The volume. No, Oh my god, how could he do that?

The volume. No, Oh my god, how could he do that?

By watch.

By watch.

What Charles Darwin. The nerves is where it's at. Welcome everybody back into Nerd Sash As always, I'm Carson Brever and alongside and he is Logan Camden, and today we are joined by a very special guest. He is a founder of Enjoy Basketball, a host of the Numbers on the Board podcast, and in my opinion, the goat of NBA trivia. You may know him as the King of the fourth Quarter. We've got Kenny Beacham with us today. We were already kind of glazing you before the show even started, Kenny, but this really is a great moment for us. Logan and I were saying, we've both been watching your stuff for a long time and are just super excited to have you on the pod with us here today.

What Charles Darwin. The nerves is where it's at. Welcome everybody back into Nerd Sash As always, I'm Carson Brever and alongside and he is Logan Camden, and today we are joined by a very special guest. He is a founder of Enjoy Basketball, a host of the Numbers on the Board podcast, and in my opinion, the goat of NBA trivia. You may know him as the King of the fourth Quarter. We've got Kenny Beacham with us today. We were already kind of glazing you before the show even started, Kenny, but this really is a great moment for us. Logan and I were saying, we've both been watching your stuff for a long time and are just super excited to have you on the pod with us here today.

How are you doing doing great? Man?

How are you doing doing great? Man?

I can't take the goat of NBA trivia after seeing you guys work on some crazy like I feel like every time y'all pop up on my TikTok, I'm like, that is a new name, a name I've never heard before. So maybe one of the founding fathers of NBA trivia. But I'm definitely not the goat. I'm like, they're the goat. Man, I'm telling you you're the goat. What I have is a mental illness. It's not cool, it's not fun.

I can't take the goat of NBA trivia after seeing you guys work on some crazy like I feel like every time y'all pop up on my TikTok, I'm like, that is a new name, a name I've never heard before. So maybe one of the founding fathers of NBA trivia. But I'm definitely not the goat. I'm like, they're the goat. Man, I'm telling you you're the goat. What I have is a mental illness. It's not cool, it's not fun.

It's just like a freak show. It's like a sideshow circus. But we are going to do some trivia today. Kenny and I are going to be competing against each other. We're gonna be instead collaborating. Logan's come up with some very hard questions that will require both of our brain powers, so that should be a ton of fun. But before we do that, we're just gonna talk some ball. So Logan and I are currently going through the process of ranking our top thirty players in the NBA. We're knocking it out in chunks. We still have our top ten to go. But since we're in the middle of that journey and we're having you on now, I thought it'd be interesting for you to take a look at our numbers thirty through eleven rankings and say what you disagree with most, what surprises you most about those rankings.

It's just like a freak show. It's like a sideshow circus. But we are going to do some trivia today. Kenny and I are going to be competing against each other. We're gonna be instead collaborating. Logan's come up with some very hard questions that will require both of our brain powers, so that should be a ton of fun. But before we do that, we're just gonna talk some ball. So Logan and I are currently going through the process of ranking our top thirty players in the NBA. We're knocking it out in chunks. We still have our top ten to go. But since we're in the middle of that journey and we're having you on now, I thought it'd be interesting for you to take a look at our numbers thirty through eleven rankings and say what you disagree with most, what surprises you most about those rankings.

Yeah, I mean ranking is something that I don't normally do as far as like one, two, three, for five. I like to do it in tears personally, So like when I look at y'all rankings, the first thing that popped out to me is that I tried to figure out, Am I lower on Chris STAPs perzingis than consensus? No, Like, you guys are just higher on them, Okay, because you guys have them one of you guys. Let me let me pull up which one one of you guys have them in the top twenty And Logan has in top twenty and you had them right outside. And I'm like, Okay, I'm looking at the list and like, I think check Holmgren is just slightly lower on Carson's lists, and.

Yeah, I mean ranking is something that I don't normally do as far as like one, two, three, for five. I like to do it in tears personally, So like when I look at y'all rankings, the first thing that popped out to me is that I tried to figure out, Am I lower on Chris STAPs perzingis than consensus? No, Like, you guys are just higher on them, Okay, because you guys have them one of you guys. Let me let me pull up which one one of you guys have them in the top twenty And Logan has in top twenty and you had them right outside. And I'm like, Okay, I'm looking at the list and like, I think check Holmgren is just slightly lower on Carson's lists, and.

I'm thinking, like who would I prefer?

I'm thinking, like who would I prefer?

And ranking is always I'm not good at rankings because there's so many questions for me, Like I'm one of those dudes that need to know every single variable if you're gonna be ranking, is it? Am I building around these people? Are they a part of a team? Is this is my first pick?

And ranking is always I'm not good at rankings because there's so many questions for me, Like I'm one of those dudes that need to know every single variable if you're gonna be ranking, is it? Am I building around these people? Are they a part of a team? Is this is my first pick?

Like?

Like?

What are the other situations like the other players around them? So I just get too bogged down by all the exterior things to really do rankings well. But the first thing that stood out definitely was porzingis.

What are the other situations like the other players around them? So I just get too bogged down by all the exterior things to really do rankings well. But the first thing that stood out definitely was porzingis.

I'm a Porzingis truther. So is Logan. Here's the thing, man, Logan's kind of co opted some of my guys and now he's even higher on them. Like, shit, my dude, I said he was the best prospect since Anthony Davis. Logan's like, yeah, I'm gonna have him higher than you on the list. Evan Moldley like maybe my favorite NBA player. Logan's like, I got him one spot higher. KP is another one of those dudes, and the reason that we're both so high on him basically, and we are a hive mind here, so we do have similar lists. But KP is top tier at several of the most valuable traits from a big man. In my opinion, he is the best pick and pop big in basketball. He is a top two post scorer in basketball. Only he and Jokic are up at that level. I mean just the efficiency, the mismatch attacking his size, improved physicality, the shot making, and then he's a top tier rim protector, one of the best in basketball. There. So those are three traits that are going to bring me elite impact in any situation with any surrounding supporting cast. It's never going to step on the toes of anybody else, Like it's lean. It's super efficient, but nobody can really do anything with him, and he's super impactful on both sides of the ball. So that's why I am as high on him as I am, and I think Logan feels the same way, even though he doesn't have the craziest counting stats necessarily and obviously availability, I think is part of the reason that he kind of gets forgotten about a little bit in my opinion, because he's just not always playing.

I'm a Porzingis truther. So is Logan. Here's the thing, man, Logan's kind of co opted some of my guys and now he's even higher on them. Like, shit, my dude, I said he was the best prospect since Anthony Davis. Logan's like, yeah, I'm gonna have him higher than you on the list. Evan Moldley like maybe my favorite NBA player. Logan's like, I got him one spot higher. KP is another one of those dudes, and the reason that we're both so high on him basically, and we are a hive mind here, so we do have similar lists. But KP is top tier at several of the most valuable traits from a big man. In my opinion, he is the best pick and pop big in basketball. He is a top two post scorer in basketball. Only he and Jokic are up at that level. I mean just the efficiency, the mismatch attacking his size, improved physicality, the shot making, and then he's a top tier rim protector, one of the best in basketball. There. So those are three traits that are going to bring me elite impact in any situation with any surrounding supporting cast. It's never going to step on the toes of anybody else, Like it's lean. It's super efficient, but nobody can really do anything with him, and he's super impactful on both sides of the ball. So that's why I am as high on him as I am, and I think Logan feels the same way, even though he doesn't have the craziest counting stats necessarily and obviously availability, I think is part of the reason that he kind of gets forgotten about a little bit in my opinion, because he's just not always playing.

That was the last thing I was gonna mention when you were talking about like different criteria for ranking guys, and I feel like that was probably the most difficult when gauging like health. Well, we kind of presumed health for all these guys and right for a long time, I mean, Carson and I have kind of believed that KP is the second best player on the Celtics because of all the elite things he does at the center spot. And let me tell you, man, people were not happy with our Jalen Brown rankings. They were not happy with our duo's talk. That is definitely one of the more more controversial ones. But I just think that KP does stuff that's most valuable at the center spot, and you just can't take what he does away. I mean, you think back to the finals last year, He'd come in and play twenty minutes a night, and he'd put the game away. Like I think KP is still a really special player.

That was the last thing I was gonna mention when you were talking about like different criteria for ranking guys, and I feel like that was probably the most difficult when gauging like health. Well, we kind of presumed health for all these guys and right for a long time, I mean, Carson and I have kind of believed that KP is the second best player on the Celtics because of all the elite things he does at the center spot. And let me tell you, man, people were not happy with our Jalen Brown rankings. They were not happy with our duo's talk. That is definitely one of the more more controversial ones. But I just think that KP does stuff that's most valuable at the center spot, and you just can't take what he does away. I mean, you think back to the finals last year, He'd come in and play twenty minutes a night, and he'd put the game away. Like I think KP is still a really special player.

Yeah, I think maybe I'm being unfair because I think that as good of a player he is last year, they still win whether he plays one second.

Yeah, I think maybe I'm being unfair because I think that as good of a player he is last year, they still win whether he plays one second.

Or every single game.

Or every single game.

And maybe it is the availability part that makes me maybe a little bit lower on him than you guys are. I mean, he's on pace to have his third least amount of games of his career, which is saying something because he's always missing a bunch of games. But you guys, that's a very interesting conversation. Though you talk about the best picking pop big, I don't really have. I mean Carnthony Towns comes to mind, but I think porzingis if we're talking about that specific skill, is better than Carnthony Town's. There rent protection obviously always going to be elite. So I mean, you guys make compelling arguments. I think it's still maybe just a little bit too high for me.

And maybe it is the availability part that makes me maybe a little bit lower on him than you guys are. I mean, he's on pace to have his third least amount of games of his career, which is saying something because he's always missing a bunch of games. But you guys, that's a very interesting conversation. Though you talk about the best picking pop big, I don't really have. I mean Carnthony Towns comes to mind, but I think porzingis if we're talking about that specific skill, is better than Carnthony Town's. There rent protection obviously always going to be elite. So I mean, you guys make compelling arguments. I think it's still maybe just a little bit too high for me.

I get it, I get it. The one thing that I would say about them win without him for most of the playoffs last year. This is just one of the most talented teams we've ever seen, and like you look at their record and their net rating with any of the dudes off, Like they're twenty and three without Jalen Brown. Over the last couple of years, they're even ten and two without Tatum. They win eighty percent of their games without Drew Holliday. I do think this year, if they want to win it, going up against this field, they do need everybody, and they need KP to be a very good version of himself because the competition is that tough y I think one of those Celtics best players.

I get it, I get it. The one thing that I would say about them win without him for most of the playoffs last year. This is just one of the most talented teams we've ever seen, and like you look at their record and their net rating with any of the dudes off, Like they're twenty and three without Jalen Brown. Over the last couple of years, they're even ten and two without Tatum. They win eighty percent of their games without Drew Holliday. I do think this year, if they want to win it, going up against this field, they do need everybody, and they need KP to be a very good version of himself because the competition is that tough y I think one of those Celtics best players.

The lessons in the curse, right, So you're the blessing is that you have this amount of depth that you can, at least last year, going a deep playoff run and win a championship without one of your best players. But also it hurts the conversation when you talk about these individual guys, and that's how like Tatum gets put into weird conversations where I remember one graphic that popped up on the timeline was like all off numbers for the top players in basketball and I think the Celtics had a better rating with him off the court, and it's like, how could that be if he's one of the top five players of basketball or whatever. So yeah, I completely understand that, but I do agree that the crop that they would have to go through to make it happen again this year is significantly tougher, So you do need a poor Zengis. I was happy to see him back on the floor a couple of nights ago against the Brooklyn Nets. So yeah, they're gonna They're gonna need everybody to contribute to the highest degree in order to do it, because there are some teams out there that scare me as far as they're matchups with the Celtics this year.

The lessons in the curse, right, So you're the blessing is that you have this amount of depth that you can, at least last year, going a deep playoff run and win a championship without one of your best players. But also it hurts the conversation when you talk about these individual guys, and that's how like Tatum gets put into weird conversations where I remember one graphic that popped up on the timeline was like all off numbers for the top players in basketball and I think the Celtics had a better rating with him off the court, and it's like, how could that be if he's one of the top five players of basketball or whatever. So yeah, I completely understand that, but I do agree that the crop that they would have to go through to make it happen again this year is significantly tougher, So you do need a poor Zengis. I was happy to see him back on the floor a couple of nights ago against the Brooklyn Nets. So yeah, they're gonna They're gonna need everybody to contribute to the highest degree in order to do it, because there are some teams out there that scare me as far as they're matchups with the Celtics this year.

Was there anything else that stood out to you? I'm trying to think about what might have gotten the people lot of fear or.

Was there anything else that stood out to you? I'm trying to think about what might have gotten the people lot of fear or.

Our next most controversial take was probably Zion Williamson being so high. We both had him at number twelve, and I feel like that's another availability thing. But a lot of people took issue with Brunson. What do you think about Zion Kenny Zion.

Our next most controversial take was probably Zion Williamson being so high. We both had him at number twelve, and I feel like that's another availability thing. But a lot of people took issue with Brunson. What do you think about Zion Kenny Zion.

I'm team Zion.

I'm team Zion.

I always have that. I've never waivered. I mean no matter what was going on off the court with with Mariah Mills or you know, all of the weirdness, I've always been team with Zion. And you know, people discredit March basketball, and sometimes it's definitely warranted. Right Like I'm seeing people in Chicago put up numbers that they've never put up before and now they're gonna make thirty five million.

I always have that. I've never waivered. I mean no matter what was going on off the court with with Mariah Mills or you know, all of the weirdness, I've always been team with Zion. And you know, people discredit March basketball, and sometimes it's definitely warranted. Right Like I'm seeing people in Chicago put up numbers that they've never put up before and now they're gonna make thirty five million.

Dollars to do it.

Dollars to do it.

But Zion's is one of those Zews is not out of character for him to have this type of performances. So I've been as high on Zion as anybody. And there's been times in our show where people had to like Kenny, let'em, let's temper the expectations for him. But I've always been a believer, and I think part of that was, like when he was coming into the draft, I had seen so many Bulls photoshops, so I was like, I have to I have to have him in Chicago, And obviously he didn't end up there, but I still became a fan. And I think he's playing his best ball of his entire career right now, offensively and defensively. Like the other night against the Minnesota Timbuleves, we saw him like really locked down as far as locking down could be for Zion when he starting Anthony Edwards at least, and he hasn't showed the upside that we predicted out of college as a defensive player. But after that, in this post game interview, he talked about, you know, if you want to win basketball games as the best player, you have to defend. And that's like the mindset that I really look forward to for them next season or what so.

But Zion's is one of those Zews is not out of character for him to have this type of performances. So I've been as high on Zion as anybody. And there's been times in our show where people had to like Kenny, let'em, let's temper the expectations for him. But I've always been a believer, and I think part of that was, like when he was coming into the draft, I had seen so many Bulls photoshops, so I was like, I have to I have to have him in Chicago, And obviously he didn't end up there, but I still became a fan. And I think he's playing his best ball of his entire career right now, offensively and defensively. Like the other night against the Minnesota Timbuleves, we saw him like really locked down as far as locking down could be for Zion when he starting Anthony Edwards at least, and he hasn't showed the upside that we predicted out of college as a defensive player. But after that, in this post game interview, he talked about, you know, if you want to win basketball games as the best player, you have to defend. And that's like the mindset that I really look forward to for them next season or what so.

I have no complaints about Ze.

I have no complaints about Ze.

The one thing that did come up when I was looking at the list is the Kawhi Lennard. Kawhi Leonard is one of those players that we can all objectively agree one of the greatest peaks in modern basketball. You think about what he was able to do in that playoff run with the Toronto Raptors, even a little bit before that, Carson, you have him ranked sixteen above Devin Booker, Halliburton, Damian Lillard, and Jared Jackson Junior the following four, and as good of a player as he is, I also struggle with putting him that high, and I think a lot of that has to do with him not having the same possession by possession defensive upside as his previous years, and maybe it's unfair to compare him to pre injury him, but I think about nowadays, he's definitely more of a stationary defender. Like in their game a couple of nights ago, he was guarding Max Strus for the entirety of the fourth quarter instead of guarding a Donovan Mitchell and so and so. But then he did switch on to Donovan and calls a turnover. So, like, I know that there's still a ceiling there. Maybe the ceiling is just lower than what it had been four to five years ago.

The one thing that did come up when I was looking at the list is the Kawhi Lennard. Kawhi Leonard is one of those players that we can all objectively agree one of the greatest peaks in modern basketball. You think about what he was able to do in that playoff run with the Toronto Raptors, even a little bit before that, Carson, you have him ranked sixteen above Devin Booker, Halliburton, Damian Lillard, and Jared Jackson Junior the following four, and as good of a player as he is, I also struggle with putting him that high, and I think a lot of that has to do with him not having the same possession by possession defensive upside as his previous years, and maybe it's unfair to compare him to pre injury him, but I think about nowadays, he's definitely more of a stationary defender. Like in their game a couple of nights ago, he was guarding Max Strus for the entirety of the fourth quarter instead of guarding a Donovan Mitchell and so and so. But then he did switch on to Donovan and calls a turnover. So, like, I know that there's still a ceiling there. Maybe the ceiling is just lower than what it had been four to five years ago.

Kawhi is a tough one. He's a really tough one. I do think that I'm doing a little bit of projecting to the form I think he'll get back to if he can stay healthy, which, like with him, is always the biggest question. Obviously, I agree he is not the same elite impact defensive player that he was a few years ago. I still think he's a plus there. He still just takes the ball from people sometimes and like does his signature Kawhi stuff, but just like a solid plus defensively, not an elite guy. And offensively, he hasn't been the most efficient this year. He's not getting the line at the same rate, he's not getting to the rim at the same rate. I think he's lost a little something in terms of his first step in his quickness. But this dude is just like one of the most relentlessly effective assassin scores when it comes to a playoff environment when he's healthy that I've ever seen. He just has traits that scale so well, Like if you have elite strength in the playoffs, nobody can move you off your spots. You're gonna get where you want on the floor. Kawhi has that he's an excellent ball handler, he always plays at his own pace, and he's one of the greatest mid range shooters ever. So just like all of those traits, when his jumper is falling at an elite rate, which it normally should for Kawhi, I still think he's such a great score and he is a plus defender that this is the range that I'm comfortable with him. And like last year, I thought he was still playing like a top eight guy when he was healthy, and I think he's taken a step back from that. But we've started to see these last handful of games, like especially the last four games he's giving you like an efficient, very efficient twenty eight, seven and four. That's a Kawhi who I don't think you're gonna see every night in the same way. But I'm closer to that than the Kawhi who was struggling a bit more earlier in the year, just because I think his jumper was kind of off and he wasn't really in rhythm yet.

Kawhi is a tough one. He's a really tough one. I do think that I'm doing a little bit of projecting to the form I think he'll get back to if he can stay healthy, which, like with him, is always the biggest question. Obviously, I agree he is not the same elite impact defensive player that he was a few years ago. I still think he's a plus there. He still just takes the ball from people sometimes and like does his signature Kawhi stuff, but just like a solid plus defensively, not an elite guy. And offensively, he hasn't been the most efficient this year. He's not getting the line at the same rate, he's not getting to the rim at the same rate. I think he's lost a little something in terms of his first step in his quickness. But this dude is just like one of the most relentlessly effective assassin scores when it comes to a playoff environment when he's healthy that I've ever seen. He just has traits that scale so well, Like if you have elite strength in the playoffs, nobody can move you off your spots. You're gonna get where you want on the floor. Kawhi has that he's an excellent ball handler, he always plays at his own pace, and he's one of the greatest mid range shooters ever. So just like all of those traits, when his jumper is falling at an elite rate, which it normally should for Kawhi, I still think he's such a great score and he is a plus defender that this is the range that I'm comfortable with him. And like last year, I thought he was still playing like a top eight guy when he was healthy, and I think he's taken a step back from that. But we've started to see these last handful of games, like especially the last four games he's giving you like an efficient, very efficient twenty eight, seven and four. That's a Kawhi who I don't think you're gonna see every night in the same way. But I'm closer to that than the Kawhi who was struggling a bit more earlier in the year, just because I think his jumper was kind of off and he wasn't really in rhythm yet.

Logan, you wou'd you have him?

Logan, you wou'd you have him?

He's an opposite son in that list. I just it's weird, man, right, because you have to figure out where to draw that line in the sand, and Embeid I think it's even more fair to draw that line in the sand. I will spoil it. I omitted him from my list. I don't know if Carson's gonna have him on there. I doubt it, but I mean with the sixers and him considering medical retirement potentially, it's just like, I don't know, man, how many times can I see Kawhi Leonard Lowell people into oh shit, he might be here for the playoffs. It's like, I don't know. Normally, when people show you who they are, I'm gonna believe him. And I just don't think that Kawhi is ever gonna I'll put it this way.

He's an opposite son in that list. I just it's weird, man, right, because you have to figure out where to draw that line in the sand, and Embeid I think it's even more fair to draw that line in the sand. I will spoil it. I omitted him from my list. I don't know if Carson's gonna have him on there. I doubt it, but I mean with the sixers and him considering medical retirement potentially, it's just like, I don't know, man, how many times can I see Kawhi Leonard Lowell people into oh shit, he might be here for the playoffs. It's like, I don't know. Normally, when people show you who they are, I'm gonna believe him. And I just don't think that Kawhi is ever gonna I'll put it this way.

But when he gets there, he gives you an a fishing.

But when he gets there, he gives you an a fishing.

If I had to put a line on Kawhi Leonard's games played for this year's playoffs, I'd set it at three and a half and I would probably take the under. That's why I wouldn't put him on my list. It's just like I know what Kawhi still is when he's there. Like Carson said, last year, we did our top ten player rankings, and I think he was in our top ten for both of them. You know, you can go on NBA dot Com and you can sort through all of the different scoring efficiency play types. Yewhi was like an eighty fifth to ninety percentile score in every category. Like he's just he's one of the best players ever and it's just such a shame. I said it on last show, like if we could pull together like some knees and like surgically just give him to Kawai, I'd be for it. I don't need them. I don't you know.

If I had to put a line on Kawhi Leonard's games played for this year's playoffs, I'd set it at three and a half and I would probably take the under. That's why I wouldn't put him on my list. It's just like I know what Kawhi still is when he's there. Like Carson said, last year, we did our top ten player rankings, and I think he was in our top ten for both of them. You know, you can go on NBA dot Com and you can sort through all of the different scoring efficiency play types. Yewhi was like an eighty fifth to ninety percentile score in every category. Like he's just he's one of the best players ever and it's just such a shame. I said it on last show, like if we could pull together like some knees and like surgically just give him to Kawai, I'd be for it. I don't need them. I don't you know.

I like Kenny because my knees are bad. My knees might be as bad as guy's. I'm not giving them mine.

I like Kenny because my knees are bad. My knees might be as bad as guy's. I'm not giving them mine.

My knees are great, my shoulders are awful man.

My knees are great, my shoulders are awful man.

All right, we'll just create some sort of cyborg. Give him, give him your knees. Is there anything else that really stood out Kenny, anything that really surprised you, Like, I feel like some people might have thought we were too low on kid. I had him at twenty seven. What do you think about that?

All right, we'll just create some sort of cyborg. Give him, give him your knees. Is there anything else that really stood out Kenny, anything that really surprised you, Like, I feel like some people might have thought we were too low on kid. I had him at twenty seven. What do you think about that?

I think he's played a lot higher than that this season. But I can see like the skepticism in it as a ball handler that has a high turnover rate and you know, but I just give him so much credit for the turnaround that happened in Detroit, Knavis. It's not just him, it's some of the other exterior players. New coaching, knew everything basically, But I had him. If I had to rank him, I would definitely put him higher than that. But I do believe that some of that is like if you think about the players in are notorous Leoni's lists, you just reference postseason for Kawhi Leonner, and I think that's maybe a thing for Kate Cunningham. How does he play once we finally get to a seven game series? And I would be a guy that would bet money that he'd end up higher on your list next year versus this year.

I think he's played a lot higher than that this season. But I can see like the skepticism in it as a ball handler that has a high turnover rate and you know, but I just give him so much credit for the turnaround that happened in Detroit, Knavis. It's not just him, it's some of the other exterior players. New coaching, knew everything basically, But I had him. If I had to rank him, I would definitely put him higher than that. But I do believe that some of that is like if you think about the players in are notorous Leoni's lists, you just reference postseason for Kawhi Leonner, and I think that's maybe a thing for Kate Cunningham. How does he play once we finally get to a seven game series? And I would be a guy that would bet money that he'd end up higher on your list next year versus this year.

Yeah, I think he's a guy who's just trending up. And I love Caid. I was a big defender of his last year when people were trying to say, oh, Kate is the problem in Detroit, I'm like, he's playing with the worst spacing we've seen in a long time in this league. Like that team was an abomination. But I think you mentioned it with the high turnovers, the low scoring efficiency, Like there are just dudes who create more elite efficiency offense in my opinion, because they have like those A plus traits. If it's a Darius Garland's insane pull up shooting and floida or if it's an elite rim finishing guard like Caid's finishing does still concern me. He's only fifty seven percent in the restricted area. That's a really low number. So he's grown. I love how he uses his strength, I love his shot making. It's just not coming the easiest to him. And then there are guys who are better away from the ball, which I do think is valuable when you think about succeeding in multiple situations. So that's why I landed where I did on Cade.

Yeah, I think he's a guy who's just trending up. And I love Caid. I was a big defender of his last year when people were trying to say, oh, Kate is the problem in Detroit, I'm like, he's playing with the worst spacing we've seen in a long time in this league. Like that team was an abomination. But I think you mentioned it with the high turnovers, the low scoring efficiency, Like there are just dudes who create more elite efficiency offense in my opinion, because they have like those A plus traits. If it's a Darius Garland's insane pull up shooting and floida or if it's an elite rim finishing guard like Caid's finishing does still concern me. He's only fifty seven percent in the restricted area. That's a really low number. So he's grown. I love how he uses his strength, I love his shot making. It's just not coming the easiest to him. And then there are guys who are better away from the ball, which I do think is valuable when you think about succeeding in multiple situations. So that's why I landed where I did on Cade.

I think that.

I think that.

He's going to learn a lot in this postseason, because I would just assume he goes into a seven game series and right now it gets it's projected to be I'll get keeps flipping. But let's say they end up at six and they go against the New York Knicks. I trust Tom Thibodeau to have some type of plan with if he just completely blitzing him to get the ball out of his hands, to have someone else make a play for them, and he's going to have to figure out what exactly do I do in that situation. But as I continue to look at him as a player, I've seen nothing but trend's upward and upward and upward. I remember last year he ended up taking let me, let me see if I could find these numbers, he was in the ninety fourth percentile when it comes to how many of his attempts were long twos.

He's going to learn a lot in this postseason, because I would just assume he goes into a seven game series and right now it gets it's projected to be I'll get keeps flipping. But let's say they end up at six and they go against the New York Knicks. I trust Tom Thibodeau to have some type of plan with if he just completely blitzing him to get the ball out of his hands, to have someone else make a play for them, and he's going to have to figure out what exactly do I do in that situation. But as I continue to look at him as a player, I've seen nothing but trend's upward and upward and upward. I remember last year he ended up taking let me, let me see if I could find these numbers, he was in the ninety fourth percentile when it comes to how many of his attempts were long twos.

He's cut that in half this year.

He's cut that in half this year.

So he's becoming a more effective guy with picking his spots, I guess, I would say, And as long as he can get that finishing up, like you mentioned, I feel like that's how he raises his ceiling to the whole next level, because like if fifty six percent is definitely crazy for a big ass guard like him.

So he's becoming a more effective guy with picking his spots, I guess, I would say, And as long as he can get that finishing up, like you mentioned, I feel like that's how he raises his ceiling to the whole next level, because like if fifty six percent is definitely crazy for a big ass guard like him.

It is Garland shoots better on floaters literally than Kay does in the restricted area. Yeah, which is just crazy.

It is Garland shoots better on floaters literally than Kay does in the restricted area. Yeah, which is just crazy.

It's pretty bad, I will say too. The one thing that I'm really encouraged about Kaid long term though, is I do think he's gonna scale well alongside another ball handler. I think that that's an area where Caid can grow into. Like right now, we haven't seen it a lot, and I don't know if that guy is gonna be Jade and Ivy, but some of the stuff you see Kay doing transition, like the other night, well, I gotta give props to a star, to a sar Thompson had this nasty like no look past to Kaid in transition, like Ky does a lot like you know, we look at him and he's this big primary ball handler. But I also think he does a lot of complimentary and connecting things that could make him in the long term scale well alongside other ball handlers or other stars where I think he can fit, you know, defensively rebounding like in transition, I think that there's there's a little bit more to tap into if you can get a guy alongside k that can take a little bit of that on ball responsibility now, but he's I agree with you, Kenny. I think next year, I think he's gonna keep going. And I think this is a guy that's inevitably gonna be top twenty and creeping in that in that top ten range.

It's pretty bad, I will say too. The one thing that I'm really encouraged about Kaid long term though, is I do think he's gonna scale well alongside another ball handler. I think that that's an area where Caid can grow into. Like right now, we haven't seen it a lot, and I don't know if that guy is gonna be Jade and Ivy, but some of the stuff you see Kay doing transition, like the other night, well, I gotta give props to a star, to a sar Thompson had this nasty like no look past to Kaid in transition, like Ky does a lot like you know, we look at him and he's this big primary ball handler. But I also think he does a lot of complimentary and connecting things that could make him in the long term scale well alongside other ball handlers or other stars where I think he can fit, you know, defensively rebounding like in transition, I think that there's there's a little bit more to tap into if you can get a guy alongside k that can take a little bit of that on ball responsibility now, but he's I agree with you, Kenny. I think next year, I think he's gonna keep going. And I think this is a guy that's inevitably gonna be top twenty and creeping in that in that top ten range.

Yeah, I mean, I think that if you're not gonna be let's say, a C minus off ball player, you have to be an A plus on ball player, right, And you know it's not many of o's in the NBA. Luca Donci is probably the best example of that. And he's trying to figure out exactly how I play when I don't have the ball on his new little team. And I think one of the more unfortunate things is Bron's injury, because now it's back to just being Luca spamming, you know, stuff over and over. But and k Cunningham is not an A plus on ball player. Yeah, I don't know if you'll ever get I mean were talking eight plus plus, so I don't I doubt he'll ever get there. So he does have to figure out how do I become a better off ball player? And I think part of him not being able to developed that so far is like you mentioned Logan, they really haven't had someone that you trust to take the ball out of his hands. Jay Navy did a pretty decent job of that first half of the season before he went down with his injury, but the alternative before that was killing fucking Hayes. And I like killing Hayes, like I like killing Hayes, but you.

Yeah, I mean, I think that if you're not gonna be let's say, a C minus off ball player, you have to be an A plus on ball player, right, And you know it's not many of o's in the NBA. Luca Donci is probably the best example of that. And he's trying to figure out exactly how I play when I don't have the ball on his new little team. And I think one of the more unfortunate things is Bron's injury, because now it's back to just being Luca spamming, you know, stuff over and over. But and k Cunningham is not an A plus on ball player. Yeah, I don't know if you'll ever get I mean were talking eight plus plus, so I don't I doubt he'll ever get there. So he does have to figure out how do I become a better off ball player? And I think part of him not being able to developed that so far is like you mentioned Logan, they really haven't had someone that you trust to take the ball out of his hands. Jay Navy did a pretty decent job of that first half of the season before he went down with his injury, but the alternative before that was killing fucking Hayes. And I like killing Hayes, like I like killing Hayes, but you.

Might the only one.

Might the only one.

I might be the only one. I think it's something about the Brooklyn Nets jersey.

I might be the only one. I think it's something about the Brooklyn Nets jersey.

Man.

Man.

People look good in that jersey.

People look good in that jersey.

So well, he's a good looking guy. I mean, like I thought killian As was gonna be sold.

So well, he's a good looking guy. I mean, like I thought killian As was gonna be sold.

He's still smooth. What's frustrating to that killian is he'll break off the nastiest dribble combo shot and then he'll air ball lamity.

He's still smooth. What's frustrating to that killian is he'll break off the nastiest dribble combo shot and then he'll air ball lamity.

Yeah, yeah, it's tough. It's tough if you can't make a shot. I do want to talk about what's the biggest story in basketball right now because March Madness is going on, and obviously we're all NBA guys here, so we'll take an NBA angle on it. Because the biggest story within the biggest story is Cooper Flag who is emerging as one of the most hyped up prospects in recent memory. Kenny, I want to start with you on this, how many players in the NBA would you value as an asset over the rights to take Cooper Flag? Like, if you just were given the opportunity to build a team, how many guys do you want over Cooper Flag.

Yeah, yeah, it's tough. It's tough if you can't make a shot. I do want to talk about what's the biggest story in basketball right now because March Madness is going on, and obviously we're all NBA guys here, so we'll take an NBA angle on it. Because the biggest story within the biggest story is Cooper Flag who is emerging as one of the most hyped up prospects in recent memory. Kenny, I want to start with you on this, how many players in the NBA would you value as an asset over the rights to take Cooper Flag? Like, if you just were given the opportunity to build a team, how many guys do you want over Cooper Flag.

So I do want to say this to your audience. I'm not a huge college basketball guy. I think I watched more college basketball this year than the previous twenty seven years of my life combined.

So I do want to say this to your audience. I'm not a huge college basketball guy. I think I watched more college basketball this year than the previous twenty seven years of my life combined.

So I was locked in a little bit more.

So I was locked in a little bit more.

But as far as Cooper Flags start to finish full games, I watched two this year. Their blowout game against the Illinois Finalini, which was the biggest loss in Illinois history, and then the first UNC game. So I have those two frame of reference. And of course every single video that you see people put together, it's the ones that you trust.

But as far as Cooper Flags start to finish full games, I watched two this year. Their blowout game against the Illinois Finalini, which was the biggest loss in Illinois history, and then the first UNC game. So I have those two frame of reference. And of course every single video that you see people put together, it's the ones that you trust.

And it's not many. It's not many.

And it's not many. It's not many.

I think that from what I've seen so far him as a defender, it's just one of those things that I love me some defense. I mean, I'm a guy that has gone to war on my pod for Rudy Gobert's drop coverage and his protection of the rim. And I have not found that player outside of like Kawhi Leonard from the wing position in a very long time. And I'm not saying that he's Kawhi Leonard defensive, because again, Kawhi Leonard was basically like a one to one in his prime. Yea, But I think that what I've seen from Cooper Flag, I'm convinced that regardless of whether the shooting that he's done over the last couple of months is real or regardless of what type of talent he ends up being in the NBA, the defense in itself is enough for me to say, damn it, it's not many people that I value more than having the first.

I think that from what I've seen so far him as a defender, it's just one of those things that I love me some defense. I mean, I'm a guy that has gone to war on my pod for Rudy Gobert's drop coverage and his protection of the rim. And I have not found that player outside of like Kawhi Leonard from the wing position in a very long time. And I'm not saying that he's Kawhi Leonard defensive, because again, Kawhi Leonard was basically like a one to one in his prime. Yea, But I think that what I've seen from Cooper Flag, I'm convinced that regardless of whether the shooting that he's done over the last couple of months is real or regardless of what type of talent he ends up being in the NBA, the defense in itself is enough for me to say, damn it, it's not many people that I value more than having the first.

Overall pick this year.

Overall pick this year.

What is the actual number, I don't really know, but like, if we look at your previous list, it's definitely some people on his list, And I'm like, I would rather the first overall pick than to have this guy on my team right now.

What is the actual number, I don't really know, but like, if we look at your previous list, it's definitely some people on his list, And I'm like, I would rather the first overall pick than to have this guy on my team right now.

Yeah, I agree, I do have some names. If y'all want to run through it, let's let's do it.

Yeah, I agree, I do have some names. If y'all want to run through it, let's let's do it.

Let's do it.

Let's do it.

So I'm going to take Jokic like, and I do think there's a balance to be struck here between the old and the young. Guys.

So I'm going to take Jokic like, and I do think there's a balance to be struck here between the old and the young. Guys.

So like, that's why I would say, if you had from the perspective of building a.

So like, that's why I would say, if you had from the perspective of building a.

Team exactly, so I would take Yannis still right now, with what he brings you, I would take Sga, take Luca, I would take Tatum, I would take Aunt, I would take Wemby Yep. I think I would still take Zion, and that one's tough just because of availability.

Team exactly, so I would take Yannis still right now, with what he brings you, I would take Sga, take Luca, I would take Tatum, I would take Aunt, I would take Wemby Yep. I think I would still take Zion, and that one's tough just because of availability.

Nah, I can't get there.

Nah, I can't get there.

He's in shape. Man, I want to buy in, dude, I want to just telling us.

He's in shape. Man, I want to buy in, dude, I want to just telling us.

About Kawhi and how you can ever buy into that.

About Kawhi and how you can ever buy into that.

But Zion's young. Kawhy is like this, Manawhy is not getting better.

But Zion's young. Kawhy is like this, Manawhy is not getting better.

Like, I'm sorry, man, I cannot value Zion as an asset over Cooper Flag Like those are major, major red.

Like, I'm sorry, man, I cannot value Zion as an asset over Cooper Flag Like those are major, major red.

He's a part of the last two. The other locks that I have are MOBILEI chet I think a Men Thompson is a lock for me over Cooper right now.

He's a part of the last two. The other locks that I have are MOBILEI chet I think a Men Thompson is a lock for me over Cooper right now.

Whoa, this is what I'm saying, Like I've been the biggest the men dude. And then Logan comes and he takes it a step further.

Whoa, this is what I'm saying, Like I've been the biggest the men dude. And then Logan comes and he takes it a step further.

Right, A Men's nice. And then so the two dudes that those are locks for me, The two dudes that I'm on the fence about I think I would take Cad. That one's really close, and I think I would take Zion, But those are the amen Caden Zion are the ones that I was really really debating on. But I mean, a rock solid defensive prospect, I think you're getting a guy that My comfort flag was always Tatum, And it wasn't necessarily like offensively solely. It was just more in the sense of how many different ways Tatum impacts the game. Right He's a great rebounder, he's a great defender, he can be a good playmaker, he can you know in Knights when he's really on. He's an elite scorer and shooter of the basketball. And like I obviously think offensively is gonna determine what his ceiling is. But like you said, Kenny, like I think he is so advanced defensively right now that I'll take it. I'll, you know, even if he's like a connective wing at his best, where like he's an all star connective wing and not maybe necessarily a superstar, I still think that's a really valuable asset. But I do think he's gonna get there. I think that I think he'll be a top ten player in the league one day. I'm that high on him, But you guys aren't taking Zion, and you guys aren't with me.

Right, A Men's nice. And then so the two dudes that those are locks for me, The two dudes that I'm on the fence about I think I would take Cad. That one's really close, and I think I would take Zion, But those are the amen Caden Zion are the ones that I was really really debating on. But I mean, a rock solid defensive prospect, I think you're getting a guy that My comfort flag was always Tatum, And it wasn't necessarily like offensively solely. It was just more in the sense of how many different ways Tatum impacts the game. Right He's a great rebounder, he's a great defender, he can be a good playmaker, he can you know in Knights when he's really on. He's an elite scorer and shooter of the basketball. And like I obviously think offensively is gonna determine what his ceiling is. But like you said, Kenny, like I think he is so advanced defensively right now that I'll take it. I'll, you know, even if he's like a connective wing at his best, where like he's an all star connective wing and not maybe necessarily a superstar, I still think that's a really valuable asset. But I do think he's gonna get there. I think that I think he'll be a top ten player in the league one day. I'm that high on him, But you guys aren't taking Zion, and you guys aren't with me.

I don't think so. And again I think all three of us have beg Zion.

I don't think so. And again I think all three of us have beg Zion.

Yeah, I got it.

Yeah, I got it.

The injuries are the thing that really puts I mean, if we were talking, if Zion was playing at this level right now, but he didn't have four years of basically missing at least half the season, we would have the conversation. But based on the track record.

The injuries are the thing that really puts I mean, if we were talking, if Zion was playing at this level right now, but he didn't have four years of basically missing at least half the season, we would have the conversation. But based on the track record.

I can't. I can't get there.

I can't. I can't get there.

I agree, and.

I agree, and.

Might end up having both either way.

Might end up having both either way.

So true, they might not have to choose.

So true, they might not have to choose.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So I have a similar predicament with Chet, who obviously is not nearly Zion level of injury concerns, but there is a level of injury concern there. I'm a huge check guy. I think he's going to be maybe a top five player, definitely a top ten player in this league, just like such a unicorn talent as a two way guy, dominant, dominant defensive player, and then so many things that I love offensively as a shooter, improving as a driver, could pass or really high scoring ceiling there. But like I do have some concerns obviously missing his full rookie year what would have been his rookie year, and then with the pelvic injury this year, just like with his build, Like I can't ignore that. I think you're under selling Flag logan Like I love a man. I've made that very clear on this podcast. Cooper, Flag is in a different team.

So I have a similar predicament with Chet, who obviously is not nearly Zion level of injury concerns, but there is a level of injury concern there. I'm a huge check guy. I think he's going to be maybe a top five player, definitely a top ten player in this league, just like such a unicorn talent as a two way guy, dominant, dominant defensive player, and then so many things that I love offensively as a shooter, improving as a driver, could pass or really high scoring ceiling there. But like I do have some concerns obviously missing his full rookie year what would have been his rookie year, and then with the pelvic injury this year, just like with his build, Like I can't ignore that. I think you're under selling Flag logan Like I love a man. I've made that very clear on this podcast. Cooper, Flag is in a different team.

I think a men's talent. To me, I think a man might be the greatest athlete I've ever watched.

I think a men's talent. To me, I think a man might be the greatest athlete I've ever watched.

Like he's up to Lebron, He's up there. Flag is damn your generational prospect though, man, Like, we are talking about a guy who I struggled to even come up with comparisons for because he's such a unique talent. But offensively, this is a guy who is an extremely good decision maker out of pick and roll, who is very effective as a driver and a finisher, who gets to the line at an elite rate, who in isolation, has shown a level of difficult shot making that I think is a level up from what he had in high school. His overall shooting you mentioned Kenny has been impressive, like more impressive than I thought it was in high school, and so he has a really valuable off ball skill set offensively too with that shooting, and then he he's an elite cutter. He's such a smart off ball player. He's got such great feel like he's going to give you Grant Hill sort of offensive production. Like this is where I feel like almost have to come up with multiple comps for him at once, where you're talking about a guy who can be that point forward for you, who can be a high level playmaker, who can be a high level score, maybe not an insane one, and it's not a one to one comp like I think Grant Hill would be a little bit quicker in terms of his first step. I think that Flag is definitely a better shooter significantly than Grant Hill was coming into the league, and then he developed that later on in his career. And I think that Flag is a better off ball player too. And then defensively, you're talking about like an AK forty seven. You're talking about a guy who is not just a really high level perimeter defender, but one of the best rim protecting wings we've seen in a long time. I think that Flag is a monster interior defender and a really good rebounder. So it's just like a guy who's going to fill up the stat sheet on both sides of the ball, night after night. He's going to do so efficiently. He's going to do it on ball, off ball, on the perimeter, defensively, on the interior, defensively, just makes any situation better, compliments any type of player, And like, I don't think he'll necessarily be the number one score on a title team, although I think he could. I do expect him to give you north of twenty points per game. But if you are giving me that, and then you're also giving me elite value in all these different ways. Like that's the dream basically for me. That's such a winning basketball player. I'm very confident he'll be a top ten guy, which like is kind of crazy to say about a prospect, but some dudes are just that great as prospects. So my list would be even shorter than yours. Logan, I'm definitely taking him over a man. I'm taking him over Kaid Chet. I think they are equal as prospects. I was super high on Chet. I thought he was the best guy in that class. And I think Flag is just as good as a prospect. And he just turned eighteen and I don't have any injury concern, so I might take him.

Like he's up to Lebron, He's up there. Flag is damn your generational prospect though, man, Like, we are talking about a guy who I struggled to even come up with comparisons for because he's such a unique talent. But offensively, this is a guy who is an extremely good decision maker out of pick and roll, who is very effective as a driver and a finisher, who gets to the line at an elite rate, who in isolation, has shown a level of difficult shot making that I think is a level up from what he had in high school. His overall shooting you mentioned Kenny has been impressive, like more impressive than I thought it was in high school, and so he has a really valuable off ball skill set offensively too with that shooting, and then he he's an elite cutter. He's such a smart off ball player. He's got such great feel like he's going to give you Grant Hill sort of offensive production. Like this is where I feel like almost have to come up with multiple comps for him at once, where you're talking about a guy who can be that point forward for you, who can be a high level playmaker, who can be a high level score, maybe not an insane one, and it's not a one to one comp like I think Grant Hill would be a little bit quicker in terms of his first step. I think that Flag is definitely a better shooter significantly than Grant Hill was coming into the league, and then he developed that later on in his career. And I think that Flag is a better off ball player too. And then defensively, you're talking about like an AK forty seven. You're talking about a guy who is not just a really high level perimeter defender, but one of the best rim protecting wings we've seen in a long time. I think that Flag is a monster interior defender and a really good rebounder. So it's just like a guy who's going to fill up the stat sheet on both sides of the ball, night after night. He's going to do so efficiently. He's going to do it on ball, off ball, on the perimeter, defensively, on the interior, defensively, just makes any situation better, compliments any type of player, And like, I don't think he'll necessarily be the number one score on a title team, although I think he could. I do expect him to give you north of twenty points per game. But if you are giving me that, and then you're also giving me elite value in all these different ways. Like that's the dream basically for me. That's such a winning basketball player. I'm very confident he'll be a top ten guy, which like is kind of crazy to say about a prospect, but some dudes are just that great as prospects. So my list would be even shorter than yours. Logan, I'm definitely taking him over a man. I'm taking him over Kaid Chet. I think they are equal as prospects. I was super high on Chet. I thought he was the best guy in that class. And I think Flag is just as good as a prospect. And he just turned eighteen and I don't have any injury concern, so I might take him.

Yeah, I think I would still keep chet over over flag as an asset personally, and everything you said I agree with, like from the people that I trust that do the college basketball thing. Ak forty seven defensively is a comp that I've heard a few different times, and it makes sense when you watch him play. And we talked about a guy that just turned eighteen, like he's gonna be the youngest, one of the youngest at least in the entire class, and by all accounts, he has the drive and the competitiveness to never really get complacent.

Yeah, I think I would still keep chet over over flag as an asset personally, and everything you said I agree with, like from the people that I trust that do the college basketball thing. Ak forty seven defensively is a comp that I've heard a few different times, and it makes sense when you watch him play. And we talked about a guy that just turned eighteen, like he's gonna be the youngest, one of the youngest at least in the entire class, and by all accounts, he has the drive and the competitiveness to never really get complacent.

I guess I think I do struggle with based.

I guess I think I do struggle with based.

On the amount of tape that I've watched again, which is just basically two real full games, figuring out if he'll ever be able to be like the go to offensive guy on the championship team. But if that is the question we're having for a prospect, and this prospect is damn near perfect, right, could he be number one on the championship team? Is only a few guys in the world that can do that. We know what you'll be able to do defensively as in space, as a help defender and as a rent protector, as a wing. So I love him so much as a prospect, and that's why I get increasingly more pissed when the Bulls when the basketball game.

On the amount of tape that I've watched again, which is just basically two real full games, figuring out if he'll ever be able to be like the go to offensive guy on the championship team. But if that is the question we're having for a prospect, and this prospect is damn near perfect, right, could he be number one on the championship team? Is only a few guys in the world that can do that. We know what you'll be able to do defensively as in space, as a help defender and as a rent protector, as a wing. So I love him so much as a prospect, and that's why I get increasingly more pissed when the Bulls when the basketball game.

I think specifically, Carson, what you were talking about, too is the biggest selling point for me on Cooper is that malleability no matter what situation he goes to, say hypothetically, which I think I'm rooting for this. I know a lot of basketball fans have be mad. I kind of want him to go to San Antonio because I think immediately with Fox Wemby and having him as like the third guy that could be a immediate juggernaut in the Western Conference. Like I mean, they fill out that bench real quick in one offseason and boom the spurs of there. But it really is that if he goes to a winning situation right now, say say the seventy six ers hit the lottery right and they get the number one pick and he had to go win games immediately, well I don't like that for Cooper because I don't really think the futures at Brighton Philly, but he can contribute to a winning team immediately, or if he went to a situation like Brooklyn where they are one of the only teams in the league without a real star. He could be the guy that makes you go and watch Brooklyn Nets games and you could watch him grow as he builds out his offensive game. I also, like, I agree with everything you guys have mentioned too. I also like his footwork when he gets the ball on offense too, Like.

I think specifically, Carson, what you were talking about, too is the biggest selling point for me on Cooper is that malleability no matter what situation he goes to, say hypothetically, which I think I'm rooting for this. I know a lot of basketball fans have be mad. I kind of want him to go to San Antonio because I think immediately with Fox Wemby and having him as like the third guy that could be a immediate juggernaut in the Western Conference. Like I mean, they fill out that bench real quick in one offseason and boom the spurs of there. But it really is that if he goes to a winning situation right now, say say the seventy six ers hit the lottery right and they get the number one pick and he had to go win games immediately, well I don't like that for Cooper because I don't really think the futures at Brighton Philly, but he can contribute to a winning team immediately, or if he went to a situation like Brooklyn where they are one of the only teams in the league without a real star. He could be the guy that makes you go and watch Brooklyn Nets games and you could watch him grow as he builds out his offensive game. I also, like, I agree with everything you guys have mentioned too. I also like his footwork when he gets the ball on offense too, Like.

He's he's got a bag.

He's he's got a bag.

He's got a bag, but it like out a triple threat to the way he sets guys up, Like it's there's some guys that just start like dribbling without a plan and they just kind of see what happens. Like everything with Cooper feels so deliberate in thought out, in methodical and cerebral, and that's one of my favorite aspects of him. I'm we were talking about this the other day, and I don't know if he's a top five prospects since two thousand, but he's one of the both the prospects that I'm most confident in being a great NBA player, Like you know, I felt that way about Wemby, and like Wemby's a one of one. I think he's the greatest prospect ever. But like I get that kind of confidence that when Cooper is going to be here that he's going to be a stud from day one.

He's got a bag, but it like out a triple threat to the way he sets guys up, Like it's there's some guys that just start like dribbling without a plan and they just kind of see what happens. Like everything with Cooper feels so deliberate in thought out, in methodical and cerebral, and that's one of my favorite aspects of him. I'm we were talking about this the other day, and I don't know if he's a top five prospects since two thousand, but he's one of the both the prospects that I'm most confident in being a great NBA player, Like you know, I felt that way about Wemby, and like Wemby's a one of one. I think he's the greatest prospect ever. But like I get that kind of confidence that when Cooper is going to be here that he's going to be a stud from day one.

Yeah, what year did you mention?

Yeah, what year did you mention?

From? What's year two thousand? Like since two thousand it is you have, he's got to be in that top five. You have honestly both Odin and Ktie in two thousand and seven just purely as prospects X strong cases to be on this list. Ben Simmons was really highly regardless of I probably have Flag over him.

From? What's year two thousand? Like since two thousand it is you have, he's got to be in that top five. You have honestly both Odin and Ktie in two thousand and seven just purely as prospects X strong cases to be on this list. Ben Simmons was really highly regardless of I probably have Flag over him.

Our our friend z was highly regarded in the same type of thing. I was watching college basketball for Zion exclusively and I was not, you know, alone in that, So I think he has Z was in that conversation as well.

Our our friend z was highly regarded in the same type of thing. I was watching college basketball for Zion exclusively and I was not, you know, alone in that, So I think he has Z was in that conversation as well.

Yeah, Yeah, he's very much in the conversation Flag like whether he's exactly the fourth or the fifth of the sixth best prospects since two thousand, Like he's an upper rational on number one pick. He's a strong number one pick. And personally in the time that I've really been evaluating prospects, which is basically the twenty twenties, like I think Wemby is obviously number one, then for me personally in my evaluations, I would have Flag and Chet right there basically tied for my number two spot, and then I would have Mobly as the next guy. Winners Man. I mean, if you can impact the game in a bunch of different ways, I'm gonna want you no matter what on my team. And like you're talking about the conversations we're already having about him, Canny, can he be the number one on a title team? Like I feel confident And maybe this is crazy to say about a prospect, but he's that good and his skill set is that translatable that even if he's not the number one score, like, he could be the best guy on a title team if you put him in the right situation, Like kind of think about the run that Tatum had last year, and to be fair, that's on a super talented team. But Tatum was off as a scorer, he was off as a pull up shooter. He was still the best player on a title team because of his defensive versatility, because of his playmaking impact, his rebounding. Like that's what I think you get from Flag when he's off as a scorer. And I do think he's going to be really, really good there as well. But the fact that we're into March madness now tells you that the NBA Playoffs are near and Kenny, one thing I love about your content and you as a basketball media personality is that you're an optimist about the league. You're a positive guy, and your whole brand is enjoy basketball. And I think that we have just had to fight this hellish battle this year of this wave of people being so negative about the NBA and at certain points just flat out lying about stuff with the NBA. But I want to tap into a little bit of that enthusiasm. Which team are you just most excited to watch in the playoffs?

Yeah, Yeah, he's very much in the conversation Flag like whether he's exactly the fourth or the fifth of the sixth best prospects since two thousand, Like he's an upper rational on number one pick. He's a strong number one pick. And personally in the time that I've really been evaluating prospects, which is basically the twenty twenties, like I think Wemby is obviously number one, then for me personally in my evaluations, I would have Flag and Chet right there basically tied for my number two spot, and then I would have Mobly as the next guy. Winners Man. I mean, if you can impact the game in a bunch of different ways, I'm gonna want you no matter what on my team. And like you're talking about the conversations we're already having about him, Canny, can he be the number one on a title team? Like I feel confident And maybe this is crazy to say about a prospect, but he's that good and his skill set is that translatable that even if he's not the number one score, like, he could be the best guy on a title team if you put him in the right situation, Like kind of think about the run that Tatum had last year, and to be fair, that's on a super talented team. But Tatum was off as a scorer, he was off as a pull up shooter. He was still the best player on a title team because of his defensive versatility, because of his playmaking impact, his rebounding. Like that's what I think you get from Flag when he's off as a scorer. And I do think he's going to be really, really good there as well. But the fact that we're into March madness now tells you that the NBA Playoffs are near and Kenny, one thing I love about your content and you as a basketball media personality is that you're an optimist about the league. You're a positive guy, and your whole brand is enjoy basketball. And I think that we have just had to fight this hellish battle this year of this wave of people being so negative about the NBA and at certain points just flat out lying about stuff with the NBA. But I want to tap into a little bit of that enthusiasm. Which team are you just most excited to watch in the playoffs?

Uh?

Uh?

Maybe the cop out answer, it's the OKAC Thunder for me. Yeah, And I think it's I guess it's more.

Maybe the cop out answer, it's the OKAC Thunder for me. Yeah, And I think it's I guess it's more.

It's not more.

It's not more.

About the Thunder themselves, but it's about what the opposing team does to the Thunder. Because this may sound crazy, I was talking about an eighty two game season. I feel like there's only a few times that I've watched a Thunder where the opposing team really made them think about what they were going to do. That that's credited to them being hell a prepared, and that's credit to them just being ultra talented as a as a fifteen man unit. But the playoffs are always just different, right, shay Gilles Alexander, and like, there's one specific potential matchup that I want to see, and that's Thunder versus Clippers. Not because it's gonna be that electric, but I like, I just think about who the Clippers are as a defensive unit, and who they have in Tehron and who they have and Van Gundy on that bench, and I'm just waiting to see what type of pressure or schemes that they have for Shay gilg As Alexander and how him as maybe the league MVP, adapts to those things.

About the Thunder themselves, but it's about what the opposing team does to the Thunder. Because this may sound crazy, I was talking about an eighty two game season. I feel like there's only a few times that I've watched a Thunder where the opposing team really made them think about what they were going to do. That that's credited to them being hell a prepared, and that's credit to them just being ultra talented as a as a fifteen man unit. But the playoffs are always just different, right, shay Gilles Alexander, and like, there's one specific potential matchup that I want to see, and that's Thunder versus Clippers. Not because it's gonna be that electric, but I like, I just think about who the Clippers are as a defensive unit, and who they have in Tehron and who they have and Van Gundy on that bench, and I'm just waiting to see what type of pressure or schemes that they have for Shay gilg As Alexander and how him as maybe the league MVP, adapts to those things.

And if he gets that match up.

And if he gets that match up.

And they advanced, and I feel as comfortable as ever in them, because I think that's one of the few teams in ball that will basically make the Thunder really think on every single possession. So I'm excited for that because again, there are a lot of skeptics about the Thunder. I believe that they're they're championship caliber team, but from the people in the league that I've talked to, players and people outside of players, they're like the Thunder. Of course you respect them, but we not. We don't fear them as if they were a team about to win sixty five games.

And they advanced, and I feel as comfortable as ever in them, because I think that's one of the few teams in ball that will basically make the Thunder really think on every single possession. So I'm excited for that because again, there are a lot of skeptics about the Thunder. I believe that they're they're championship caliber team, but from the people in the league that I've talked to, players and people outside of players, they're like the Thunder. Of course you respect them, but we not. We don't fear them as if they were a team about to win sixty five games.

Yeah, that's that's wild's it's crazy to me just because of the havoc that they wreak on a nightly basis with their depense because they're young. Man.

Yeah, that's that's wild's it's crazy to me just because of the havoc that they wreak on a nightly basis with their depense because they're young. Man.

Yeah, I'll go, I'll go step even further without without saying who it was. I was talking to a player, uh, this is maybe three weeks ago, and his prediction was that the Thunder is going to lose in the second round. And I asked him, like, who do you expect it to be? Like, obviously because the standing's all over. He said, it doesn't matter anybody, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter.