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NBA Finals, Draft and Kentucky Coach Mark Pope

Published Jun 20, 2024, 10:00 AM

C.J. and John discuss the Celtics winning the NBA Finals, Jaylen Brown vs Jayson Tatum for MVP and how they stack up against the best teams of the past 5 years. They talk NBA Draft, who is Reed Sheppard's NBA comp, and John gives advice to the guys on Draft Night. Plus, and incredible interview with new Kentucky Head Basketball Coach Mark Pope about what makes UK and BBN so special, his expectations for the team this season, and when John will be back on campus!

Welcome a point game with John Wall and CJ. Toldonnell, presented by DraftKings. Don't forget DraftKings is your home for all the action across the NBA and gets too closer to the game we all love. The crown is yours. We have a very special episode today. We are joined by the captain the nineteen ninety six national champion Kentucky Wildcats and the brand new coach of the University Kentucky men's basketball team, Mark Pope. But before we get to that, we got to get John's reaction here on the Finals that just wrapped up Celtics in the winner. So, John, you've been kind of calling it as the Celtics We're gonna take it all this whole season since we started this pod. So wanted to get your reaction upon seeing them closest thing out in five and finally get their their first title with the Jalen Brown in Tatum era.

I think it was great.

I told you before I felt like they had to win this championship. If they didn't, I think, you know, like before a lot of people said when they lost in the twenty twenty two I think to the Warriors, there was like they got to split them up. They're not They're great, they're both great players, but they don't have enough to get it done. And you know, you always have those debates when we have two superstars or two stars in the back court of two stars on one team, like how do they co exist and can they play it well together? So then to finally get over that hump and win the championship, I think it was excited for them. They really enjoyed it. I know they're probably on the high right now, living in a moment still and yeah, like you kept you listening to the interview out the game, a lot of them kept saying they feel so surreal, like they can't believe it. They still haven't registered in their mind that they won a championship. So I think it was dope. Like I said, I called it all season. I thought it was gonna play Denver, but you know, like the MAVs made some trades, other team made some trades, other teams got better, and Minnesota had a heck of a run and Dallas got over the hump.

But it was great to see them get a win.

No, it was dope too, because I remember the last few years. I think it was twenty twenty one and maybe a little bit of twenty two, people are talking about do we need to separate these guys, do we need to move you know Jalen Brown. So one like, how was it to see those two kind of make it work? And do you think other teams are sort of taking note to give some of these duos in these teams a little bit more time? And then also do you sort of see with Jalen, you know, winning MVP in the conference finals, in the finals, do you think that that Jason is Jason is kind of taking that as a personal challenge that he's got to win those maybe in the future. So how do those guys kind of how does the championship sort of affect their relationship and that duo after these you know, seven years together.

Oh well, I think yeah, more team is going to take more time not to try to break up duos too early. I think it was great because I didn't notice. But I think when if you listen to an interview or somebody said it, uh that Jalen Brown felt like he failed them last year, failed them last year when Tatum got hurt in Game seven. You know, they were looking for him to be the guy to step up. He felt like he wasn't as good enough yet and that's why when they lost to Miami. So he felt like he put a lot of pressure on his shelf to get better over the summer. And uh, I think he's done that, and uh it looks great.

Yeah.

I think, like Tatum said, like he wasn't pressed to win NVP, but you know, everybody wants to win finals, and everybody wants to win his CAP finale and that's your ultimate goal. Shout out to Jayalen Brown. I feel like he don't get a lot of recognition, so it's great for him to get those awards. In my opinion, and not because I'm a Tatum fan. I feel like he should have got either one of them because he let him. He let him in scoring in both series he was I think that this Pacer series he averaged thirty like twelve and eight, and this series he averaged like what twenty three, seven and seven, So I feel like he had the odds to win it. But if there's no reason Jaylen Brown shouldn't want either. He was talent enough, he was great enough. I think they gave him. I think they gave him the edge because his impact he had on the other end of the floor. He was a hell of a two way player throughout the finals, you know, I mean the way he was making it tough on Luca and just trying to do the best he can to stop me. I mean, Luca still was almost average thirty, but he made it difficult on him. He made him work, So you know what I mean. I feel like Jason Davi should have got people, But I'm not mad at Jayleen Brown got you know. I mean, it's great for him. He deserved that recognition. I was upseting he didn't make RNBA this year. I think he's only made All NBA one time. I mean, I think he may all made one time. So that's kind of shocking to me because I don't understand the narrative of All NBA. Then if you got guys that have the number one record in the league, both of these guys are All Star, they're both averaging high numbers, Like, how do I not be All NBA?

Like that doesn't make sense to me.

I could see if they were like a four seed or a five seed, they almost been number one. Set the last couple years, He's only made All NBA one time. Like you usually give your best teams two or three guys on a r NBA, so that's kind of shocking to me. But shout out to Jalen Brown for winning MVP, And I mean, I think it was a shock to him.

You look at him.

He was surprised he got you know, I mean so, but it was great for him to get it because I feel like he don't get a lot of recognition of other ways. So I think he was supercited. But yeah, for Tatum, his mind said it, okay, I won one. But he did it the right way though, because I think somebody said he wasn't shooting the ball. Well, he wasn't having great games early on, but he was doing other things in the impact the game, getting to getting ten rebounds, and he could have went out there impressed and said, I'm just trying to win MVP, like forget the finals, winning the finals.

I'm trying to win MVP.

But he was more so focused on whatever I got to do to help us win, I'm willing to do it. So if that's not if I'm not shooting, well, let other guys take the lead. So it was great to see and I think they, like you said, a lot of guys sacrifice on their team. Man, they sacrificed the most, and they have two great glue guys between Derek White and Jew Holliday at sacrifice so much. And then Al Horford man shouted out, Horfi you know what I mean? Yeah, finally again his ringing that you have pazingers that came back and he could have tried to get back into the starting lineup. He was like, no, I'm cool. We'll come off the bench whatever way I can help them win. So I think that was big for their whole team and just speaks volume of all those guys making the sacrifice, how their front office is working, and how everybody respect their coaching staff.

Yeah. I liked seeing that. That was one of my favorite moments was when Al Horford was sort of checking out and he got that like standing ovation because you got to imagine a guy like that, he can go be a vet anywhere else or whatever, but the Celtics decided to make him an integral part. He had a backup KP. He got more minutes when KP, you know, I think they were playing it a little safe and like we don't want to get him injured. And then you know, the MAVs get another one and they take advantage of that. But like it was dope seeing Al Horford finally get one. So that was cool. What do you have to say With some of the internet they said like the Celtics had the easiest road, like this was the easiest title to go and get.

Well, the end of the day is bro It's about health. Everybody know.

It's about being healthy and being looked, having some luck, you know what I mean. So they can't control that round one, Jimmy Butler wasn't healthy, and then Terry it was health. That's not their problem. I mean, that's the matchup they have. After the competing against that, you go to the second round. They can't help that. Jared Allen got hurt seriously before that against the Magic and then Donnodan Mitchell ends up getting hurt. It's all about having health and all about having some look. So you know what I mean, I know they gonna look at it and like, you know what, if that's the case, then we try to run it back next year. But you know, I mean Milwaukee had an injury with Drew Holliday. I mean, I drew all that my badianness. I mean, you know Dann got hurt a little bit. Then you play the Pacers, then you have Halliburt getting hurt.

You know what I mean. I mean not Haliburg, you have yeah Halliberry Aliberg got.

Hurtliburn was out. Yeah.

Yeah.

So it's like it's it's tough to say because you know, it's all anything with basketball man throughout the regular season, throughout NBA career. Like I said, for myself, like I've got injured, What what haveppened? What could John White have been if he didn't have an injury, or what Dair Rose or Pinney Hardaway could have been or great Hair would have been. Like yeah, you want to go against the best, but all you can do is line him against the guys you're competing against.

So here's the excuse.

I if Brazilians don't come back for the finals and they lose, is it because oh the Dallas had an easy finals matchup?

Yeah?

Are people? Are people gonna make that excuse? You know what I mean?

Like it's the nature of it. It's like you go out there, you compete, you play at high level. You want no injuries, You want to clear slate finals when everybody's healthy or throughout the whole playoffs.

But it's just the nature of the game. It's a part of the game, right.

I mean, if people look back on that Raptors Championship where you know, Katie and Clay got hurt and that, I don't think it like discountant, but that is part of the game. It's like how much you're playing your guys, you play them in freak accidents happen. So I still think it's like they still got to win those games because sometimes teams step up when their best player is out.

You know, yeah, that's yeah, the Pacers step up, you see, like they've been made the game. SAME's tough for Game three and four, it's tough. But I just look at like you said, So if you go back to that is what you were saying, Katie and Clay been hurt. So do we say, if Katie was healthy the hole the whole playoffs here, do they sweep the raptor do they even get a ring.

On the Raptor? I would say no, I would say no.

But that's what I'm saying.

We all can say that, you know, I mean, but like and in the day, you still got to go out there and compete, Like, I think they went to what did what did they go to?

Six? Game six?

Run?

Yah? Six?

I think so so kad come back for like a couple twelve minutes and then get hurt, like so they still took it to a game six.

So they still had to go out there and compete.

You still have Klay Thompson, you still have dra Mind, you had Boog, you had a good dollar, you had Steff come on.

Okay, well okay, so talking about that, like, say, let's look back on the last five years, who would you say is the best championship team of these last five years. We're having this conversation before and he had some interesting takes on this.

I say that twenty two Warriors in my opinion, And why do you say that? I feel like, what does it start for twenty twenty twenty one?

Yeah, I guess let's start with the bubble. Let's start with the bubble. Was thatineteen twenty?

Yeah, in nineteen twenty. I think it's like a lot of people was not happy to go to the bubble. I think a lot of people was checked out of going to the bubble. And for me, I don't know, I wasn't in the bubble, So I don't know how I was to living there every day and not being able to see your family, not being and see those things. So I just don't I just don't like that one.

Twenty one. I feel like you had a lot of that series.

We have a lot of injuries in that same one, you know what I mean with the because nobody expected Decern to get there, you know, I mean they went through some people they didn't have to go through with injuries, so you had the bucks. I don't really I mean, it's credit to them though, but it's another scenario like this year. Who had the hardest way to get there. Twenty two, I think it made it, specially because the Warriors didn't make the playoffs the year before because Steph was hurt, I think Clay was still out. And then to go there and have like Jordan pool Off, they bench have John the Comiga play roles, you have Otto Porter, you have different pieces that nobody thought the Ward was gonna make the plaoffs that year or it was gonna be good enough. So I think that's why you've seen Steph being so emotional to get over the hump and get their nuggets. I feel like they had a chance that Jamal's Murray's healthy. I feel like they just was a great team. And I just felt like when they played the Heat, the Heat was good, the heat battle, which they always going to do, the Heat coach there always going to compete at the high level. I just think they was outmatched right right. And then this year, you know what I mean, people are saying that, People are saying that Celtis had an easy way, They didn't have a tough path, so you know what I mean, whatever they say. Champions are champions. You can't take it away from them. So that's why I picked the Warriors. I feel like nobody expect them to be there then, not to make the playoffs the year before and come back and win the championship. I think that was pretty special for me. Out of the last five.

Yeah, no, I think yeah, that Worries team. It was I think it was a shock. It was almost like a shock. But then people once they got in the in the finals, it was like, you know, the Celtics aren't going to compete. So it was kind of cool to see the Celtics get back and win this one too. Just relating to that, Yeah.

I think I think the Celtiers they compete it because I went to Game three and four and they was up to one, had a chance to win game four at home after they stole Game one. I just think, you know what I mean, I don't know, I've never been to the finals. I've never been in the West Coast Final, East Coast Finals. But I think, I mean, that stage is a whole different stage. It's only two teams left, everybody watch you, and I think they just haven't been in that moment before. So you know what I mean, Like the last two minutes three minute, they kind of took a couple of bad shots, kind of wasn't being patient, was forcing the issue. And I think the Wars they had a lot of guys that already been there before, like yeah, we're never rated, Okay, we lost home court, We're not rattled. I mean, we'll figure it out. So I think they had more exposure to kind of like this year. You know, I mean, you really had nobody really have been to the finals from the Mass but Kyrie Irving. I mean, Lucas played on big stages overseas. Don't get me wrong, but I think sometimes that spotlight might get too big and you tell, just with the Celtics, they never got too high, they never got too low. And I think having you hollered there, got it already won one that can keep they locker home calm.

It was pretty It was kind of easy for them. It's easy slate for them to go through.

Yeah, speaking on Kyrie, and this would be the last thing with the Finals, but I think a lot of people wanted more out of them, and we've obviously seen what what Kyrie is capable of. So can you just talk about what do you think happened with him this series? And then maybe with the Nows got to do this offseason.

For me, I think nothing really happened with Kyrie. He had a great defend him and Drew Holliday, But if you look at the game, he still got to all the spots. I think he just missed short. He missed a couple of shots. Then I mean he got back to Dallas, got back to his environment where he didn't have a crowd on him all day every day screaming Kyrie sucks or fu and all these twenty four to seven So I think he tried to tune that out and play basketball, you know what I mean? But the shots was there. He got the same shots he had other series. They just wasn't falling. But I think he had multiple defenders that can guard. They wasn't stopping him because he's still got the spot, but he had multiple defending that can make it tough on him. I think other series he probably had one or two guys that can kind of make it tough.

But happened.

Like I said before, they have four great defenders on the team that could defend at a high level. It made it a little more difficult, but he played basketball the way he wanted to play. He took the same type of shots in Game three and four and they failed those games. In games won two and five, they didn't fall for him in Boston.

Yeah, No, I think the biggest thing is that Luca and I ree last year the DINT made the playoffs. This year there in the finals. The fact that they have figured it out, and then they got like you said before, PJ. Washington gaff like they're a squad now, and so like they went to the finals, they're gonna be back. They're gonna figure some stuff out, and so that's a four set. I think that the league's not to continue to Reckon with I wanted to get back into the season's over. I wanted to talk about the draft a little bit because youve got a couple of Kentucky guys coming out in the draft. So I think Reed Shepherd might be the highest guard drafted. Since you so wanted to get your thoughts on Reid, I know you spent some time talking with him and watching him this year. Where's the best spot for him to land? And where do you think he's going to land?

I think for him it doesn't really matter for him because he's a guy that shoots the three at a high clip. I think he shot the big the best percentage in college. But he's a guy that's not going to why you wi speed. He's a sneaky athlete that you don't expect, but he's a great defender, can shoot the ball very well at the high clip, and you just run a team. Yeah, I mean so, I think he's one of those guys where you don't expect it from him, but he knows how to do all the little things. And if he's a guy that can shoot the ball as well as he can, can run pick and roll, can defend the ball screens very well, he can fit in anyway, just figuring out his niche and find out what his role is gonna be for whatever team he goes to.

What do you think is the player component? I know we don't like to compare players. What do you think, like potential wise or ceiling wise? Who do you think the best comp is for him? Clay Thompson?

Nah, No, because Clay don't put because Clay's a knockdown shooting defender. But like Reese can handle the ball, push the ball on the floor to the high clip. He could do a sneaky applet, you know what I mean. Like I said, so, I really don't have a comparison for him, because it's like you might have one guy that can shoot like it, but don't run, pick and roll and make plays like he does, you know I mean, like I think he's the reason why Rob was able to blossom even more, you know what I mean, because he came in. It was a true point guard, and Rob was easy to come in and be straight a mic awave, you know what I mean. I feel like and Rob had to run the team, it'd be a lot different for him, you know what I mean. But he came into this is my road, get the ball, go be a bucket getter. So I just think reader just who he is. I don't really have a comparison really, to be honest.

Okay, all right, one last thing before the break about this draft. Obviously you went number one. It was a huge night for you. So one piece of advice you would give some of these guys who are about to get drafted that night, whether they're going to it or they're at home, what's the piece of advice going into the draft night?

Well, I don't know.

If you ain't being there, I know it's gonna be different. Because me, it's like you go a week early and like you just get to be around your family. You get to walk around and see how New York is and how beautiful the city is, and just living that moment because you living up to the hype every day. You just chilling, you relax and going to dinner and enjoying that moment. But when you get there nervous, like I don't care if you know you're going one, or you're going to or where you're going. It's just a lot of jitters. But all the hard work and dedication you put into the game to listen to your parents, listen to your coaches growing up to doing what you do in high school to going to college and playing well at a high level. Or if you was in the G League or you was the overtime elite and went to the It's dope, man, Like everything you believe, they all come to call all come true on one night. So just live in a moment, enjoy with your family, embrace it, and then know the next day after that, man, your journey's gonna start. Like you get to go to the city, get drafted, to get to your press conference, you get to touch the jersey for the first time. Yeah, and embrace how it's gonna be. But it's the best feeling you can have. Man, it gets still better.

That's incredible and special. Okay, all right, this, Uh we're gonna take a break here, but when we come back, I think there's an interview that a lot of Kentucky fans we saw you guys meet each other at eybl and now we're gonna have a convo here between you and the new Kentucky coach, Mark Pope. So we're gonna take a break and when we come back, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope will be joining us. Welcome back to point Game with John Wall and CJ. Toldonald, presented by DraftKings. I am so excited to bring on this next guest. We were joined by the captain of the nineteen ninety six national champion Kentucky Wildcats and now the head coach of the University of Kentucky men's basketball team, Mark Pope, Coach, how you doing man? Thanks for joining us on point Games easy.

I'm not gonna lie. I'm hyped to be on with you, but I'm out of my mind to beyond with John Wall, Like, what are we talking about? I'm telling you guys, listen. So I was at my first job, my first job in college basketball was at the University of Georgia. I was there John's rookie is verst and only year at the University Kentucky. So you know, I had a two big job. I was folding laundry and hanna out towels. But on my own I was doing a lot of film studies, sitting with the staff doing film study. So we're prepping to go to Kentucky. We're watching film, We're watching your individual clips, and you guys know, I swear this is like not an exaggeration. You guys know how it is back in the day when you would have little glitches in the film where it'd be going normal speed and all of a sudden like speed up to like true time speed, and then we'll go back to normal. So we're watching a transition clip and John, you started like one step past the free throw line. You took like one or two strides, and then it was like and then all of a sudden you were in the next freet throw line and we were like, wait, is the film broken? It was not broken, man, I mean, my gods, huge fan, huge.

Fan, my friend, appreciate it. I want to say thanks for joining us, coach. You know, I got to meet you at the Indy at the eybl things, so it was nice to finally get to meet you. And I know everybody was a tested playing like, oh it's John Wall gonna meet coach Pope before the season start. He gonna is he gonna go to games? But I just want to take congratulations to you again for getting ahead coaching job. And where do you see yourself taking the program and what you think like the future is. God know, there's a lot of expectations everybody wants you to live up to what coach Cayle did. But you're your own coach. You have your own pedigree, you have your own way. So where do you see yourself taking it? Well, listen, I'm in Kentucky. Is Kentucky?

I mean, as you know right, there's nowhere like it. I mean there's there's there's college basketball, there's blue buds in college basketball, and then there's Kentucky. It's just a standalone. I might be biased when I say that, but I got to wear this jersey. I know what it's like to wear this jersey, and there's there's just no place like this. I could cite a hundred different examples, whether it's winning or pros or championships or fan base, it just as different. And so there's no acceptable expectations here other than winning championships. And we say that all the time, like you know, if if if you know, we talked about this at the press conference when when when I was introduced as the next head coach, if if you know, most coaches stand up at the press conference and they try and moderate expectations because that's a smart thing to do. Give yourself time, build the program, take a few years, right, that's not acceptable Kentucky. Like when you walk in the door, you better be ready to win a banner, Like you got to hang a banner, you better win a ring, win a championship, and and and that might seem like unreasonable expectations, all of us on this zoom, we know how hard that is. And if you don't want that day one when you walk in the door, don't take the job of Kentucky. You go take some other job. You could take any other job in college basketball. But if you're, if you're if you know, if, if you're coming to Kentucky, you know what the challenge is. And the expectation is that you hang a banner every year, and if you don't, you fall short. And I'm okay with that reality. That's just the reality here, and there's no place I'd rather be.

Coach. I saw it this week. I think it was you guys had started practice, so one wanted to ask you, like, how does it feel to finally get your guys on the court. Have there been any surprises from the guys you've seen now that they're playing? And then I also saw this micd Up clip where I love this expression and phrase where you were saying ton of joy, ton of juice, And I would love to get the background on that, because I think a lot of fans are were like, man, that was like amping the everyone up just watching it on their phones and the computers.

Yeah, guys, that's been you know, John, you've been here. You can imagine. I got here as a head coach and there was a couple of days where I'm sitting here as the only coach on staff in the offices with zero players on the roster, and then we talked about the expectations year one, and there were a couple of moments I was like, wow, this, you know this. We got a lot of work to do. And I love this staff. I can't wait till you guys get on campus and meet the guys on my staff. I think it's a really special group. And and then I like these players a lot. Like these guys, John, You're gonna love these guys, man, because when they put on this journey, every this jersey, every single one of them, it means something to that man. It means something to put on the same jersey that you wore, and all these great players that came before you and after you like it means something to our guys to put this jersey on, and and they're incredibly committed, they're gonna work hard, and so getting finally getting the point where we could have on the practice flore we have so much work to do to kind of get to where our goal is. Like it's it's almost inconceivd amount of work. And I do think we have special pieces. You know, every single one of these guys we could look at as a is a piece that could be special. I would I'll tell you what I would love to have seen LaMonte Butler, who I think is probably the best defensive point guard in the country right now, who's it is fifth year, Uh, try and spend the time guard and John Wall the most electric point guard rookie in the country as freshman year. Like those kind of battles like I kind of get all the all the generations kind of flow together for me as I think about the grace that have been here. And so we're really happy to have these guys on the court right now. They're working hard and it's good because we got a lot of work to do.

And I'm glad you say that because I was going to ask you how many times have you been sitting by yourself and pinch yourself that you've got to play for the University Kentucky winning championship there, but now you're the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcasting on top of that, how did you start your recruitment process? Like, how did you feel like you had to go through it because you was at BYU, which is a great place, great screw being in the Big twelve. But now you at your Almarad and being at Kentucky And like you said, it's about hanging banners winning championships. It's not just to come there and go to the INCMA tournament and lose in the second round or the third round. No, we want to see championships team. You know the pedigree, you walk through those floors, You've been through that city. So I just want to know how that all that feels.

Well, it's really humbling, you know, it's incredibly humbling. You know, listen, you know, John, I was the opposite of you. I was a terrible basketball player, like you, one of the best dudes better put on jersey. Like the fact that I got here was a little bit of a mistake. And the fact that I got to play at the league. I think the league is still trying to recover from.

That that era.

But but uh, but I am like the world's biggest fan and uh and I love I love this university. Man, Like, uh, John, I'll tell your story. You're gonna love CJ. You gonna love this. So my family grew up on Kentucky. So my second oldest daughter, Avery, So she grew up she didn't know that there was a word that was just blue. She thought Kentucky blue was one word, right, So she would go to class and people like, what's your favorite color. She's six years older in school and they say, what's your favorite color? She'd be like Kentucky blue, and she would get weird looks, but it just amunated her. So that game where we played, you remember that game where Travis Leslie dunket on boogie.

Okay, So that was the charge.

Yeah, see I like that. So so I mean, you guys got the weird which was mad, right, But so we're just to give you a sense of like how we feel about this this this place. So it was my first first and only year at Georgia, just kind of as an assistant to the director operations and we're in Georgia. I'm working for the great Mark coach Fox, who's on the staff now I love so much, who's been a mentor of mine for a long time. And we come into Rut and you know, my girls grew up like our dog is named Rup, like this place, this place means to me, right, and so so we were coming up. So I fly up and then the girls drive up. They get here and Avery at this time is like six or seven years old, and it's the girl's first time my daughters. I have four daughters, their first time, I ever seven foot in rough and Avery. They so they go to the Hyatt. They're in the hotel, they're changing to go to the game, and Leanne pulls out these red Georgia T shirts and Avery had a breakdown. She's like, mom, she's six. She said, Mom, I cannot wear a Georgia T shirt into rupp Arena. Like I'm not doing that. So Lee gave her a big conversation about like, hey, we got it. You know, we're supporting the teams that are paying the bills, right.

Yeah.

So the compromise was they stopped it, got some Kentucky socks, so even she wouldn't she would not interrupt Areena if she didn't have at least some Kentucky socks on. And that's what it means to me to be here. So you can imagine that like I love this place like like you can't imagine. And then in terms of in terms of us filling in, come on, man, you in college coaching, one of the oldest adages you never take the job after John Wooden. And I'm just dumb enough to take the job after all time revolutionary Hall of Famer, one of the greatest coaches ever walked on the face of planet, John Caliperi. And so you know that part is super humbling, you know, but we understand the assignment, we understand the job, and we're going full speed ahead. It. I love Cal. You know, Cal has been so incredibly gracious to me when I was starting and coaching. Cal let us let me bring a Utah Valley team here and actually play him uh here at rapp Arena several years ago. Every time I've seen him on the road, he's been so gracious and encouraging.

And then I was.

Actually having conversation with two days before we found out public and this job was open and then we were just at the SEC meetings. Man, he's one of the great great coach of human beings in this league. So all of that put together gives you a sense of what this place means to us and how daunting this job is. And there's no place I'd rather be. Man, Let's take on.

The challenge and go.

You know you're right, hey, John, We're gonna make you proud. Man, We're going to make you proud of your alma mater. That's that's my goal. I take that really personally and seriously.

We'll saying that. Do you think, John, do you have plans to get out there? Like, are there players that have John come talk to the guys And I know John, you're gonna watch some games. So I wanted to know if there's any conbo or maybe we can start the convo here, how John could be you know, support continue to support the program.

Well listen, just just from my standpoint, John, just you being around the program.

Come on.

You know we talked about all the time. One of the amazing things happening here right now is you guys might have seen this. And this is with a ton of respect to the Big East. I think the Big East are tremendous, tremendous conference. They put out a tweet right before the NBA playoffs started said, you know, the Big East, we have fifteen players. That's a bull of fifteen players from the Big East playing in the NBA playoffs. And that is that's an incredible number. It is, it's incredible, except that not accept that. And it also should be noted that Kentucky by themselves had twenty two players playing in the NBA playoffs this year, right, And so the one thing is like, we need your help, like this is it? Like John wall I mean, uh, there there were actually surveys that I saw recently, said John wall is, the current is the most popular Kentucky player on the face of the planet right now, like that that was actually the results of a survey that was done locally. I mean, John, this thing right here, I don't know if you said it.

It goes a long way for sure, man Like. And so, so this is it.

The one thing I know about Kentucky basketball. It's a family. It's been that, uh, from when I was here to the generations we're forore to the generations of after. And I do think that everyone got a chance to put on this jersey. It means something to us, and and and we're all trying to be as successful as we can. So uh, you know, you think about the weight of of of John and his legacy here and what he means this program.

You know.

I mean, I don't need to tell you guys, but Kentucky was not at it finest moment when you and and Eric and and and DeMarcus rolled in here with that crew. Uh, and you guys fix it like you guys fix it one season and with coach Cali Perry, right, Yeah.

And and so that means a lot.

Uh that that's always gonna be a lot here at Kentucky and and all of us being together is kind of what separates Kentucky from everywhere else.

Yeah, that that was my goal.

That was our goal going into there that years, Like we got to bring basketball back to life here, like we know what the history has been here. I'm definitely gonna come to games for sure, you know that. And I definitely got to continue my ritual of throwing up the why. So yeah, definitely get to see me.

I like that a lot.

And then and that's the man like mentoring these young guys you know, you know, or these veteran guys like.

Yeah, that ain't too many young guys that they VISs ain't not many freshmen there, but but but but.

Vets in terms of you know, but but also young in terms of this Kentucky experience, right, And that's that's where all of our former players, we just have a commodity that nobody has. I mean, nobody else has the reach and breath of the players before and players after it. And I think that's one of the places that make this place great.

And that's one of my questions I wanted to ask you, is like have you explained to them what Big Blue Nation mean? Like, I know, like a lot of kids have played against Kentucky or watched Kentucky, but I don't think they really know what Big Blue Nation mean until you put that jersey on and get the walk in there. And I know when they walked into the practice city or just walking around Cambus, it was a shocker to.

Them, you know.

So one of the things I like to do is Repperena is like Reparena is a sacred building. To me, it just is sacred. So one of the things that I've done with every single recruit is we'll walk into the to the top, or we'll go in on the upside the upper street into rupp Aerena and then walk it. I'll take the guys and just want one at a time and just go sit with them in the upper deck. We go all the way about ten rows from the top. John, I don't know if Coach Kyle ever made you go touch the wall, but Coach p made us run up and go touch the walls. We turned it over. Whatever goes to like, go touch the wall, and then there's a lot of other words with that.

Yeah, I ain't never touched the wall before.

Let me tell you this, man, it's steep up there, but I'm telling you, like, it's something really special to go sit there in the quiet of that gym and just take in what it looks like from ten rows down from the top. And so we'll spend some time and we look at the jerseys up on the wall and talk about the history guys that have run through there. It's actually super special.

Me. I love it.

I could do it every day for the rest of my life. I love it so much being in that building and look at those banners up on the wall. And then the other thing we talk about is we talk about the people that come and sit in those seats that it's probably people a lot of times that have spent their whole lifetime chairing for Kentucky that have met this is the first time they ever have got to come sit in those seats. And when our guys get to actually think about that and understand that, like, that's the beginnings of them kind of starting to comprehend what BBN is and what a it's a unique in the landscape of athletics that we get to come compete for these people.

That's one thing I gotta do. I gotta go away to the top. I've never been there.

And I know another thing that's gonna get them spooped is when Midnight madn is coming. That's the first experience I got, and I was like, Wow, there's no way a place to have twenty four thousand people in it.

It's unbelievable. It's bigger than it's bigger than most NBA arenas.

Yeah, I don't think there's any NBA arenas that big now, right, They've got them all the eighteen seventeen nineteen.

Yeah, I think like eighteen nineteen maybe twenty twenty one couple of them, but I don't think.

No, it's bigger than that one.

Thou. Well, and listen, you changed me in that mass a little bit too. Now we walked in and did you think that? I mean, come on, that's one of the you think about. It's hard to have an iconic moment in the history you at Kentucky basketball is. There's so many moments that might be one of them.

Coach, do you have any players on the team that have personalities like John and Boogie and some of those guys who we sort of learned about that during midnight madness?

Well, I don't know if anybody can pull that off, Like we'll say, I don't know if anybody can pull that off, right, But we have some guys, I'll tell you. We have some guys. We have some guys that love this game. We have some guys that want to come compete. We have some guys that are saying, you know what I'm willing to do right now, I'm willing to set aside my personal ambition because I want I want nothing more than to come win, wear this jersey and hang a band or whatever it takes. If I get a start, if I got to come off the bench, if I get average thirty, if I got to average four, you know, we got we got a bunch of guys I think that are trying to live in that space. I think we have a chance to put together a really special team with this group.

That's dope when you found out. And what I love about Kentucky is the alumni is so rich, a long list. So who's reached out since you know, you getting the job and any like advice or stories or you know who you who you've heard from since getting this job?

Yeah, I mean, you know, listen, the list is so long, right, the guys have been so generous. What's interesting is like and this is what you'd expect. The fans have been unbelievably supportive, Like they've been incredibly sport starting with the press corps. I mean, you know, you think about this, You got almost thirty thousand people to show up for a press conference. Five thousand people had to be turned away. That had nothing to do with me, That just had to do with BBN. Say hey we're still here, right and then and then what's fun about the former players is pretty universally you know, John I don't think you totally threatened me the first time, but you kind of did with your eyes. I kind of get it says about don't you mess this up. This is especially who this up? Baby, And that's definitely what I'm getting from my former teammates. But I think university of the guys feel like that, and I dig it. That's how it's should be here, right, you know, there is something there is something that means a lot to me about you know, if you take us as a general, is generation after generation after generation of players, about us having a chance now as former players to come have some ownership over this program, some real ownership over the program. I think that's actually super special. But I think it's also a lot of pressure because, like, man, I'm telling you, it means a lot to me. I can't even explain to you what it's going to mean to me to have John wall be like, you know what, I'm actually proud of my guys. I'm really proud of what's happening there, or or the DeMarcus cousin, Eric Blutsoe, or or any of the guys that came before them, after them, like these guys, these guys have built this incredible place. It's our job to make them proud, and and and so I think it's special to have. This is a is a player run organization. My teams are player run teams. And I like the fact that this program right now is a chance to do a more player run program.

Can you can you share with me your biggest big Blue Nation memory, like your favorite memory of all time for you?

Yeah, so you might be.

Able to relate to this. So so I got a blunch of stand out in my mind. But you know, I'd been here. I was here for three years, and it was it was I had this experience my third year. I got to say this with the exactly right words. But so we won a championship, We did all the stuff. We came back and then we were doing autograph signing at the mall here in Lexington. I don't even know if the mall is still here. And so we were there and I don't know, guys, we were there for three or four hours, and and John, you you understand this fan base. But it was a line wrapping around the mall outside of the mall like twice, and it was like ten people. Why, it was just insane. So we were there for a long time. I don't even think we got to like twenty five percent of people, but we're there our like three and and then you know how, you just signing going to the next person, trying to be as kind as a kid and trying to be nice, you know, and and give her attention, but also trying to get to the next person. So all of a sudden, I look out of the corner of my eye and there's there's a man there that must have been all he must have been late forties, early fifties, and and he had put in a hard day's work, maybe eastern Kentucky, but you could clearly tell that he had just come straight from work. And for the rest of my life I remember seeing his face because he had tears streaming out his face as he got to the front line and been waiting in here for several hours. And it was at that moment it was just one of those moments where I'm like, oh man, this Kentucky basketball is way bigger. You know. I thought I was the guy, right, we just want a champion. I thought I was important. I was like this this is way bigger than me, Like this jersey is way bigger than me. It's way bigger than coach Patino. It's way bigger than any coach or it's even probably bigger than John wallerf That's it is, for sure. It just is. It's like in people's heart and soul here And he wasn't. He wasn't in tears. It's like grown man that has spent more days working in the dark than I could ever possibly imagine. But but he was here because of this Kentucky Jersey, right, And I just don't know if there's anywhere else that has that. I just think it sets it aside. So you asked me about memories where I felt like, Oh, I start to understand this place That'll stand out of my life forever.

Yeah, because it's like it's basically they protein, bro It's like they protein. It's like the NBA team to them. So being in Kentucky, even when you go on tours, you probably go to the litwist town that you don't expect, and if they get one chance to meet you at an autograph signing or even out to eat or at a game, it's like it's the best thing they ever done. Like they don't care about who wins the NBA Championship. Who win the NFL Championship is all about Kentucky. So it's a special place to be.

Yeah, Amen to that coach.

I one shout out here because I think some fans who are new to you didn't know you played in the NBA, like with some real greats here like Ray Allen, Sam Cassel, Carmelo Anthony. So I wanted to ask you, like, who is one of your favorite teammates in the NBA and do you have any stories you know, playing with those guys.

Yeah.

I was really blessed, you know, I was really blessed to be in that league at all and play might be a stretch I sat for most of my career, but I was really blessed.

You know.

One of the things that I was really blessed about is in the NBA. I think you just kind of walk in and then you learn from the guys that are there. You learn how to be a pro, right and you there's no instruction, man, So you just kind of walk into a locker room and those guys teach you what it means to be a pro. And so my rookie year, I was on that great he had a pacers team from the last dance that lost to Mike in Game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals, right, and you think about how blessed am I? Man? I got to walk in and Larry Bird, Larry Bird is a head coach, and Reggie Miller, the great Reggie Miller. Man is like one of the great leaders I've ever been around in the game of basketball. And Mark Jackson, I mean, come on, Jackson was like you talk about you talk about like John, you could have made it down and back and down and back by the time Jacks would have crossed half court. But that dude was a like he was a straight up baller. And you know Jalen Rose on that team, and Antonio and Dale Davis like Chris Mullet and Rick Smith's and you know, I got to walk into that locker room not knowing anything, and from day one I was like, Oh, I got the greatest education on what it meant to be a pros pro, a real pro for those guys. And I'll always be able to be grateful to those guys on that rookie team. Man, I was really blessed, really blessed.

That's awesome. My last question here is actually for John. Since John has been part of the program a little bit more recent than you have. I wanted to ask John, what's your one piece of advice having been there more recently the coach to give him as he starts his season as the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats.

Well, I really don't think I can give him no advice because he knows. I think he played there, He's seen the experience. For me, it was different though, Like he said, they had went to like two inn I t so we were just trying to get Kentucky basketball back on the map, put him in that platform. So for him, I think he already knows the right way to go with it. Like you said, how much it means to him, how much it means to his family, Like even his daughter having it. Talk about when y'a had with the Georgia shirt on, She's like, no, I have to put something with Kentucky blue on it.

So I think you know that.

I think just been around that environment, been around those fans, like they know how much they love basketball. I think you said, like having your first practice, letting them guys instilled in them how you want the program to go, how you want them to play. Still figuring that out, but I think just then walking around campus and when they get to go through their first scrimmage or first preseason game, there really know how much it means to play for Big Bow Nations. So I think you got him in a great position. I hope you have a great first year. I know it's gonna be a sighting. You can't wait to walk out there and put your little suit on or whatever you're gonna wear for your first game and just to see how loud the crowd gets. I think it's gonna be amazing experience for you. So I'm happy for you to have that job. I'm definite happy to have the opportunity to come out and support and you have my information, so we're locked in.

Man, John, I'm sure great. Hey, you know the world on the seat is Eric Lesso playing on the tv T.

No, I ain't playing on TVT. They trying to get me to go play in it not.

But what I'm saying is like, Hey, you know, it's July nineteenth, man, it could be a fun time. We're gonna have the whole team that we're trying to We're trying to get the whole team. We're gonna go crazy for these former players. Man, they're playing that rock. You know, it's that rough. We're gonna bring the house down, Like, I can't wait to have those cats back in here, Like it's gonna be happening.

To Ulus coaching the right, Tyler Ewlis coaching.

Yeah, Tyler's coaching them. In fact, they got like, ah, I think that they're coaching staff. I think they got five or six guys on the coaching staff. But it's it's like this is a legit. This group is gonna be so fun.

Well, I'm glad they did it like that because you look at some of these alumni schools got there, but some of the kids never went to that school, never did anything for the school. So I'm glad they keeping all the Kentucky tied together. That should be dope.

I'm just gonna say here, coach, this is a good sign because you just try to re recruit John Wall to the program again, so we know how much you wanted. That was dope.

Hey, hey, I know, Tyler, I don't know what, but I know I know he hasn't finished trying to get you on this team.

I know trust he has I know, Coach, good luck, man.

I appreciate you and in time, I know, I know your time is precious right now, So appreciate you coming on the pod. And I'm excited to see what you guys do, and I'm excited to see John interact with you guys. And you're in your tenure at at Kentucky. So appreciate you, man, CJ.

John, Super great for you, guys.

Man, Thanks coach, Thanks coach.

Welcome back to point game with John Long. CJ. TOLDONNOD presented by DraftKings. Don't forget. Bucketer Brick is brought to you by DraftKings Sportsbook. Draftking Sportsbook is your home for all things MB action, from player props, the same game parlays. Check out everything DraftKings sports Book has to offer to make your NBA experience even sweeter. The krown is yours, John. You ready for this, uh this uh installment of Bucketer Brick.

You know it all right.

So the season's over, Celtics with the champs. But DraftKings odds have the Celtics at plus two ninety and big favorites to win it again next year. So Bucketer Brick, the Celtics are going to repeat next year.

I say, I say, bucket and.

You were right about them winning this year, So why do you think they're gonna repeat.

I think they bring the same team back. I just think they're gonna get even stronger, and they probably add a piece of two. But I think all those guys coming back, And the only concern I did have is that if they would have lost Al Horford, but he said he's not retired, he's coming back. So I think they helped their team out even a lot more because they got through the finals. I mean, they got through the most of the playoffs without Pazingis and now Horford had to step in and play that role for them, So I think that was big for him.

He got his confidence up.

Who would you say, like what is their biggest weakness? Like how do you improve that Celtics team this summer?

I would say maybe, I don't know the way they stacker their team to like they take Jaln Brown out, or they take Jowady out in the substitute like somebody else, seeing like with Sam Hows and somebody. I think the only weakness they have if they live and die by the three. That's the only thing at times. But other than that, I don't see no weakness. They all can guard. They all can create and put the ball on the floor. Like I was saying before, you have to guard. Everybody's accountable. They could everybody I went through five and catch the ball and dribble seth. If you bring like Sam How's on the bench, He's just they knocked down shooting for them. But everybody else on they team can catch and shoot, put the ball on the floor, and can defend at a high level. So I don't really see too many weaknesses for them.

Okay, all right, let's move on here. A DraftKings has Luka Doncic at plus three seventy, only behind Yo Kitch for MVP next season, so bucket to Brick, Luca will be the MVP next year.

Brick, I think if Joelin beat is healthy, I think he wins EVP. I think he would have won it this year, to be honest, So I say maybe joelan Bhay if Shakee caps the rosh up like he did last year.

I think those are my two favorites next year.

Yeah, I mean, if Joel's healthy and then they do get that new piece. With Tobias's contract running out and a lot of this time, it's like the number one team. The team is winning, and I feel like you're right. If the Sixers are healthy and they're winning and Joel continues to be their best player, it's got to go to him.

I don't even think number one could have had. Number one Sha should have got they had THEMB one team, you remember.

But that was that was close, like we really good.

It was close. It was close for sure.

And and then I also understand like how nobody from the Celtis get in the MVP conversation. Is it because they are beating everybody by so much? Like yeah, it's like it's just weird to me, because how the narrative has changes. You had to make All Star games if you was winning, You had to make all NBA teams if you was winning. Usually when teams are one or two, they always get two or three guys in the All Star Game, at least two guys or it just changes though.

I don't know how the narrative is now, but it is what it is.

Okay, all right, moving on here, Bucket or Brick, whatever team you're on next year is going to be a playoff contender.

Bucket for sure.

Yeah, talking about it a little bit, I'm a missing piece to a couple of teams, like just a point guard that can run a team, you know, I mean, come off the bench, whatever road that I'm willing to accept. But I feel like I have a lot left in the tank to help a team out, you know what I mean, because I can still defend, I can knock down, catch and shoot threes, and I can create and just find guys. But whatever role it is, I'm willing to accelp you know what I mean. If it's being a third guy, being a third point guard, if somebody else get hurt and then get opportunity play, or of its being the second point guard that comes in behind the starting point guard, I'm fine with that role.

Whatever team. I'm buying that jersey, whatever team you're on, or you got to send me that.

Right, Yeah for sure. Yeah all right.

So finally this was like the drama's already started a little bit in the NBA. But the detectives out there found out that Clay unfollowed the Warriors, deleted our Warriors content on his Instagram. So bucket to brick. Clay Thompson's going to be on the Warriors next season.

Brick, I see Klay Thompson leaving this summer, I see him going up somewhere else, and I think they split the dynasty up.

Well, I don't think they trying to split it up.

I think Clay just for like his times is up with the Warriors, and I feel like he wants to just go somewhere new and kind of start fresh.

Well, because you said it on previous episodes with Kaminga, and everyone knew like Kaminga wasn't happy with the playing time he got. Then actually Curse started playing the more and they went on that little streak there, so kind of give us a little bit more that that opinion that you had of like Kaminga is their number two option.

Well, I just know how gifted Kamingo was. I've seen him playing my John Walladay imitation. I watched him through a high school. I just know like for him, it was kind of tough early on because they were throwing the ball in the post, and you know with the wards with Clay Thompson and Steph and Jordan Pool, most of the time that's not the scores to Washington come off of actually get throwing backdoor cuts. So he shoot passing the ball for threes. Condition you see the offense change. He got the ball and he was able to be aggressive, able to be a score. I think they kind of helped him grow a little bit better. You could tell just how much confident he got it much happy he was. And I think they kind of moved Clay from them the number two option cond of to the three, third or fourth option because they still had Wiggins. And I think Clay it's kind of going to be like a catch and shoot guy and a defending for whatever team he goes to. So I think it's a lot of teams where they probably gonna have a lot of teams that double team a lot like I think like a team like the Magic could use them very well. I think a team like Clippers could use them. I think a team like Philly could use him. Even a team like Denverer could use it. I mean a guy that can if you double team and Yoki, she's a guy in the wing that got a great catching shoot and we know he's in the rhythm, his confidence is there. He's one of the top five best shoots that I have seen in the league history.

Yeah, all right, well, John, this has been officially the last episode of this particular season a point game with John wall I want to say to the fans, if you enjoyed this podcast, keep showing love like that helps out leave comments, rate the podcast. Tell everyone you know, I feel confident in the social content that we put out there that you guys have been loving it and sharing the stuff. So, John, what's what's the message you want to leave the fans on our summer break before we know when we come back.

Oh, I want to cry. I'm sad. Now what do you do?

What do you do during this downtime with with this a.

Lot of spend a lot of time with my kids, continue to work out, work on my game, Spend a lot of time my kids. Take a couple of trips and vacations. Just relax, keep working on your game. Yeah for sure, I'm going to do that. I don't never stop working out, but U just spend a lot of time my kids. May know my kids in summer camp right now, daring to sports, you know what I mean. They're doing all their sports activities so they get to do the opportunity spend time in the backyard, go swimming, just try to find some new hobbies. I'm definitely gonna be bowling but I definitely want to thank everybody for tuning in to the part.

I really enjoyed it.

I fell in love to a new space that I never thought that I would get into, So when I got asked to do it, it was kind of dope. And then early on just figuring out how to get better with it and having the support. Give a shout out to like all the guests that we have. That's super dope for us and super because you know, starting off, some guys might say no, some guys might not want to be a part of it. But to get the love, get the recondition, we get to get some dope stories out. I think it's only the beginning, So I enjoy everybody for tuning in, and we'll definitely see y'all next year.

Yes sir, much love of the guests and the fans, and keep following our accounts. This has been point game presented by DraftKings. Appreciate you guys, and we'll be posting more stuff for this summer, So love peace. Gambling problem called one one hundred gambler or in West Virginia visit www dot one eight hundred gambler dot net and New York call eight seven seven eight hope and Y or text hope and why for six seven three sixty nine. Connecticut help is available for problem gambling call eight at eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG dot org. Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothell Casino and Resort in Kansas twenty one plus. Age varies by jurisdiction. VOOD in Ontario, ce DKNG dot com, slash promos for eligibility and responsible gaming resources. Odds in line subject to change