Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton headline a must-watch NBA Finals for the basketball purist. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce break down what makes this matchup so intriguing. From elite guard play to the Pacers’ surprise rise and why limiting turnovers might decide the champion.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton headline a must-watch NBA Finals for the basketball purist. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce break down what makes this matchup so intriguing. From elite guard play to the Pacers&rsquo; surprise rise and why limiting turnovers might decide the champion.

KG CERTIFIED is a series hosted by Hall of Fame NBA legend, Kevin Garnett. Garnett traverses the sports landscape to bring you unparalleled sit-downs with the biggest stars and most influential power brokers in the industry. Plus, KG is joined weekly by former teammate and Hall Of Famer Paul Pierce to break down the latest in the NBA in TICKET & THE TRUTH.

A podcast series hosted by Hall of Fame NBA legend, Kevin Garnett.

KG Certified

Finals X-Factors, Coaching Chess Match, Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Haliburton | TICKET & THE TRUTH

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5af5a769-d6a7-4d8b-bc43-b2f30065c858/transcript

KG and Paul break down exactly why the defending champs got cooked in game 1, why Castle plays like a “red nose pit,” and how the Spurs ran out the youngest starting five in NBA playoff history without blinking. Plus, KG drops the never-before-told story of his summer with Wemby. Hakeem, the monks, the mentality download, and what really happened on that football field in California.

Over in the East, the Knicks erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit and stunned the Cavs in OT to seal a game 1 victory. Brunson took the game over and the fellas put him in the Top 5 Knicks of all time. The crew gets into Kenny Atkinson’s missing timeouts, how Cleveland responds psychologically, and Paul vs KG on whether the Knicks just got lucky or willed the win. They also drop their own legendary comeback stories — the 2008 Finals Game 4 (Boston down 24) and Paul’s 2002 Eastern Conference Final Nets game (down 26).

The back half goes Play GM: what Detroit does with Jalen Duren’s $287M supermax, a wild Reaves-for-Duren trade idea, KD’s most realistic landing spots (Houston, Washington, Minnesota?), and what Masai Ujiri’s full Mavs rebuild looks like after Jason Kidd’s exit.

00:00:00 - Intro & Show Opening
00:00:39 - Victor Wembanyama’s 40/20 Game 1
00:02:10 - Breaking Down OKC’s Pick & Roll Defense Against Wemby
00:04:38 - Real-Time Coaching & In-Game Adjustments
00:06:14 - The Spurs’ Historically Young Starting Five
00:07:30 - The New Era of Young Teams in the NBA
00:09:02 - How to Build a Championship Contender Today
00:09:44 - Assessing Wembanyama’s First Playoff Run
00:11:06 - KG’s Summer Meetup with Wembanyama
00:15:33 - What KG Took Away from Time with Wemby
00:21:03 - Young Players Need to Seek Out Veteran Mentorship
00:25:52 - PrizePicks Ad
00:26:41 - Knicks Overcome 22-Point Deficit vs. Cavs in Game 1
00:29:41 - Kenny Atkinson’s Timeout & Adjustment Decisions
00:32:39 - Biggest Playoff Comebacks: 2008 Finals & 2002 Nets
00:39:44 - Jalen Brunson’s Legacy with the Knicks
00:41:27 - Luck vs. Heart: Analytics Debate
00:45:11 - Detroit Pistons’ Future & Jalen Duren’s Contract
00:52:22 - GM Session: Jalen Duren for Austin Reaves Trade Idea
00:55:39 - Where Does Kevin Durant End Up Next?
00:57:16 - Mavericks Overhaul: Masai Ujiri, Jason Kidd Fired & Cooper Flagg
00:59:48 - Closing & Weekend Vibes

KG and Paul break down exactly why the defending champs got cooked in game 1, why Castle plays like a &ldquo;red nose pit,&rdquo; and how the Spurs ran out the youngest starting five in NBA playoff history without blinking. Plus, KG drops the never-before-told story of his summer with Wemby. Hakeem, the monks, the mentality download, and what really happened on that football field in California. Over in the East, the Knicks erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit and stunned the Cavs in OT to seal a game 1 victory. Brunson took the game over and the fellas put him in the Top 5 Knicks of all time. The crew gets into Kenny Atkinson&rsquo;s missing timeouts, how Cleveland responds psychologically, and Paul vs KG on whether the Knicks just got lucky or willed the win. They also drop their own legendary comeback stories &mdash; the 2008 Finals Game 4 (Boston down 24) and Paul&rsquo;s 2002 Eastern Conference Final Nets game (down 26). The back half goes Play GM: what Detroit does with Jalen Duren&rsquo;s $287M supermax, a wild Reaves-for-Duren trade idea, KD&rsquo;s most realistic landing spots (Houston, Washington, Minnesota?), and what Masai Ujiri&rsquo;s full Mavs rebuild looks like after Jason Kidd&rsquo;s exit.
00:00:00 - Intro &amp; Show Opening 00:00:39 - Victor Wembanyama&rsquo;s 40/20 Game 1 00:02:10 - Breaking Down OKC&rsquo;s Pick &amp; Roll Defense Against Wemby 00:04:38 - Real-Time Coaching &amp; In-Game Adjustments 00:06:14 - The Spurs&rsquo; Historically Young Starting Five 00:07:30 - The New Era of Young Teams in the NBA 00:09:02 - How to Build a Championship Contender Today 00:09:44 - Assessing Wembanyama&rsquo;s First Playoff Run 00:11:06 - KG&rsquo;s Summer Meetup with Wembanyama 00:15:33 - What KG Took Away from Time with Wemby 00:21:03 - Young Players Need to Seek Out Veteran Mentorship 00:25:52 - PrizePicks Ad 00:26:41 - Knicks Overcome 22-Point Deficit vs. Cavs in Game 1 00:29:41 - Kenny Atkinson&rsquo;s Timeout &amp; Adjustment Decisions 00:32:39 - Biggest Playoff Comebacks: 2008 Finals &amp; 2002 Nets 00:39:44 - Jalen Brunson&rsquo;s Legacy with the Knicks 00:41:27 - Luck vs. Heart: Analytics Debate 00:45:11 - Detroit Pistons&rsquo; Future &amp; Jalen Duren&rsquo;s Contract 00:52:22 - GM Session: Jalen Duren for Austin Reaves Trade Idea 00:55:39 - Where Does Kevin Durant End Up Next? 00:57:16 - Mavericks Overhaul: Masai Ujiri, Jason Kidd Fired &amp; Cooper Flagg 00:59:48 - Closing &amp; Weekend Vibes

Knicks HUGE Game 1 Comeback, KG’s Untold Wemby Summer & Duren Super Max? | TICKET & THE TRUTH

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/98490c5a-4129-45b4-9c12-b45101014c2a/transcript

Lakers got swept by OKC and Paul Pierce is ready to say out loud what nobody else will: it’s time. KG and Paul break down LeBron’s 4th career sweep, the Pelinka–Redick ball moment that looks an awful lot like leverage, and whether Bron is pulling himself out of the GOAT conversation by sticking around.

Plus: Wemby’s ejection (and need for an enforcer) & Spurs are up 3-2 on the Wolves. Does Rudy Gobert need to sit? Plus reactions to Washington winning the draft lottery, AJ Dybantsa to Utah rumors, 76ers regrets on the Jared McCain trade, Jaylen Brown chatter, the Celtics’ utility big search, and the craziest offseason in a minute.

Rest in Peace to our fallen brothers: Jason Collins & Brandon Clarke

Lakers got swept by OKC and Paul Pierce is ready to say out loud what nobody else will: it&rsquo;s time. KG and Paul break down LeBron&rsquo;s 4th career sweep, the Pelinka&ndash;Redick ball moment that looks an awful lot like leverage, and whether Bron is pulling himself out of the GOAT conversation by sticking around. Plus: Wemby&rsquo;s ejection (and need for an enforcer) &amp; Spurs are up 3-2 on the Wolves. Does Rudy Gobert need to sit? Plus reactions to Washington winning the draft lottery, AJ Dybantsa to Utah rumors, 76ers regrets on the Jared McCain trade, Jaylen Brown chatter, the Celtics&rsquo; utility big search, and the craziest offseason in a minute. Rest in Peace to our fallen brothers: Jason Collins &amp; Brandon Clarke

Is It Time for LeBron to Retire? Wemby Needs an Enforcer, OKC’s Dynasty Mode | TICKET & THE TRUTH

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c693075c-9488-4ff9-8abd-b44b0100e940/transcript

Kevin Garnett sits down with comedian & actor Alex Thomas for one of the funniest and most real conversations of the season. KG and Inglewood’s break down Wembanyama’s first playoff run and the exact way KG would have guarded him. Why LeBron James at 41 is doing something nobody has ever done, and why OKC is steamrolling everybody in the West with no answers in sight.

KG and Alex get into the lost art of NBA trash talk, how Jordan talked over everybody’s head, why Larry Bird was the coldest shit talker of all time, and how the league evolved from the brutal physicality of the 80s to today’s three ball era. They also talk Rajon Rondo’s fit for the Pelicans head coaching job, and why Sam Cassell deserves his shot.

0:00 - Intro
1:00 - KG gives Alex Thomas his flowers
5:40 - Lakers talk & how KG feels about LeBron at 41
8:37 - Wembanyama’s first playoff run — KG gives him a grade
12:57 - How KG would guard Wembanyama
15:10 - The mental game & the art of NBA trash talk
16:47 - Jordan talked over everybody’s head
18:08 - Larry Bird: the coldest trash talker of all time
18:47 - From the brutal 80s to the three-point era
22:49 - OKC is steamrolling everyone — does anybody have an answer?
26:38 - Rondo interviews for the Pelicans head coaching job
28:40 - Why Sam Cassell deserves his shot
34:47 - Flowers for Donte DiVincenzo & Minnesota Timberwolves talk
35:48 - Pistons vs. Magic breakdown
39:43 - Does health decide who wins the playoffs?
41:25 - Alex Thomas comedy
46:23 - Who Alex would play golf with
47:45 - Top 5 comedians of all time
50:13 - Michael Jordan, Kobe & the GOAT conversation
54:44 - What’s next & the KG + Alex collab

Kevin Garnett sits down with comedian &amp; actor Alex Thomas for one of the funniest and most real conversations of the season. KG and Inglewood&rsquo;s break down Wembanyama&rsquo;s first playoff run and the exact way KG would have guarded him. Why LeBron James at 41 is doing something nobody has ever done, and why OKC is steamrolling everybody in the West with no answers in sight. KG and Alex get into the lost art of NBA trash talk, how Jordan talked over everybody&rsquo;s head, why Larry Bird was the coldest shit talker of all time, and how the league evolved from the brutal physicality of the 80s to today&rsquo;s three ball era. They also talk Rajon Rondo&rsquo;s fit for the Pelicans head coaching job, and why Sam Cassell deserves his shot.
0:00 - Intro 1:00 - KG gives Alex Thomas his flowers 5:40 - Lakers talk &amp; how KG feels about LeBron at 41 8:37 - Wembanyama&rsquo;s first playoff run &mdash; KG gives him a grade 12:57 - How KG would guard Wembanyama 15:10 - The mental game &amp; the art of NBA trash talk 16:47 - Jordan talked over everybody&rsquo;s head 18:08 - Larry Bird: the coldest trash talker of all time 18:47 - From the brutal 80s to the three-point era 22:49 - OKC is steamrolling everyone &mdash; does anybody have an answer? 26:38 - Rondo interviews for the Pelicans head coaching job 28:40 - Why Sam Cassell deserves his shot 34:47 - Flowers for Donte DiVincenzo &amp; Minnesota Timberwolves talk 35:48 - Pistons vs. Magic breakdown 39:43 - Does health decide who wins the playoffs? 41:25 - Alex Thomas comedy 46:23 - Who Alex would play golf with 47:45 - Top 5 comedians of all time 50:13 - Michael Jordan, Kobe &amp; the GOAT conversation 54:44 - What&rsquo;s next &amp; the KG + Alex collab

Kevin Garnett & Alex Thomas on the Lost Art of NBA Trash Talk, Wemby’s First Playoffs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/72c89bfa-8d0d-440c-8747-b43d00ee034f/transcript

Finals X-Factors, Coaching Chess Match, Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Haliburton | TICKET & THE TRUTH

In 1 playlist(s)

KG Certified

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips