:44:57] For a long period of time...

[00:44:59] They are...

[00:45:00] Some of the...

[00:45:01] Better...

[00:45:02] Upper echelon...

[00:45:04] At their position...

[00:45:05] So you coming at them...

[00:45:07] With something...

[00:45:08] Different than what they do...

[00:45:11] Yeah...

[00:45:12] They gonna look at you like you crazy...

[00:45:13] But Rajon Rondo...

[00:45:18] Sometimes...

[00:45:19] When you see people...

[00:45:20] Who do things...

[00:45:20] And you respect them...

[00:45:22] Or whatever...

[00:45:23] You...

[00:45:23] The ear...

[00:45:24] Seems to open up...

[00:45:25] A little bit more...

[00:45:26] For them...

[00:45:27] So I think this is a good ad...

[00:45:29] For...

[00:45:30] The Milwaukee Bucks...

[00:45:31] And their chances...

[00:45:33] In the East...

[00:45:34] And then the last thing...

[00:45:36] That I wanna talk about is this...

[00:45:38] And then we can go...

[00:45:43] Former...

[00:45:43] New York...

[00:45:44] Nick Great...

[00:45:46] Patrick Ewing...

[00:45:47] Is back in the fold...

[00:45:49] He signed an ambassador contract...

[00:45:52] With the Knicks...

[00:45:53] What was entailed in that...

[00:45:55] Is that he would be...

[00:45:57] Consulting the coaching staff...

[00:45:59] And...

[00:45:59] The front office...

[00:46:01] From the people I've talked to...

[00:46:03] Patrick Ewing was brought in...

[00:46:05] For Carl Anthony Towns...

[00:46:08] Okay...

[00:46:09] So...

[00:46:10] You take that...

[00:46:11] You glean what kind of information...

[00:46:12] You want...

[00:46:13] From that...

[00:46:14] I know that my Knicks fans out there...

[00:46:16] Shout out to my guy...

[00:46:18] Kazim...

[00:46:19] On the...

[00:46:20] Masterman...

[00:46:21] On the Masterman show...

[00:46:23] On the Ringer...

[00:46:24] Wrestling Network...

[00:46:26] Huge Knicks fan...

[00:46:28] Does stuff for...

[00:46:32] Their...

[00:46:32] Pre and post game...

[00:46:33] And what have you...

[00:46:35] He's been...

[00:46:36] Doing podcasts...

[00:46:37] With Carmelo Anthony...

[00:46:39] So big shout out to Kazim...

[00:46:41] Knicks look...

[00:46:42] Loaded for bear dude...

[00:46:44] And now Patrick Ewing...

[00:46:45] Is back in the building...

[00:46:47] So then my question...

[00:46:49] To...

[00:46:49] To Mr. Dolan...

[00:46:51] Is this...

[00:46:52] And then we'll end on this note...

[00:46:56] When you bringing back...

[00:46:57] Charles Oakley...

[00:46:59] When you gonna let...

[00:47:00] Charles Oakley...

[00:47:02] Back in the building...

[00:47:03] And back in the good graces...

[00:47:05] If...

[00:47:06] The New York Knicks...

[00:47:08] Are really back...

[00:47:09] You got Patrick Ewing...

[00:47:10] In the building...

[00:47:13] We gotta bring back Oak...

[00:47:15] Gotta bring him back...

[00:47:18] One of the greatest enforcers...

[00:47:19] Of all time...

[00:47:21] He was the...

[00:47:22] First he was the enforcer for...

[00:47:24] A guy that...

[00:47:25] Michael Jordan...

[00:47:26] And then he went...

[00:47:28] To New York...

[00:47:29] To beat up Michael Jordan...

[00:47:32] Basically...

[00:47:32] Knicks fans know...

[00:47:34] Y'all...

[00:47:34] Real ones know...

[00:47:36] Charles Oakley...

[00:47:37] Shout out to our guy...

[00:47:40] With that being said...

[00:47:41] What I wanna do is...

[00:47:42] I wanna take...

[00:47:43] Um...

[00:47:44] One moment...

[00:47:45] To say two things...

[00:47:49] One...

[00:47:50] I want to...

[00:47:52] Shout out our producers...

[00:47:54] Soraya...

[00:47:54] And Funch...

[00:47:56] For this show...

[00:47:57] And just providing...

[00:47:59] All the great information...

[00:48:00] That we received today...

[00:48:02] That's the first and foremost...

[00:48:04] And then the other people...

[00:48:05] I wanna thank...

[00:48:06] I wanna thank Eric Pincus...

[00:48:07] Of Bleacher Report...

[00:48:08] I wanna thank...

[00:48:09] Just for being able to...

[00:48:11] Give us some...

[00:48:12] Kind of clues...

[00:48:13] And some information...

[00:48:14] About what's going on...

[00:48:15] I also wanna thank...

[00:48:16] Jonathan Gavoni...

[00:48:18] For his...

[00:48:21] The strongest...

[00:48:23] Thought of the day...

[00:48:25] The 2025 draft class...

[00:48:29] Is the strongest class...

[00:48:31] That Jonathan Gavoni...

[00:48:33] Has seen...

[00:48:34] In 20 years...

[00:48:35] As we go into the weekend...

[00:48:36] I want you to wrap your head around that...

[00:48:38] Okay?

[00:48:39] Also...

[00:48:40] I wanna give a shout out...

[00:48:41] To...

[00:48:42] Our guy...

[00:48:43] Jonathan Wasserman...

[00:48:45] As well...

[00:48:46] And...

[00:48:47] As always...

[00:48:48] It is Friday...

[00:48:50] You guys have a great weekend...

[00:48:52] We'll be back on this feed...

[00:48:53] On Monday...

[00:48:54] Unless...

[00:48:56] Somebody...

[00:48:57] Gets traded...

[00:48:58] I'm not saying...

[00:48:59] Somebody is...

[00:49:00] I'm just saying...

[00:49:01] If something happens...

[00:49:01] We'll be here...

[00:49:02] But Monday...

[00:49:03] We'll be back...

[00:49:04] But...

[00:49:04] The best part of you...

[00:49:06] Is you...

[00:49:06] Make sure that the people that surround you...

[00:49:09] Are...

[00:49:10] Giving you...

[00:49:11] What you're putting out...

[00:49:13] So if you're putting out the love...

[00:49:15] And the acceptance...

[00:49:16] And...

[00:49:17] Respect...

[00:49:18] May those around you...

[00:49:20] Give you that...

[00:49:21] In return...

[00:49:22] And if they're not giving it to you...

[00:49:25] There are gonna be some conversations...

[00:49:27] To be had...

[00:49:28] Because you are worthy...

[00:49:30] Of what you put out...

[00:49:33] The other thing is this...

[00:49:34] Go out there...

[00:49:34] And try to do some good in the world...

[00:49:36] And we'll see you back on this podcast...

[00:49:38] On Monday...

[00:49:40] Doses...